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Testimonial Ethics Question...

by Mike Schwenk
11 replies
Hey Folks,

Just a quick question in regard to testimonials for you...

If you receive a testimonial from customers (in my case clients) that has a lot of grammatical/spelling errors... would you edit its contents to correct the errors?

Personally, I wouldn't see much of an issue as long as the feedback's integrity is preserved.

But, perhaps I am wrong.

Thoughts?
#ethics #question #testimonial
  • Profile picture of the author Theory5
    I would edit it, but first I would ask permission or put a little note at the bottom saying that it had been edited for spelling and grammar.
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  • Profile picture of the author tpw
    I agree. I will usually correct the errors in grammar, so long as I don't change the nuance of the original comments.

    To be safe, you can always ask the person if it is okay first.
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  • Profile picture of the author WillR
    I would correct any really bad mistakes but you know what, sometimes it ads to the authenticity of the testimonial. Lets face it, not everyone has perfect english, grammar and spelling. So you may want to leave a few as is.
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    • Profile picture of the author Mike Schwenk
      Originally Posted by WillR View Post

      I would correct any really bad mistakes but you know what, sometimes it ads to the authenticity of the testimonial. Lets face it, not everyone has perfect english, grammar and spelling. So you may want to leave a few as is.
      Hey Will,

      I had the same thoughts as well.

      In general...I suppose it could have somewhat to do with the market that your product (or service) is in.

      Some prospective buyers/clients may be part of an industry that would discount the value of said persons review, if it has a lot of errors.


      In any case, I think I will go with asking permission if I feel it's necessary.

      I just wanted to see how others felt.

      Thanks for the responses!
      -Mike
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    • Profile picture of the author SamirSM
      Originally Posted by WillR View Post

      I would correct any really bad mistakes but you know what, sometimes it ads to the authenticity of the testimonial. Lets face it, not everyone has perfect english, grammar and spelling. So you may want to leave a few as is.
      I totally agree with WillR. If you have perfectly written testimonials that are not original, you defeat the purpose of having testimonials in the first place.
      You could just as well have faked a few or just given the contact info of the clients.
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  • Profile picture of the author Doug Slaton
    I try to be more diplomatic. As soon as I get a testimonial I ask if I can edit it so it will fit where I want to put it. Everybody I've ever asked has been okay with that. For me 'fit' isn't just about size I'm also looking for a spelling and grammar 'fit'.
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  • Profile picture of the author Gorilla
    There should be no problem with grammatical or spelling corrections. If you do not alter the feedback to place yourself in a more positive light or in any way that changes the client's intent, it should be no issue.

    BTW, I would not indicate anywhere that spelling or grammatical errors have been corrected. This would only serve to possibly embarrass your clients.

    ...
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  • Profile picture of the author Michael Oksa
    I would edit it first, then send the revised copy to the testimonial writer; asking if it was okay as edited.

    My reasoning is that if MY name is attached to a testimonial, I would like it to be correct as far as spelling and grammar goes.

    All the best,
    Michael
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  • Profile picture of the author John Atkins
    Yes, I would fix spelling mistakes myself. Nothing wrong
    with that as long as you don't change the context.
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