Resume Spelling and Grammar

Even though all of us are more than what a page or two can sum up, and even though all of us make typos or misuse words, the way you present yourself to an employer who doesn’t know you is crucial. The obvious thing to do is use your spellcheck tool and actually make the suggested corrections, but sometimes a word can be spelled correctly and it’s the wrong word. Read on for some simple ways to keep typos out of your first impression on a prospective employer.

Grammarly

A tool like Grammarly can help spot common errors and provide suggestions. Not only does it detect spelling errors, it also will notify you of usage, grammar, and punctuation errors.

Beware Misused Words

There, their, and they’re are not the same. Here’s an excellent guide to some other commonly misused words and phrases. It’s also wise to avoid clichés. Padding in general isn’t helpful when it comes to business writing. I know it doesn’t seem like many people have brevity in mind when you read employee handbooks and offer letters, but that’s not an excuse for a poorly written cover letter or résumé. This is a helpful article on common clichés. Since I believe both of the articles I mentioned missed this one, I’ll add that a lot of people write “For all intensive purposes” when they mean “For all intents and purposes.” If you’re going to use that phrase, please use it correctly. Better yet, just don’t use it.

Products and Companies

Check the names of products you’ve used and companies you’ve worked for. Spelling errors on these tend to discourage people.

In general, it’s a good idea to print your résumé out and read the lines backwards to find any errors that missed detection the first time around.

What questions do you have about spiffing up your résumé?