Wilmington, DE 1/8/2008 10:10:00 PM
New Study: More People Need to Watch Their Language at Work
60% of business letters and e-mails go out with grammar, spelling and punctuation errors
Despite the ready availability of free spelling and grammar checkers, 60% of all business correspondence STILL gets sent containing one or more grammar or spelling errors, according to the results of a study released today by WhiteSmoke, developers of the world’s leading English writing software solutions.
Many of the errors can be traced to free word processing checkers that do not perform context-based text modifications, a field in which WhiteSmoke is a forerunner.
The findings are based on WhiteSmoke’s survey of 5,000 pages of business writing texts. “The most prevalent error type has turned out to be ‘missing words,’ with 32% of writers failing to use all the words needed for a grammatically correct sentence. Words most likely to be missed are verb auxiliaries (be, have, do), prepositions (in, on, at) and determiners (a, an, the, this), and missing nouns. For example, ‘I would happy to meet you’ instead of ‘I would be happy to meet you,’” says Liran Brenner, the Vice President of R&D.
Further data from WhiteSmoke show that 28% of mistakes relate to punctuation, that is, knowing when to use a period, comma or question mark. Agreement between sentence elements comes up next in 8% of the data, for instance, “One of the guy turned around” instead of “One of the guys turned around.” More problem areas are spelling, using the wrong word, repeating words and misusing verb tenses.
Brenner explains, “The types of errors people typically make when they write business documents help guide our Natural Language Processing experts in directing their efforts to improve our grammar engine. This allows us to develop solutions that meet the specific needs of our customers.” WhiteSmoke endeavors to constantly improve the software’s features and context-based error detection abilities in order to eliminate corporate image tarnishing mistakes from e-mails, letters, memos and even PowerPoint presentations.
Vice President of Marketing & Sales Amit Greener adds, “The tremendous effort we put into R&D results in improvements targeted at our customers’ needs, showing that WhiteSmoke provides real solutions to real problems.” He also maintains, “As part of raising the writing standards in organizations, every e-mail or memo sent by a staff member should be proofed beforehand. Correct language shows customers and colleagues that you value them.”
About WhiteSmoke
WhiteSmoke Inc. provides world-leading solutions in the field of English grammar and writing. WhiteSmoke English writing software provides online English text editing, correction and enrichment, using innovative, patented technologies. These technologies are the product of years of research into natural language processing and artificial intelligence, tapping into the complexities of human language.
In 2002, former ICQ computer engineers took the challenge to create the next breakthrough in online English text enhancement. From humble beginnings in a modest apartment with a small investment but an abundance of enthusiasm, WhiteSmoke is now a 30-plus-employee operation of international scope, and it continues to grow monthly. The WhiteSmoke staff is comprised of professional computer analysts and programmers who work closely with highly trained linguists and writing specialists with a background in NLP.
http://www.whitesmoke.com/?d=1&a=64&r=1570
