If anyone can sympathize with embarrassing writing, it's Gary Seigel, but few can top his story of being exposed on national television.

Before he became known as the Grammar Guy, Dr. Seigel was a professor with Rutgers University, and also was on staff at a Los Angeles community college. Yet, despite earning a doctorate in English, Seigel wasn't into the details of punctuation and grammar.

"I had written my whole life, and the editors would criticize me for the lack of proofreading to the point that I decided to get some help," recalls Seigel. " I am creative and outgoing and have a hard time sitting in a cubicle going over my work. So I took a class from one of the editors, and she worked with me."

Meanwhile, Seigel's entrepreneurial spirit led him to own a franchise called California Closets. "I took off from teaching and did the marketing and advertising for the company. The copy had to be perfect, so the work with the consultant helped me improve my writing skills."

Alas, some of California Closets' franchisees weren't so careful with their advertising copy.

One evening, Seigel was relaxing at home watching The Tonight Show, when host Jay Leno got out his familiar black cards with cut-outs of newspapers ads and articles filled with giggle-inducing errors. When he pulled out an ad for California Closets, Seigel froze in horror.

The ad showed a woman and her dog inside a California Closet, and the tagline said, "Hopelessly romantic."

"Leno went to town on it," recalls a chagrined Seigel. "Even though it wasn't one of my ads, I was still embarrassed for the company. Whoever wrote that ad had no idea that viewers would construe a sexual connotation."

It seemed that no matter where Seigel went in life, the importance of syntax, spelling, punctuation, and good grammar kept coming back to haunt him.

"When I sold the franchise three years ago, I decided to do what I love best," says Seigel, "Combine my business background with teaching, and so I went into the speaking business."

Seigel began to do workshops and seminars all over the country. "The topic that I liked the best and relate the best to people was grammar, proofreading, editing and communication."

But is it possible to teach adults grammar? And do they want to learn? And how can you hold their attention?

"I can feel their pain," explains Seigel. "I went from being criticized for proofreading errors to becoming a proofreader. Teachers are sometimes perfectionists - I want to run the Comedy Store in a classroom.

"I create an atmosphere that allows people to feel comfortable and allows people to learn rules that they never learned or can't remember," he adds. "From the start, I ask what are some of the most painful embarrassing experiences that the students have had, because we are all in the same boat."

How does grammar relate to real estate? Grammar can also affect the bottom line. A local Coldwell Banker broker contacted Seigel recently and told him that the company was getting Internet inquiries, but the agents weren't able to make the inquirers into customers. "One reason they lost customers is they don't know how to write an effective e-mail, so I went in and taught them who the customer is and how to respond effectively to that person. It's not easy for some people, especially personnel in the field, to enjoy writing reports or correspondence, so I am aware of how difficult it can be for them to communicate in writing."

"Most agents I met were afraid to show me their e-mails and that tells me that we don't do the writing we need to do because we are afraid to show it to other people," says Seigel. "The workshops and seminars are designed to make them feel confident and comfortable with their writing. Business writing is a means to solve a problem, it doesn't need to be long - just clear and concise."

Dr. Seigel joins the distinguished columnists for Agent News and Realty Times. Look for his upcoming, humorous articles on business writing in future editions of Agent News. Contact him at grammarguy1@aol.com, or call him at 1-800-815-9507.

Published: December 6, 2001

Use of this article without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.

Blanche is a renowned author of five real estate books. Her newest, Bubbles, Booms and Busts: Make Money In Any Real Estate Market, McGraw-Hill, was rave-reviewed by The New York Times. She was also selected from hundreds of real estate experts to contribute to Donald Trump's book, Trump: The Best Real Estate Advice I Ever Received: 100 Top Experts Share Their Strategies, Rutledge Hill Press, and is featured on page 68. Order Now Review - Honors In 2006, Blanche was selected among scores of candidates to author two consumer real estate guidebooks for the National Association of Realtors: The NAR Guide to Home Buying, and The NAR Guide to Home Selling, Wiley & Sons. She is currently planning two new books for the NAR and its members.       Known for her keen insight into real estate industry issues and for her ability to make complex subjects easy to understand, Blanche is a sought-after keynote and continuing education speaker. Real estate organizations from MLSs, to brokerages, to franchisors, to associations hire her to provide up-to-the-minute analysis of real estate industry news and advice on how to improve revenues. Her passionate delivery, peppered with stinging wit, is a huge hit with audiences and fans. Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors, Blanche Evans, Richard Courtney, president 2007, GRAR "The GNAR membership meeting last week featured Blanche Evans as the keynote speaker. Her comments and insights resonated extremely well with those in attendance and we have had many requests for copies of her PowerPoint Presentation. She was a terrific part of the membership meeting and convention program!" - Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors Coverage from WSMV, Nashville - 8-14-2007 That Interview Guy - Get Inside The Head Of Today's Generation 2007 AE Institute Session - To purchase 2006 AE Institute Session - Parts 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 HouseValues Mastermind call - Parts 1 2 Blanche's fireside chat with Jeremy Conaway, HAR - Click here. For more articles by Blanche, click here.