The advent of spell checker has done much to further the fields of business and academic editing. However, there is simply no substitute for a sharp human eye. Consider the following:
Ode to My Spell Checker
Eye halve a spelling checker
It came with my pea sea.
It plainly marks four my revue miss steaks eye kin knot sea.
Eye strike a quay and type a word and weight for it to say
Weather eye yam wrong oar write.
It shows me strait a weigh as soon as a mist ache is maid.
It nose bee fore two long and eye can put the error rite.
Its rare lea ever wrong.
Eye have run this poem threw it,
I am shore your pleased to no.
Its letter perfect awl the way.
My checker told me sew.
Obviously, this is example satirizes our reliance on spell checkers, but it illustrates the need for quality editors, particularly in the field of business editing. In the world of commerce, a misspelling or misplaced modifier could mean the loss of a contract, stagnancy or profit loss, and loss of professional credibility. Dictum meum pactum (“my word is my bond”) is never truer than in written communication between businesses. Spelling and grammar really do matter. Treat your writing as you would treat your health and always get a second opinion when it comes to editing your work.