Skip to content

21 Keys to Profitable Relationships – Key #2

Always double check how you spell people’s names correctly.

In Key #1 I talk about the importance of remembering people’s first names. Just as important, you want to make sure you use the correct spelling of people’s names.

This is one of my wee sticklers. 😉 I have an unusual name spelling myself. Here’s something you may not know about me: As I’m Scottish – though born in Canada – my parents gave me the name Mairi, which is Gaelic for Mary. When in Scotland, I would tell people my name was Mairi like marigold.

But, when I moved to the United States in ’99, people pronounce marigold like marygold here! So, I dropped the silent middle “i” and tell people my name is like calamari now. Okay, I know squid is certainly not as attractive as a flower. Lol. If you can think of a better example, I’d love to know!

Many of my buds on Facebook and Twitter have unusually spelled names and I recommend making a point of double — sometimes triple – checking that you get the spelling correct. This reinforces the subliminal message that you CARE.

Here are a couple examples of my buds:

image JoLynn Braley @TheFitShack on Twitter.

JoLynn’s name isn’t that difficult to spell, but note she uses uppercase “L” in the middle of her name! 😉

image Deontée Gordon @deontee on Twitter.

I love how Deontée has an accent on the first “e.” Did you know you can make this e by pressing Alt+130: é! See my secret stash of Alt Codes here. Alternatively, you can copy and paste special characters.

Cheers,

image

P.S. Want to receive all 21 Keys to Profitable Relationships as an e-course? Just enter your first name and email in the blue form to the top right! ^|^

31 Comments

  1. Jess Webb on May 24, 2010 at 7:48 am

    So so true… My shortened name, Jess, is pretty hard to spell wrong – but I'll STILL get people on the phone who think it's JEFF (do I SOUND like a man?) and it always annoys me. My full name is Jessica, and they usually spell that right, but I am also known by Jesse – which is usually mis-spelled. *sigh*

    So even common names it seems can trip people up!

  2. Woody Collins on May 16, 2010 at 1:35 pm

    Hi Mari,

    Along with remembering a person's name and spelling, one should not ASSUME or try to change a person's name. My name is Woody. In my hometown, I will excuse people for changing my name to Woodrow, since that's my father's name. BUT it is inexcusable half-way across the US for someone to change my name to Woodrow. Normally, I include my middle initial when possible to put everyone on notice that my name is really Woody.
    Getting off the soapbox, Thanks, Woody M. Collins

    • Mari Smith on May 16, 2010 at 9:33 pm

      Wowee, what a fabulous comment – thanks so much, Woody. I really love it when peeps get my name right too… and am often amazed when people spell Mary or Marie even when writing on my Facebook fan page, for example. LOL! 😉

  3. Pamela on May 8, 2010 at 6:57 pm

    It definitely is a common courtesy to make sure the spelling of the name is correct. Just as pronouncing it incorrectly can really cause an awkward situation as well. So I will be focusing on these two points. Thanks Mari

  4. Melissa on March 30, 2010 at 11:45 am

    You are so right Mari! Most people spell my name wrong with either two L’s or one S. I appreciate it a lot when people get it right!

  5. Kathie on March 24, 2010 at 6:35 am

    You are so right Mari.

    How do you feel when you receive something like for example, an invitation to a wedding shower and your name is mis-spelled? If you are such a personal friend, invited you to her shower, shouldn’t your friend at least get your name right?

    Also for online, my name is Kathryn but I do perfer the
    shorter Kathie, spelled as such not with a C or a y or anything else -thank you.

  6. Lorian Rivers on October 26, 2009 at 4:22 am

    I have spent my whole life having people misprounounce (and write) my name wrong. It’s “Lorian”….pronouned Lor-ee-un and it is NOT Lorraine, LoryAnn, Lauren, etc etc etc. Anyone that I talk to for the first time that actually says it correctly is my friend for life! lol

    I actually had a boss that called me Laurie for 9 years….and prounounced it that way!

    So I did the same thing to my daughter…named her Jocelyn. You would not believe what they can do with that!

  7. Jane Unsworth on October 4, 2009 at 9:55 am

    Thanks Mari

    Loving the 21 keys … and great point about name spelling … the alt codes are great too …

    Is there another list for the Apple Mac as these codes are for windows apps?

    Have tweeted you … trying out your name with a suggestion for your name … although as a brit I don’t know if it works in the US … oh well I’d best say it here now eh!

    The suggestion was … you could say your name is Mari and it rhymes with Sari a beautifully elegant garment traditionally worn by Asian women …

    Jane 🙂

  8. Walethia on September 4, 2009 at 3:40 am

    I don’t know why I can’t connect to my “Tweeter”page.

  9. Walethia on September 4, 2009 at 3:33 am

    This is a very interesting post. My name is Walethia. I’ve been called Quanita, Walthia, Walenthia, so many I can’t remember.

    My name has been spelled Wylethia, Wythia, and the above mispelling.

    When someone reads my name correctly my ears perk up.

    But I’m not the one to throw stones, I’ve mispronounced many names, that is why I always let the other person know its OK. I don’t make a big deal out of it, I usually laugh it off when my name is mispronouced.

  10. Pamela on May 26, 2009 at 5:58 pm

    Mari,

    Excellent choice to help people to spell the name correctly. It’s good to know there is always a way to correct any problem if you just get creative. It is definitely worth the effort and I can see where you may lose credibility with someone if you can’t even spell the name correct or take the time. So once again excellent tip. Thanks!

Leave a Comment





This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Scroll To Top