Are we losing the art of the written word?

With the active encouragement of the media, more and more people are using 'Social Media' to communicate their wants, needs, thoughts, opinions and just plain 'tittle-tattle'. This is greatly encouraging, but is this 'explosion' impacting on an individuals ability to write proper English?

Having just read an interesting article in the local newspaper (electronic version at least) on declining standards in English communications [link to The Record article: http://tinyurl.com/kqswrx] this made me wonder about the overall standards of both written and verbal English communications within the talent management world?

My mind travels to the title words of Bob Dylan's song ~ 'The Times They are a Changin' and how it is so true, even more so in the present day. The written word (CV or Resume) is a key tool in the marketing and presentation of the individual, so correct and appropriate usage of English is one of the keys to success. The reliance by individuals on spell and grammar checkers, coupled with increased utilisation of templates for document layouts is pushing people further away from using their own abilities to present their own written word.

As more and more companies rely upon 'parsing' software to pre-screen submission documents, the less people are able to write and present themselves. They just increase their ability to present what the 'software' requires. Example...how many people noticed my spelling of 'utilisation' and thought - "That's wrong!"? People program and populate the date of on-line dictionary's that the 'parsing' software use to 'check' the a person qualifications and qualities against the specification. If these people don't have good awareness and knowledge of the language! How reliable are the results of 'parsing'?

In every profession, the need to communicate is essential, the importance in correct, appropriate, relevant and quality verbiage will help position the individual ahead of others. Believe in the power of the written word, resist the habit of communicating in your professional life, the same way as you do in your 'social' life...In Talent Management, I do not just check out your written word, as you present to me, I look and find other examples of your 'communications'...Big Brother/Sister is here and can check you out...be consistent and be true.