Between email, text messaging, blog comments, and other forms of social media, the rules of the English language have taken a serious beating over the last few years. Punctuation is out, abbreviations are in, and many Americans, including some marketers, are having a hard time putting together a decent sentence.

What's the big deal? Stick with me. There's a larger point.

I've read in several places that, when engaging in social media, we needn't be as concerned with the formalities of the language. Maybe. But I lean toward the belief that, when presenting your company to the public through your marketing copy, it's always important to make sure you're using the language properly.

That brings me back to one of my pet peeves: the improper use of the adjective "everyday" and the phrase "every day." (Read my first post on this subject here.) I know I should take up a more exciting hobby, but over the last few years I've collected several examples of this misuse. One is pictured above ("59 cents everyday").

Here's the rule: "Everyday" (one word) is an adjective. Example: These are my everyday shoes. "Every day" (two words) is an adverbial phrase. Example: I go to work every day.

And here's the larger point I promised. True, many people won't notice if you've made the error, but many people may. Those who do might wonder, "If this company is careless about the messages it puts in front of the public, what other details do they ignore when no one is looking?" Is that really the question you want prospective customers asking themselves after reading your marketing copy?