The Cost of Typos: How One Error Can Undermine Your Credibility

You’ve launched your site. Your copy reads well. You’ve even got traffic coming in. But if a visitor catches a glaring typo (or even a subtle one) the impact can be instant and lasting.

Typos are often dismissed as minor mistakes. But in business writing, they do more than irritate grammar purists. They raise questions about your attention to detail, your professionalism, and, unfairly or not, your competence.

Let’s look at why typos matter, the impression they leave, and how to safeguard your content.

Why Typos Cost More Than You Think

1. They damage trust

When a potential client spots a typo, it can feel like a warning light. If you haven’t caught a basic spelling error, what else might you have missed? In industries built on trust, for example, legal, financial, coaching, or creative, this can be enough to drive someone away.

2. They break the reading flow

Good copy is invisible; it carries the reader smoothly to a decision. A typo interrupts that. It jars the eye, breaks concentration, and stalls momentum. Suddenly your reader is editing, not engaging.

3. They undermine your message

Imagine reading:

“We’re passionate about detial.”

The irony wouldn’t be lost on your audience! One misplaced letter can turn your credibility into a punchline, and that’s a tough thing to recover from.

4. They’re surprisingly memorable

While most readers won’t remember your whole About page, they will remember if “professional” was misspelled. Typos stick because they’re unexpected. Unfortunately, they often become the one thing people take away.

But Everyone Makes Mistakes … Right?

Of course! Nobody’s perfect, and typos will occasionally slip through. But when they appear on your homepage, service descriptions, or client proposals, they carry extra weight.

Think of your copy like a handshake: it’s part of your first impression. A single smudge might be forgiven, but repeated slips suggest carelessness.

What You Can Do

1. Slow down

Don’t hit publish immediately. Come back to it after having a break, with fresh eyes.

2. Read aloud

You’ll catch awkward phrasing, missed words, and grammatical hiccups much more easily by hearing them.

3. Use editing tools, but don’t rely on them

Spellcheckers and grammar tools are helpful, but they won’t catch everything. (They’ll miss “their” vs. “there,” and they definitely won’t notice if you’ve called your business “LFP Editoral Studio!”)

4. Get a second pair of eyes

Even editors need editors. Having someone else read your copy - especially someone trained to spot what others miss - can make all the difference.

Your Words Represent You

Typos don’t just live on the surface. They shape perception. And in business, perception is everything.

Clean, confident copy says: I’m capable. I’m detail-oriented. I take pride in what I do.

Need help spotting the slips that could be hurting your message?

At LFP Editorial Studio, I offer careful, thoughtful proofreading that preserves your voice while eliminating the errors that could cost you clients.

Let’s make your copy clean, credible, and ready to convert.