It's Code Section 501(c)(3)

I realize that about a third of our readers are not in the United States, but this post is for the benefit of the Americans. Feel free to continue reading, but it won't impact your life.

Do any of the following drive you crazy?

"Its going to be a good day."

"Were do you want to have dinner?"

"Let's go over to you're house."

"They love there new car."

When you read those, do you want to grab a pen and fix the mistake on your computer screen? I do.

Let me share a new one with you that that causes me pain every time I see it. If you are writing about a tax exempt entity and want to cite the Internal Revenue Code to describe such entity, you should describe the entity as a "Section 501(c)(3) organization." It is not a 501C3. Nor is it a 501(c)3. I am flabbergasted by the number of large organizations that write this incorrectly on their website and major publications. This evening, I was reading about half a dozen different charities. All of them had this wrong. To the charities out there: I'm sorry, but it's hard for me to continue reading your website and taking you seriously when you describe yourself as a "501C3."

So, to be clear, if you really want to write this correctly, you should write, "We are a non-profit organization that is tax exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended." I'm ok if you shorten this a a bit, but, please, include the proper parenthesis.

Along the same lines, you save for retirement with a 401(k) plan, NOT a 401k or 401(K) plan.

Little things like that drive me crazy.