Tiny Writing Mistakes That Quietly Undermine Your Credibility
We all have writing habits we’ve picked up over time — from school, from email, from watching how other people communicate. Some are fine. Others quietly send the wrong message without us even realizing it.
I’m not here to grammar-shame. I’m here because I see the same slip-ups every single day — from smart, capable people at every level. Candidates. Directors. CEOs. Native speakers. Non-native speakers. And it’s costing them credibility.
Because when someone spots a mistake, they’re not usually thinking: “They must not know better.” They’re thinking: “They didn’t care enough to double-check.”
1. Apostrophes gone rogue
Let’s = let us
Its = possessive
It’s = it is
Apostrophes don’t make words plural. They show possession. Drop it in the wrong place, and the meaning changes entirely.
2. Capital letters creeping in
Unless it’s a proper noun, lowercase is usually cleaner. Over-capitalization can make your writing feel cluttered or overly formal.
3. Classic mix-ups
They’re / Their / There.
Your / You’re.
To / Too / Two.
Yes, we learned this in middle school. But they still show up — even on resumes and exec decks.
4. Punctuation outside quotation marks
In American English, commas and periods go inside the quotes.
✅ “Let’s move forward.”
🚫 “Let’s move forward”.
5. Spellcheck ≠ proofreading
Just because your screen didn’t underline it doesn’t mean it’s right. “Manger” is a word. So is “defiantly.” Probably not what you meant.
6. Time zone acronyms
PST is not the same as PDT. If it’s July and you write “3 PM CST,” you’re actually an hour off. Use PT, ET, CT to play it safe year-round.
7. The confidence trap
Some of the most common mistakes come from people who are sure they’re right. Confidence without checking can hurt more than uncertainty.
8. Ignoring the tools
You don’t have to be a grammar expert. But not even using spellcheck? That’s a choice. Tools like Grammarly and ChatGPT can catch what your eyes miss.
This isn’t about perfection. It’s about being readable, trustworthy, and clear. In a rushed world, your writing is one of the few things fully in your control.
Thanks for reading. I’m Kiki Beach — a recruiter turned AI workflow whisperer. Through AiTricity, I share tools, prompts, and systems that save time without sounding robotic.
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💡 AI Prompt Examples
Prompt: I’m prepping a resume or client email — how can I make sure the grammar doesn’t undermine my message?
Response: Use AI to tighten writing and catch the small mistakes that quietly erode credibility. Ask: “What edits would make this clearer, more confident, and still sound like me?”
Prompt: What’s the right time zone label — PST or PDT?
Response: PST = Standard (fall/winter), PDT = Daylight (spring/summer). To stay accurate, use PT, ET, CT when possible.