Editing classifieds

[Famous Graham]

I appreciate you guys probably don't have the staff for this, but is there any chance classifieds could be even cursorily proof-read?

Exhibit A:
http://pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1366089.htm

(be happy to be classifieds editor if you've got the dosh for a working-from-home position )

Edited by Famous Graham on Monday 30th November 04:37

[PetrolTed]

I wouldn't recommend that. I read a lot into the way an advert is written.

[Mr Will]

I agree with Ted here. Even if you do have problems spelling, it's easy enough to run a spell-checker through your advert before you submit it. Would you really want to buy a car off someone who can't be bothered to write a decent advert?

[Famous Graham]

Fair enough, just a thought

[hardcorehobbit]

Thats not a serious ad surely. He must be taking the mick with that, writing horrendously on purpose. I struggle to think anyone that stupid could ever pass a test, let alone comprehend the purpose of an advert.

[Mr Will]

hardcorehobbit said:

Thats not a serious ad surely. He must be taking the mick with that, writing horrendously on purpose. I struggle to think anyone that stupid could ever pass a test, let alone comprehend the purpose of an advert.

Somebody spent a lot of money making that car look like that... and you are saying they possess a degree of intelligence?

[SimonSaid]

Its tricky, because if somebody is dyslexic or has another cognitive deficiency of some sort they may end up with a poor advert, despite having a perfectly decent car and attitude toward it. That means bad spelling shouldn't make us too judgemental, but an advert that is actually poorly written in terms of content and detail may be more revealing. You don't need a great deal of skill in diction, grammar or spelling to write a decent advert - the car will sell if the advert is structured, detailed, intelligently priced and friendly in tone.

If all adverts were edited to read well (like some of our competitor sites that create the description for you out of a checklist) then you lose a vital indicator as to the person selling the car. One of the reasons PH allows you a long text field is that it gives sellers a chance to represent themselves fully, and creates more of a friendly, community feel. If people write adverts badly it can save you the trouble of finding out later on that this is not somebody you trust to sell you a significant asset.