Comments on: Must Copywriters Use Good English?

By: CONNIE WERNER REICHERT

CONNIE WERNER REICHERT — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 03:20:26 +0000

Damn right. Every single word counts.

By: Must Copywriters Use Good English? : My Netrepreneur

Must Copywriters Use Good English? : My Netrepreneur — Sat, 26 May 2007 11:38:15 +0000

[…] Must Copywriters Use Good English? A recent radio commercial selling land in Florida informs us that “monthly payments are as low as $300 a month.” It’s clear and factual. But of course, it’s redundant. If the payments are “$300 a month,” you should call them “payments” and not “monthly payments.” It’s a small matter, but as a professional writer, I tend to […] […]

By: Donor Power Blog

Donor Power Blog — Tue, 22 May 2007 15:10:10 +0000

Don’t use no bad English

The bly.com blog (a copywriting blog) asks an interesting question: Must Copywriters Use Good English? On the table is this groaner, heard on the radio: “Monthly payments are as low as $300 a month.” Must we use good English? As

By: Sheri Cyprus

Sheri Cyprus — Thu, 17 May 2007 08:38:28 +0000

Great topic, Bob, and excellent comments for both sides. It seems to be a real judgement call as to whether a redundant phrase will help sell or just annoy!

By: Jonathan Kantor

Jonathan Kantor — Wed, 16 May 2007 17:42:23 +0000

I think radio copy has to account for the short attention span listener. Reiterating the words monthly and payments helps to get the point across when you only have 30 seconds.

By: Stan Smith

Stan Smith — Mon, 14 May 2007 14:45:38 +0000

Bob, it bothers me too. Repetition can be useful for emphasis, but when no emphasis is needed, as here, it’s just redundancy.

As has been noted here, though, this one is so minor that it’s likely to flash right by the average, harried reader. In fact, such a reader might find the (redundant) use of familiar phrases like “$X per month” and “monthly payments” somehow comforting and reassuring….which could produce more sales!

By: Jeff Brooks

Jeff Brooks — Thu, 10 May 2007 17:27:47 +0000

Clarity is more important that correctness. So are passion, sounding natural, and seeming human. We should always try to be correct, except when doing so is in conflict with something that matters more.

By: Brett

Brett — Tue, 08 May 2007 19:00:21 +0000

I think it is important, but at varying levels. Most people would never catch the error in your example. However, something more obvious definitely affects the brand.

And while an editor would catch something like this, the web demands that we all respond quickly, which more times than not means no editor.

So I guess we all need to start writing better.

By: Kelly Robbins

Kelly Robbins — Mon, 07 May 2007 20:16:29 +0000

I’m with Michael and Ali on this one. I truly don’t notice because I have too much to do to care. Lucky the marketer that grabs my attention!

As a professional copywriter I feel I should be better at catching those things because I often don’t catch them. Because of that I pay someone to check over my work and catch those errors — an editor.

One thing to keep in mind is who your audience is. As a copywriter I often sell MY products and services to other marketers. And THEY notice (many of them) those kind of errors. Your typical overworked entrepreneur could care less. I work with a lot of doctors — perfectionists. The ones that take the time to read the copy would catch that and be annoyed at the imperfection.