typo in subject line of employer's email TO ME Forum

[Anonymous User]

A potential employer had a small typo in the subject line of an email to me - should I fix it in the subject line of my "RE: X" reply?

I dont want to send them a letter with the subject line all typoed, but I dont want them to think Im smug for knowing how to spell. Think maybe they wont even notice they spelled it wrong in the original subject?

Is this just not important at all?

[Aqualibrium]

not important...

[tww909]

given some of the posts on this board i wonder how that guy got a jerb in the first place.

please don't fix it. nobody will hold their own error against you, but they might hold you fixing it against you.

[rayiner]

A potential employer had a small typo in the subject line of an email to me - should I fix it in the subject line of my "RE: X" reply?

I dont want to send them a letter with the subject line all typoed, but I dont want them to think Im smug for knowing how to spell. Think maybe they wont even notice they spelled it wrong in the original subject?

Is this just not important at all?

People are pretty conditioned to the idea that Re: XXX means that XXX was the title of the mail they sent.

[quakeroats]

A potential employer had a small typo in the subject line of an email to me - should I fix it in the subject line of my "RE: X" reply?

I dont want to send them a letter with the subject line all typoed, but I dont want them to think Im smug for knowing how to spell. Think maybe they wont even notice they spelled it wrong in the original subject?

Is this just not important at all?

People are pretty conditioned to the idea that Re: XXX means that XXX was the title of the mail they sent.

Re: XXX [sic]

[buddyblack]

Re: XXX [sic]

Absolutely correct.

[schooner]

Change the Subject line entirely.

Instead put something like "following up on your email / Firstname Lastname's application" (use a helpful subject line, but make it entirely different). I wouldn't worry about correcting it in the part of your reply email that quotes him, but you can if you want.

I do this a lot at work when I receive subject lines that would embarrass the recipient if returned back to him. It's a nice way to keep the wheels greased.

[23402385985]

Tell them how shiTTTTy their spelling was.

[K.R.I.T.]

You're an assclown for posting this question. Assclown.

[tomwelling]

Obviously, you should correct it and just put a note in the body of the e-mail that states you corrected it. Nothing fancy, just a short statement.

They'll be impressed by your attention to detail.

[schooner]

...

[thecilent]

I think the real question to ask here is: is this really the type of firm you want to be working at? Auto-ding if you ask me

[thecilent]

Obviously, you should correct it and just put a note in the body of the e-mail that states you corrected it. Nothing fancy, just a short statement.

They'll be impressed by your attention to detail.

Yeah, his attention to detail in a way that makes the employer feel dumb and distracts from the other parts of his reply email. The goal isn't to demonstrate your spelling ability. It's to show your interpersonal skills and problem solving (how do I correct this bad typo without risking making the employer feel stupid).

If the OP changes the subject line or simply corrects the typo, without pointing it out, the employer will see the OP's attention to detail and appreciate the tact with which he handled it.

QF woooosh

[schooner]

..

[Aston2412]

I think the real question to ask here is: is this really the type of firm you want to be working at? Auto-ding if you ask me

If they want to give me a $160k a year and the only thing I give up in exchange is a lack of proofreading on their part? I hope you meant auto-admit.

[schooner]

...

[Aston2412]

I think the real question to ask here is: is this really the type of firm you want to be working at? Auto-ding if you ask me

If they want to give me a $160k a year and the only thing I give up in exchange is a lack of proofreading on their part? I hope you meant auto-admit.

thecilent and I were both kidding - making fun of the way employers auto-ding job applicants (who are potentially awesome workers) for stupid inconsequential things, like a typo in your resume. (You should never have a typo in your resume, though. That is an unforced error.)

I swear, spending too much time on TLS has made me interpret regular ole' sarcasm as stupidity.

Sorry!