If you're not getting much action on your online dating profile of late you might have to go back to school for some lessons in basic English. 

Research by The Wall Street Journal has revealed that bad grammar is the biggest turn off for online daters. 

Messages such as ‘hey how r u?' and ‘Do you wanna meet up' may be the putting out the flame of romance before it's had a chance to ignite. 

The study looks at cases of singles who had rejected potential dates, not due to boring interests or dodgy profile pictures, but because of incorrect spelling or punctuation.

One online dater Jeff Cohen had arranged to meet a woman he met on OKCupid but stopped in his tracks when he reread her message and discovered this error: 'I will see you their.'

Jeff cancelled the date, for a number of reasons he says, but the bad grammar was a contributing factor. 

Now he even uses a specialised app called the Grade, which gives people sending messages a grade from A+ to F based on their punctuality and spelling.   

However it is men who are most likely to fare worse in the dating game when it comes to people who are particularly picky about grammar.

A Match.com study found that a huge majority of women think that good grammar is essential.

Of the 5,000 single women who responded, 96 per cent rated good grammar over the confidence of their future partner - and even the condition of their teeth.

Another analysis by Grammarly, a proofreading company, revealed that a man with two spelling mistakes in his online profile was 14 per cent less likely to receive a positive response.

Poor spelling by women, however, didn't affect their chances of successfully attracting potential dates.

However, there is evidence to suggest that those who dismiss profiles with bad spelling or grammar may not just be pedants, as there is a very practical reason to avoid errors.

Sift Science, a fraud detection company, has found that spelling and grammar mistakes are often linked with online scams. 

For example if you come across the spelling ‘ur', that message is 3.8 times as likely to be fraudulent.

Experts also suggest that it shows a lack of effort, something which turns many women off, whether it's your English or your personal hygiene.

Dating app The Grade was introduced last year to give users a school-style marking system depending how how well they presented themselves.

As well as spelling, singles are also graded on how well they interact and whether they send inappropriate messages.

If they fail to get a D average then they will be kicked off the app, or as the creators of the app put it, 'Make the grade or be expelled'.

The aim is to weed out users who are unpopular, unresponsive and inappropriate. 

Popularity is assessed on how often the person is 'liked' by their fellow users and the quality of their profile, including pictures and a brief description.