UKcopy, the Proof Reading and English Correction service based in Sevenoaks, is most often kept busy correcting documents from abroad that have been translated into English. All over the planet everyone from academics to Internet marketers is using English to communicate in this modern interconnected world. This provides plenty of fodder for the people at UKcopy.
"We get some really interesting stuff." says Rob, "It varies from excellent grammar with just a few mistakes to the barely intelligible. We get a lot of websites that have been translated using an online service that make no sense at all!".
However, there seems to also be a new trend. More and more native English speakers from the UK are coming to them to correct official documents or letters that need to be sent to Government agencies and corporations.
"Often these are people with difficulties reading and writing. They may have dyslexia or sometimes they left school early to get a job or missed out on a lot of their education due to illness or delinquency." Rob explained. "What they all have in common in that they know they are more likely to be taken seriously if their English is up to scratch."
It seems that many of the British people contacting UKcopy have had bad experiences where letters or emails have been ignored or they have treated as though they don't deserve assistance because they find writing difficult.
"There is a tendency for people to equate linguistic ability with intelligence and with written communication they don't have a lot more to go on. As a result they are more likely to dismiss something written in simple broken English while taking something well written more serious than perhaps they should. Big words don't necessarily mean you know what your talking about!"
So, it would seem, that while dyslexia and other learning difficulties are appreciated and taken into account in schools these days there are still many adults suffering from discrimination due their poor English skills.
If your reading and writing level causes you difficulties or you have been the victim of discrimination why not tell us about it in the comments below?
UKcopy can be contacted via their website:
www.ukcopy.co.uk
or on Twitter:
@UKcopy
