How to Make Your Online Dating Profile Stand Out- Spelling, Grammar and Good Writing

By · 4 Comments · In The Online Profile

If I could just offer you just one tip about your online dating profile it would be: Check your spelling!

The online profile is your first and often only shot at attracting someone’s attention. It’s like the big interview. This is the moment when first impressions count.

No Excuses, please

But, wait… I have an IQ of 155 and can’t spell. Right. That’s why word processing applications have a feature called Spell Check. It’s for those of us who can’t spell. Or those of us who want to make extra sure we look good.

Here’s what I think when I see bad spelling on a dating profile (not necessarily in order of importance):

  • You’re not smart enough for me.
  • You aren’t interested in making a good impression.
  • You were drunk when you wrote it.
  • You didn’t put much thought or time into your profile–it was hastily thrown together because you’re in a hurry to get laid.
  • I wonder if you’re a scammer–pretending to be from Missouri when English clearly isn’t your first language.

All of those are turn-offs for every potential match out there reading your profile!

.  .  .  .

I recently got an email solicitation from a supposed media professional asking to buy ad space on The Diva of Dating for his client. I’m going to say no. The main reason (there are some others troubling concerns)? I doubt this person is a professional–he/she spelled 3 words wrong and used excessive commas. The email was not well written. What kind of ‘major company’ would hire someone with such bad writing skills to be their representative? I understand that not everyone is a writer, but when the writing is the crucial first step in connecting with someone it better be good.

It’s the same with a date.

I ran across a profile recently where the guy used commas instead of apostrophes. Clearly he didn,t bother to proof his writing. I want to date a man who pays a little more attention. It sounds petty and maybe you,re thinking it,s a small thing. And, it is.  It looks odd doesn,t it?

BUT.

A well written profile will often compel me to look more closely at someone whose face, on first glance, might not immediately draw me in. A well written profile means the person is serious about putting himself out there in his or her quest to find a mate.

Aren’t you looking for that kind of person?

How are you going to make your online profile shine?

  1. Write your profile on a word document first. Use their spell check and grammar corrections. Then do a copy and paste to the dating site.
  2. Do what most writers do. Write your information, hit the save button and come back later with fresh eyes to do an edit. Read it aloud to see how it sounds. That will often help you pick up mistakes.
  3. Find a friend to read it for you and offer suggestions.
  4. Hire me to help get your online dating profile in good shape.

 

 

 

Tagged with: • • • • • •  
  • Sienna Jae Fein

    I SO agree with this. I once met a man on line who was just delightful…warm, funny, and seemingly intelligent (he claimed to be a physicist). I enjoyed our phone conversations because he was verbally articulate, but his writing was worse than atrocious. That alone wasn’t the reason it didn’t work out, but it made a diffference in my perception of him on the whole. 

    • http://www.thedivaofdating.com/ Walker

       I can be ok w/ the whole writing/grammar thing if I’ve met him and find him to be otherwise interesting…but I get what you mean. It is part of the whole package, isn’t it.

  • The Midlife Gals

    I found a good speller and clever writer who, when we met, could not keep his hands off of me…FIRST date?!?  He was my first match.com date, and I took my profile down after 6 days.   I know he had a full mouth of false teeth, because I asked him (I know, I know…I need therapy, but I’m just saying…that visual was OFFPUTTING!).  I tried to let him know that he would NEVER like me by also suggesting that he looked like a mobster. He said that other people had told him the same thing…hahaha (that was his laugh, not mine).  I told him that I smoked and his profile had checked NO WAY with regard to a potential smoking mate. He told me that it just wouldn’t bother him…that nothing about me would bother him.  I told him that I would never marry again, and he said, “Oh, you know what they say about ‘nevers.”  Now, I can’t get rid of him.  After finally coming out with the, “I’m just not ready and hope to be friends,” he allowed as how he could wait…would be my friend for now…and wait until I come around. GAWD!  

    As my sister, Sal says to me on occasion, “ANOTHER fine mess you’ve gotten yourself into!”

    The only good thing that came from this exercise is that I no longer need to wonder if ‘I’ve still got it.’ Maybe I should just wonder now that the ‘it’ IS!!

    KK (aka one half of The Midlife Gals)

    • http://www.thedivaofdating.com/ Walker

       Well, aren’t you hot! 

      Too funny about the teeth…just one of those things we have to deal with as we date older men. I hope that somewhere in there you’re a bit tickled about having one guy go ga-ga about you? Is he still lingering? Wondering what else you could tell him to send him packing. I had a somewhat similar experience where the guy asked if he could come to see me at my house, alone, so he could convince me I really wanted him!!! AHHHH…..
      Don’t give up, there are some good ones out there. I swear.