The Importance of Good Grammar for Bid Writers

As bid writers, we are often faced with producing a large amount of copy in a very short space of time. This can lead to us slipping in to bad habits easily, as the pressure to meet deadlines inevitably forces the bid writer to compromise on quality. While this doesn’t mean that the bid writer is bad at what they do, it does call for a thorough check, and for many of us to revisit the basics from time to time, to remember how to undertake outstanding bid writing.

Anyone who has a love of language will know the frustration of seeing poor grammar in our day to day life. Picking up a menu only to find missing apostrophes or punctuation in the wrong place can make a bid writer laugh, or simply remind us that we are skilled at our craft, and that is why there is a role for bid writing in the overall bid management process. Many Tenders UK customers admit to that they detest writing, and this can be evident in the quality of the copy which is submitted for proofing.

The problem with poor grammar is that it detracts from the overall message being delivered to the buyer. Just as a recruitment consultant will probably discard a CV that is riddled with spelling errors and typing issues, so an evaluator can discount a proposal document solely on the basis of it being poorly constructed.

With a CV, it stands to reason that the potential candidate may not be ideal, if they can’t spend a little time refining the document which represents them. Similarly, a bid document stands as representation for the company on behalf of which the bid writer is creating copy. A poor standard of copy shows a lack of attention to detail, and immediately makes the evaluator question the professionalism and efficiency of the organisation being represented by the proposal writing.

With this in mind, effective bid writers spend a little time polishing up on their grammatical skills to ensure that documents read well. The best tender writing is written in such a way that the words themselves are unobtrusive, enabling the evaluator to get straight to the message which is being imparted.

Spelling mistakes or typing errors break up the flow of text, disrupting the reading process and drawing negative attention to the copy. By ensuring that the text is seamless and clear of mistakes, mirroring the recipient’s brand preferences where possible, the proposal writer can give their document the strongest possible chance of winning the contract.