Ramblings

When I was proofreading a letter I drafted with a young case manager, I became frustrated over her obvious ignorance of the use of "Very Truly Yours" as a closing. Her response when I pointed it out was that it was too personal and that she preferred using what she considered the less personal "Sincerely". Instead, she used the words "Thank you" as the closing of the letter. Since I have to work with this person I let her use the closing she wanted to use. If she wants to sign her name to something incorrect, it will reflect on her and not me. One reason I felt frustrated was that the young woman obviously did not know that she was incorrect, refused to acknowledge that she was incorrect...and refused to accept the correction. I felt she felt her opinion about how it should be done was just as valid as my justifiable correction.



Had I been this young lady's boss I would have told her to correct the wording of the closing and I would have referred her to a website to help her out of her lack of awareness. As is stands, I am glad I do not have to sign the letter.



Recently, the new director of the residence where I live wrote a letter to all of the tenants. There was a run-on sentence and a misspelling of the name of the organization that owns the business. I was very turned-off and disappointed that she did not take the time to adequately proofread this first letter she was sending out. Unfortunately, the residents in our building don't pay attention to this sort of thing. It reflects very negatively on her. Although she is stylish and otherwise presentable, the poor writing of the letter leaves a bad taste in my mouth about her and her style of management.



Having recently completed a course in legal proofreading, I am alert to many proofreading errors. I want to approach her and tell her about her errors, but she may likely to take it the wrong way. As I have to live with this woman I am inclined to let it be. I remain turned off by her writing and feel less than optimistic about her in her new role as director.



How often does this occur? Is America losing its grip on what is accepted as appropriate or incorrect? How many other people go along to get along with those less aware in the culture...at least in matters of writing and etiquette? How many other people in leadership positions fail to write well and/ or proofread documents they write prior to sending them out? Is this a trend in management? What does it reflect about the writing skills of management and America?