Checking for Grammar, Punctuation, and Spelling Errors in Your Cover Letter

Introduction

For potential employers, the first impression is often the one that matters when it comes to someone evaluating you as a candidate for a vacant position. Although having a cover letter containing grammar, punctuation, or even spelling errors can be detrimental to your reputation as a candidate, one’s qualifications may still be the deciding factor. However, first impressions can be quite valuable since they show your professionalism, communication skills, and attention to detail. They say, “The devil is in the detail.” In this article, we will be providing some straightforward strategies that you can employ in your cover letter so as to improve your standing in an organization. If you require help, then Mycvcreator can provide relevant and satisfactory cover letter writing and editing services. Contact us today for any assistance that you may need with regard to writing a good cover letter for job applications.

Why an Error-Free Cover Letter Matters

Typically, your cover letter may be the one document that a hiring manager sees before they turn their attention to your CV. If it’s properly written, neat, and typo-free, it indicates that the person out there is alert and dedicated to their work. However, if a cover letter contains typos or language mistakes, they seem careless, and this can bring a negative light on the professionalism of a potential employee. Consequently, perfecting your cover letter will compensate for any chances lost due to major call backs in the employment or recruitment process.

Common Errors to Watch For in Your Cover Letter

Mistakes in grammar

Common grammatical blunders include errors in subject-verb agreement, verb tense inconsistences, and the incorrect use of their, there and they’re. For instance, rather than writing, “The team have accomplished,” one should write reporting that the collective acts as singular for the third person: 'The team has accomplished.'

Errors in punctuation

Punctuation lapses like a missing comma or an unwarranted apostrophe can lead to misunderstanding and make your letter more difficult to follow. Adhere to basic rules for comma usage, and remember the basic apostrophe rules – for example ‘it’s’ is an abbreviation for ‘it is’ while ‘its’ is a possessive form.

Errors in spelling

Spelling errors, however minor, are more likely to offend your cover letter that seems outstanding in most other respects. Pay attention to commonly misspelled words and be sure of using the correct case for proper names and job titles. If one uses spell check as the only form of proof reading, one may miss some common errors that a spell check would not highlight, for instance, the correct spelling of ‘manager’ when the context should have been ‘manger’

Errors in word choice

Take care to use the appropriate word for the situation. For instance, “effect” and “affect” are used differently as are “compliment” and “complement”. The choice of wrong words is an instant red flag as it breaks the structure of the piece and may readily bamboozle the reader.

Nature of Proofreading a Cover Letter

Take a look at it as a whole by reading it out loud.

Reading aloud forces you to pay extra attention to errors that would be missed in silent reading. It can also help in spotting other problems like twisting of statements, over complicated sentences and others that may not be visible in writing.

Utilize grammar check and spelling tools

Spell checks and grammar tools like Grammarly are of great help, but do not over depend on them. Such tools can have an oversight of some subtle issues so it is good practice to always do a manual check apart from the software.

Give it some time and later look at it again.

When you are done with writing the cover letter, wait some time before editing it. A new perspective might help in identifying errors that were not noted before.

Submission requirements may include the use of standard fonts and sizes throughout the paper, making it look professional.

Don’t forget to follow a professional format and be consistent on the different elements of your cover letter like lettering styles, letter spacing and typography.

Consider the Hardcopy to Make Any Corrections

Errors, in this case typos, can be more easily observed in a hard copy version rather than the computer screen. Go through the printed cover letter and use a pen to cross out any blunders, and retrieve them on the electronic version.

Get Input from a Colleague or any Externally Trusted Partner

A friend or any other person may have an outlook that is different from your or previous ones. Get any potential errors in the cover letter checked along with its tone, language and overall presentation by some of the friends or colleagues.

Common Mistakes and their Corrections;

The following are some errors that can be noted in cover letters together with their corrections:

• Wrong: "I am interested in the position as it compliments my experience and skill set."
• Revised: “In the first place, I am interested in the position since it highlights my experience and skill set.”
• Wrong: “Its my great deal of pleasure to submit my planning for the post of Marketing Manager.”
• Revised: “It’s a great honor for me to submit my application for the post of the Marketing Manager.”
• Wrong: "The hero of the day, whose commitment resulted in the teams success, is still unknown."
• Revised: "The hero of this story is unknown but the story was a success and unsurprisingly this was due to the team's dedication."

How Mycvcreator Can Help

Crafting a polished, professional cover letter can be challenging, especially when it comes to avoiding common grammar and spelling mistakes. Mycvcreator offers professional cover letter writing and editing services to help you put your best foot forward. Our experienced writers review and refine each detail, ensuring your cover letter reflects your qualifications and professionalism. Contact us to ensure your cover letter is clear, concise, and error-free.

Conclusion

Prospective employers may discard any letter that contains grammar, punctuation, or spelling mistakes without thinking twice. Short of stating the obvious, failing in accuracy creates a very bad first impression. If you follow these recommendations, then your cover letter will be as good as it gets. For those who want to get a quality cover letter without any mistakes, Mycvcreator has ready solutions. Get in touch with us to improve your application files and save your cover letter from the fierce competition at the job market.