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Screening heuristics
Read time3 min readUpdatedDecember 2025

Spelling errors carry real weight in recruiter judgment

Practical research that makes the product feel like a recruiter wrote it.

The Penalty

Error Penalty

Spelling and grammar errors measurably reduce interview chances and trigger negative inferences.12

Source
Sterkens et al. (2023) PLOS ONE synthesis

Form vs. Content

Evidence suggests errors are interpreted as signals of lower conscientiousness and weaker written communication, which affects screening outcomes.12

The Error Penalty Chain

Error Spotted

Typo, grammar, inconsistency

Trait Inference

Low attention to detail, carelessness

Risk Assessment

Higher perceived hiring risk

Callback Penalty

Reduced interview chances

Small errors → Big inferences. Recruiters treat typos as signals about work quality, not just carelessness.

Fig. 1 — Error CascadeHow spelling errors trigger trait inferences and hiring penalties

Errors act as a gate

In large resume stacks, screening shortcuts rule. Errors are interpreted as signals, not as isolated mistakes. The evidence links them to lower interview probabilities and to negative trait inferences.12

The 'Conscientiousness' Signal

Recruiters view spelling not as a literacy test, but as a proxy for attention to detail and professional care.12

Definition: form errors

Form errors include spelling mistakes, grammar mistakes, inconsistent formatting, and layout artifacts that signal carelessness. These errors are processed quickly and often shape the initial decision.1

What to fix first

  • •Spelling and grammar consistency.
  • •Date alignment and spacing.
  • •Repeated tense shifts inside a single role.

FAQ

Do a few typos really matter?

The research suggests that even small errors can create negative trait inferences that reduce interview chances.

Is grammar more important than content?

Content still matters, but form errors can block the content from being evaluated at all.

What is the fastest fix?

Run a dedicated error pass, then fix spacing, punctuation, and tense consistency.

What this changes in RIYP

01

Dedicated 'Error Pass'

In Top Fixes, we prioritize a dedicated error check before deep content analysis.

02

Visual Credibility

We enforce consistent formatting because inconsistency reads as 'error' to the scanning eye.

Related Research

How People ScanPsychologyHow Recruiters ReadResearchResume Length MythsStructure

Sources

  1. Costly mistakes: Evidence on spelling errors in résumés - PLOS ONE (via PMC) (2023).
  2. Costly mistakes: Evidence on spelling errors in résumés (working paper) - EconStor (2021).
  3. Do Recruiters Infer Applicant Personality from Resumes? - International Journal of Selection and Assessment (2017).

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