The ability to write and communicate effectively is an essential skill. However, even accomplished writers can stumble into writing mistakes that reduce the quality of their work and undermine their credibility.

Your reputation as a writer carries immense weight. The moment someone reads your words, they form an opinion about you, your knowledge, and your professionalism. That's why it's essential to be aware of the writing mistakes that can affect your credibility and, more importantly, to know how to avoid them.

In this blog post, we'll explore three common writing mistakes that can hurt your reputation as a writer, communicator, or professional. We'll discuss the reasons these missteps can be problematic and provide practical tips to help you avoid them.

Why is credibility important in writing?

Regardless of the genre, form or content of your writing, credibility is the foundation of trust in any form of communication.

When your audience perceives you as a credible writer, they are more likely to believe what you say, accept your arguments, and follow your recommendations.

Credible writing captures and maintains the attention of your readers. If your audience trusts you, they are more likely to engage with your content, read it thoroughly, and return for more.

Spelling, grammar and punctuation errors

Writing allows us to share information from one person to another. In order to do this effectively, we follow certain rules with our spelling, grammar and punctuation.

When we fail to follow these rules, we make the communication of information more difficult. And miscommunication between you and your readers defeats the entire purpose of writing in the first place.



Why it undermines your credibility:

A manuscript riddled with errors, reflects poorly on the overall quality of the work. A manuscript with errors suggests a lack of attention to detail or insufficient editing and revision. Misspelled words, missing punctuation and grammar mistakes can make you appear careless or unprofessional.

And it’s worth noting, publishers assess manuscripts not only for their storytelling potential but also for the author's professionalism and credibility.

The solution:

• Always use spellcheck – it's easy to ignore the red squiggly lines but it does encourage you to go back and edit or ignore each error.

• Double-check your writing – simply reading what you've written a second time can help you catch mistakes. I also recommend reading it again later as immediately after completing your work it's still familiar to you. Come back later with fresh eyes to be more aware of errors. The Read Aloud function in Word will read back what you have written. Another way to catch some of the mistakes that slipped through.

• Hire a professional proofreader – if you want to enlist a second pair of eyes, I can help you! Proofreading is the last step between you and the reader. It is the final check that ensures your writing is professionally written, precise and easy to read.
  
  

Overly complex language

When you use complex jargon – or words your audience doesn’t know – you’re putting a wall between you and your readers. Because they can’t understand you, they can’t relate to you, which means they can’t trust you.

Why it undermines your credibility:

Overly complex language can alienate readers who may not understand the terminology. Your success as a communicator is measured by how well people understand you. If your audience doesn’t understand you, they can’t experience the fullness of your knowledge, story, or expertise. And because of that, they won’t find you credible.

The solution:

Aim for writing that’s clear and accessible by removing jargon. Using complex language is generally a sign that you don’t know your audience well enough. If you get feedback that your writing is overly complex, go back to defining your ideal audience. Make sure you understand their level of knowledge and their reading level.

Having the help of a professional editor will give you an objective perspective to pick up on complex language that your audience might not understand.

Inaccurate information

Inaccurate information can undermine the purpose of the writing. Whether the goal is to inform, persuade, entertain, or educate, inaccuracies can distract from the intended message and hinder your ability to achieve your goals.

Why it undermines your credibility:

If readers discover errors or false information in a piece of writing, they will be less likely to trust your expertise, judgment, or integrity. If they identify factual errors, they will be less likely to be convinced by your arguments, which can undermine your goals.

Once readers lose trust in a writer's ability to provide accurate information, they are less likely to engage with future content or recommendations, which can impact a writer’s reach.

The solution:

Research is an essential part of the process whether you are writing fiction or nonfiction.

• For works of fiction, research enables you to provide helpful context for the time period or character archetypes that you’re writing about. For your novel to be believable, your technical and historical details must be correct.

• As for nonfiction, getting the facts right leads to a polished book. It is crucial that you avoid making errors that might impact your reader’s trust or damage your credibility as an author and expert.

It can be beneficial to work with a professional editor as part of their job is to pick up on any inconsistencies in your writing.

Recommended reading – Editing a novel checklist: what you need to get your manuscript ready for publishing.

Credibility in writing is not just desirable; it's a requirement for effective communication, influence, and success as a writer. To establish credibility with your audience, it's crucial to invest time in researching, proofreading, editing, and seeking feedback from others.

Want more editing tips to improve the quality of your writing?

Sign up for my email newsletters. Each month I deliver writing advice and editing tips directly to your inbox. Plus you’ll be the first to know about new services and special offers. Fill out your details below to join.