I just read a review by a highly esteemed and prolific reviewer and while the content was mostly stellar, there was at least one glaring error. Should everyone have their work looked over by an editor or mentor?
Given that even the most experienced reviewer can miss grammar/spelling/fact checks do you think that everyone should have an editor or mentor check their work?
09/12/2012
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I'm not convinced that all of the editors are checking the work that carefully any way. I've found plenty of typos and grammar mistakes in prominent spots in published reviews that went through editing.
09/12/2012
While I don't do reviews, I see many reviews sent through with typos. I have had friends ask me to proofread their stuff before sending it in. I agree that some editors aren't even reading the reviews.
09/12/2012
I think so, it is disappointing to read a really good review and have it ruined by a simple spelling or grammatical error. It just annoys me when this happens.
09/12/2012
Quote:
I check my reviews quite a few times before I publish it. I was reading an old review of mine yesterday and found an error. I think most reviewers put effort to make sure it's good. We're all human to miss errors at the end of the day.
Originally posted by
Mikemanz
I just read a review by a highly esteemed and prolific reviewer and while the content was mostly stellar, there was at least one glaring error. Should everyone have their work looked over by an editor or mentor?
09/12/2012
I only recently started reviewing, but I have read some reviews that have been edited and I've found more than a few mistakes. As someone who is nit-picky about their own work, even after I obsess and obsess, there are still times when I go back and say, "Why in the world did I make that mistake?" I don't mind someone editing my work. I think everyone's work should be edited. Especially since I think of EF has a certain quality to it that is diminished by poorly edited reviews.
The only peeve I have is having my spacing messed with. I choose how I situate things for a specific reason. I want my writing to be read in a certain way as much as I have influence over it. However, I do understand how manipulating spacing can make things easier to read. (had to insert minor rant...)
The only peeve I have is having my spacing messed with. I choose how I situate things for a specific reason. I want my writing to be read in a certain way as much as I have influence over it. However, I do understand how manipulating spacing can make things easier to read. (had to insert minor rant...)
09/12/2012
I guess it can be useful for anyone...
09/12/2012
Quote:
Indeed, sounds good to me... ^^
Originally posted by
Master DarkWolf
I guess it can be useful for anyone...
09/12/2012
Quote:
^^ This.
Originally posted by
ellieprobable
I'm not convinced that all of the editors are checking the work that carefully any way. I've found plenty of typos and grammar mistakes in prominent spots in published reviews that went through editing.
The mentors and editors are also just volunteers/members of the site. I've found many errors in reviews that were edited or checked by a mentor. So I don't think having ALL reviews edited would do that much to improve things.
*OPINION ALERT*
There, you've been warned.
I think it all boils down to this: fallible humans write on this website. Fallible humans edit what other fallible humans write on this website. They are all volunteers, and playing on this website is just a fun hobby for most of us (it isn't a career). And even for those of us who may be professional writers or editors in the 3D world, when we're on Eden, we're just here having fun.
If an entire review is great but has 1 glaring error - who cares? Leave the reviewer a note so they can fix it if they want to, and then move on. It's just a typo on a website, in a review written by a volunteer who was willing to take the time out of their schedule to help us try to know a little more about an item.
I think we may have gone a little too far towards perfectionism around here, and expecting reviews to be absolutely perfect. When I see a review full of errors, I will sometimes change the rating I give it, and if it was edited by someone, I'll vote on their editing job too. But if it's a great review with 1 or 2 spelling/grammar errors - I'll either mention it to the reviewer, or just stop caring about it. I don't know, I just don't think it's worth worrying that much about.
My opinion has been known to vacillate on this subject though.
09/12/2012
Quote:
Oh see, I should have just "ditto-ed" this comment, and saved all that typing.
Originally posted by
deltalima
I check my reviews quite a few times before I publish it. I was reading an old review of mine yesterday and found an error. I think most reviewers put effort to make sure it's good. We're all human to miss errors at the end of the day.
09/12/2012
As a reviewer, we should double or even triple check our newly published reviews, we're responsible to fix the typos and grammar mistakes we've previously missed.
09/13/2012
Quote:
I wish there was an option to continue editing a review even after it has been published.
Originally posted by
Mikemanz
I just read a review by a highly esteemed and prolific reviewer and while the content was mostly stellar, there was at least one glaring error. Should everyone have their work looked over by an editor or mentor?
09/13/2012
Quote:
You can edit a review after it's been published, but only for a limited time. I'm not sure how long that limited time is -- I just know that I am able to edit some of my more recent reviews, but not my older ones.
Originally posted by
NarcissisticLust
I wish there was an option to continue editing a review even after it has been published.
09/13/2012
Quote:
I believe we have a time period of two months to do so.
Originally posted by
NarcissisticLust
I wish there was an option to continue editing a review even after it has been published.
09/13/2012
Given that the editors on this site are not professionals, no. I've seen plenty of typos in edited reviews. Also, editors always change my Australian English spelling to American English which is annoying.
09/13/2012
Quote:
I thought it was more like two weeks, but I could be wrong.
Originally posted by
Rossie
I believe we have a time period of two months to do so.
09/13/2012
I agree with indiglo, we are all human and we make mistakes!
09/13/2012
I think everyone should have someone look over their work, and maybe get a friend to look over it beforehand (as in, before subitted to EF).
09/13/2012
Quote:
Just did a search and found a posting by Sammi in this thread, quote:
Originally posted by
solitudinarian
I thought it was more like two weeks, but I could be wrong.
"The edit option is available for the first 21 days after the review is published, so if they're older than that, they can't be edited."
So that should be the correct information.
09/13/2012
Quote:
I have a few things to add, but first and foremost: why didn't you go tell them instead of coming here? You know, it's important to privately and kindly point minor errors out to a reviwer, especially if they're so "prolific" as you claim.
Originally posted by
Mikemanz
I just read a review by a highly esteemed and prolific reviewer and while the content was mostly stellar, there was at least one glaring error. Should everyone have their work looked over by an editor or mentor?
I personally think the editor program is jacked up because ANYBODY and EVERYBODY eventually gets in and if you've been around for a while, hello! Have you seen some of the editors' work? I remember I'd pay more attention when I was an editor, but some of it is just mind blowing and you know when it's a true mistake on their part or if they're just totally unqualified by reading several of their published reviews. Sadly, there are many editors and it's because editing is not as simple as it seems.
I make typing errors a lot. I get excited and I type quickly and go crazy sometimes, but I do revise. I literally spend hours on every review I write, but mistakes happen. No biggie unless you're an editor. In that case, mistakes are less tolerable because well, you signed up and said "hey, I can do this job" and then you can't, but yet you continue to edit for the points? That is poor behavior.
I personally have taken courses and still am on writing, revising and editing. I've spent a year in an editing class, so when I signed up, I knew I was qualified and have college credit to back it up. Not saying it should be a requirement, because that's not fair. But people should really look at their own reviews and study/recognize the simple errors that slip by them before being an editor.
I have books that I have read and can tell you exactly how many errors appear and on what pages! I'm pretty good I think. But I know I may miss things in my own reviews.
While I'm strict on myself because that's how I've been taught as a writer and editor, but I know it's harder with your own work. I'm not as hard on others as I am myself. If I see one mistake in a review, I think nothing of it and I don't let it change how I feel about the reviewer. If I see several, I might be wondering a little. Now if I see an editor that's published several reviews and more than one review contains a mistake, to be frank, I do not think they deserve to be an editor. Sorry, but I truly feel that some of us work HARD to make it as close to perfect as possible and then you have people who don't know the difference between than and then! Not to be rude about it, but I do think it's unfair to everybody at EF when editors cannot edit and yet they continue to do so. I can think of at least 5 who I've read more than 20 reviews full of errors, big errors!
However, I do know that mistakes happen. I remember one time while editing I had gotten a review from the task market, but when I would go to try and edit, it was not there. I kept looking and going back to my tasks and didn't see anything of it. So I really thought I had just made a mistake in thinking I took this review for a task! I thought I just missed something or was going crazy. A long while later, someone messaged me, one of the people who update you as an editor (Sammi or someone.)
Anyways, they said they came across a review I published and that it honestly did not look like it was ever seen! I flipped out. She gave me the link to the review, I read it and nearly had a stroke! It was buried back in my very first page of tasks. Somehow, although it was one of my last.
I was disappointed and kicked myself a hundred times for letting such a horribly written review go published. It was a weird thing seing that I was never able to "edit" or read the review when I "thought" I took it as a task. But mistakes happen, I try to get over it. I was able to go back and edit things, but told the person that it was a mistake that it was published and they would not be published again with that many unreadable errors.
I was also upset that the review had been read and rated poorly on my part and yet none of those people had the dam* decency to come to me and say "whoa! Kendra, this is not like you. What are you thinking publishing something with so many errors." Nothing. Nobody felt they had enough time to mention it to me, but were real happy to rate me poorly, which is understandable, but this is my point: you TELL the person. How do you ever expect them to learn if you rate them, but never bring anything to their attention? It's not friendly-like in my opinion. Of course I don't expect people to point out my mistakes or blame them, but it's very much something appreciated.
I have a few friends on EF who will always message me if they catch an error in my review. Once one of my friends here did and then worried I'd be upset. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it when someone just sends me a kind message giving me a heads up that I may have missed something. I do the same out of kindness. There's a difference in saying "you suck" and "I think you got too exicted and made an error."
Sure, we all make them, but the standards for an editor should be a lot higher than for a reviewer who's proven they can publish their own work and it be readable, conaining less than a few errors.
09/13/2012
Quote:
What ellieprobable said is pretty much what I think as well.
Originally posted by
ellieprobable
I'm not convinced that all of the editors are checking the work that carefully any way. I've found plenty of typos and grammar mistakes in prominent spots in published reviews that went through editing.
09/13/2012
We are all human--but nicely message the person and let them know! It is that simple.
09/13/2012
Quote:
many thoughtful points. the reviewer of whom i was referring is very prolific. they write a large number of reviews. the glaring error was in the header part of the review - the main synopsis. i didn't read further. i had just come from reading a review written by a self publisher with no fewer than 25 (i stopped counting) spelling and grammatical errors. i checked several more of their reviews and they were the same. this person is also an editor and a mentor. perhaps by the time i got to the one glaring error in the other reviewer's work i was already bothered. true, while reviews written at this site are mainly created by people just having fun and mostly as an avocation, is this reason enough to justify one mistake? maybe. would one glaring mistake per review be satisfactory to you in your work? sure, people are human, humans edit other humans, but over a third of responders said "nope, i don't need someone to look at my stuff". do you think that that high of a percentage of people will never make a mistake and therefore would not benefit from someone else editing their work? they do.
Originally posted by
K101
I have a few things to add, but first and foremost: why didn't you go tell them instead of coming here? You know, it's important to privately and kindly point minor errors out to a reviwer, especially if they're so "prolific" as
...
more
I have a few things to add, but first and foremost: why didn't you go tell them instead of coming here? You know, it's important to privately and kindly point minor errors out to a reviwer, especially if they're so "prolific" as you claim.
I personally think the editor program is jacked up because ANYBODY and EVERYBODY eventually gets in and if you've been around for a while, hello! Have you seen some of the editors' work? I remember I'd pay more attention when I was an editor, but some of it is just mind blowing and you know when it's a true mistake on their part or if they're just totally unqualified by reading several of their published reviews. Sadly, there are many editors and it's because editing is not as simple as it seems.
I make typing errors a lot. I get excited and I type quickly and go crazy sometimes, but I do revise. I literally spend hours on every review I write, but mistakes happen. No biggie unless you're an editor. In that case, mistakes are less tolerable because well, you signed up and said "hey, I can do this job" and then you can't, but yet you continue to edit for the points? That is poor behavior.
I personally have taken courses and still am on writing, revising and editing. I've spent a year in an editing class, so when I signed up, I knew I was qualified and have college credit to back it up. Not saying it should be a requirement, because that's not fair. But people should really look at their own reviews and study/recognize the simple errors that slip by them before being an editor.
I have books that I have read and can tell you exactly how many errors appear and on what pages! I'm pretty good I think. But I know I may miss things in my own reviews.
While I'm strict on myself because that's how I've been taught as a writer and editor, but I know it's harder with your own work. I'm not as hard on others as I am myself. If I see one mistake in a review, I think nothing of it and I don't let it change how I feel about the reviewer. If I see several, I might be wondering a little. Now if I see an editor that's published several reviews and more than one review contains a mistake, to be frank, I do not think they deserve to be an editor. Sorry, but I truly feel that some of us work HARD to make it as close to perfect as possible and then you have people who don't know the difference between than and then! Not to be rude about it, but I do think it's unfair to everybody at EF when editors cannot edit and yet they continue to do so. I can think of at least 5 who I've read more than 20 reviews full of errors, big errors!
However, I do know that mistakes happen. I remember one time while editing I had gotten a review from the task market, but when I would go to try and edit, it was not there. I kept looking and going back to my tasks and didn't see anything of it. So I really thought I had just made a mistake in thinking I took this review for a task! I thought I just missed something or was going crazy. A long while later, someone messaged me, one of the people who update you as an editor (Sammi or someone.)
Anyways, they said they came across a review I published and that it honestly did not look like it was ever seen! I flipped out. She gave me the link to the review, I read it and nearly had a stroke! It was buried back in my very first page of tasks. Somehow, although it was one of my last.
I was disappointed and kicked myself a hundred times for letting such a horribly written review go published. It was a weird thing seing that I was never able to "edit" or read the review when I "thought" I took it as a task. But mistakes happen, I try to get over it. I was able to go back and edit things, but told the person that it was a mistake that it was published and they would not be published again with that many unreadable errors.
I was also upset that the review had been read and rated poorly on my part and yet none of those people had the dam* decency to come to me and say "whoa! Kendra, this is not like you. What are you thinking publishing something with so many errors." Nothing. Nobody felt they had enough time to mention it to me, but were real happy to rate me poorly, which is understandable, but this is my point: you TELL the person. How do you ever expect them to learn if you rate them, but never bring anything to their attention? It's not friendly-like in my opinion. Of course I don't expect people to point out my mistakes or blame them, but it's very much something appreciated.
I have a few friends on EF who will always message me if they catch an error in my review. Once one of my friends here did and then worried I'd be upset. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it when someone just sends me a kind message giving me a heads up that I may have missed something. I do the same out of kindness. There's a difference in saying "you suck" and "I think you got too exicted and made an error."
Sure, we all make them, but the standards for an editor should be a lot higher than for a reviewer who's proven they can publish their own work and it be readable, conaining less than a few errors. less
I personally think the editor program is jacked up because ANYBODY and EVERYBODY eventually gets in and if you've been around for a while, hello! Have you seen some of the editors' work? I remember I'd pay more attention when I was an editor, but some of it is just mind blowing and you know when it's a true mistake on their part or if they're just totally unqualified by reading several of their published reviews. Sadly, there are many editors and it's because editing is not as simple as it seems.
I make typing errors a lot. I get excited and I type quickly and go crazy sometimes, but I do revise. I literally spend hours on every review I write, but mistakes happen. No biggie unless you're an editor. In that case, mistakes are less tolerable because well, you signed up and said "hey, I can do this job" and then you can't, but yet you continue to edit for the points? That is poor behavior.
I personally have taken courses and still am on writing, revising and editing. I've spent a year in an editing class, so when I signed up, I knew I was qualified and have college credit to back it up. Not saying it should be a requirement, because that's not fair. But people should really look at their own reviews and study/recognize the simple errors that slip by them before being an editor.
I have books that I have read and can tell you exactly how many errors appear and on what pages! I'm pretty good I think. But I know I may miss things in my own reviews.
While I'm strict on myself because that's how I've been taught as a writer and editor, but I know it's harder with your own work. I'm not as hard on others as I am myself. If I see one mistake in a review, I think nothing of it and I don't let it change how I feel about the reviewer. If I see several, I might be wondering a little. Now if I see an editor that's published several reviews and more than one review contains a mistake, to be frank, I do not think they deserve to be an editor. Sorry, but I truly feel that some of us work HARD to make it as close to perfect as possible and then you have people who don't know the difference between than and then! Not to be rude about it, but I do think it's unfair to everybody at EF when editors cannot edit and yet they continue to do so. I can think of at least 5 who I've read more than 20 reviews full of errors, big errors!
However, I do know that mistakes happen. I remember one time while editing I had gotten a review from the task market, but when I would go to try and edit, it was not there. I kept looking and going back to my tasks and didn't see anything of it. So I really thought I had just made a mistake in thinking I took this review for a task! I thought I just missed something or was going crazy. A long while later, someone messaged me, one of the people who update you as an editor (Sammi or someone.)
Anyways, they said they came across a review I published and that it honestly did not look like it was ever seen! I flipped out. She gave me the link to the review, I read it and nearly had a stroke! It was buried back in my very first page of tasks. Somehow, although it was one of my last.
I was disappointed and kicked myself a hundred times for letting such a horribly written review go published. It was a weird thing seing that I was never able to "edit" or read the review when I "thought" I took it as a task. But mistakes happen, I try to get over it. I was able to go back and edit things, but told the person that it was a mistake that it was published and they would not be published again with that many unreadable errors.
I was also upset that the review had been read and rated poorly on my part and yet none of those people had the dam* decency to come to me and say "whoa! Kendra, this is not like you. What are you thinking publishing something with so many errors." Nothing. Nobody felt they had enough time to mention it to me, but were real happy to rate me poorly, which is understandable, but this is my point: you TELL the person. How do you ever expect them to learn if you rate them, but never bring anything to their attention? It's not friendly-like in my opinion. Of course I don't expect people to point out my mistakes or blame them, but it's very much something appreciated.
I have a few friends on EF who will always message me if they catch an error in my review. Once one of my friends here did and then worried I'd be upset. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it when someone just sends me a kind message giving me a heads up that I may have missed something. I do the same out of kindness. There's a difference in saying "you suck" and "I think you got too exicted and made an error."
Sure, we all make them, but the standards for an editor should be a lot higher than for a reviewer who's proven they can publish their own work and it be readable, conaining less than a few errors. less
as for why i didn't approach that person instead of coming here the reason is simple. i'm relatively new to ef and in the short time i've been here i've read plenty of material about people downvoting for spite. so much so that the way individuals vote on reviews has been recently changed and is now hidden. i appreciate that you would like to know about your errors, i would also, personally. i suspect that MANY people would NOT feel that way.
so to help keep the quality of reviews up (this is what potential customers read - if it was my business i would want the quality of my web site content to be high) what would you do if it were up to you, personally, to change it?
my intent in posting this question was not to pick on any one in particular, or throw stones. my intent was to get an idea of how people who use the site felt.
thanks again for your opinion
09/13/2012
IMO, I want to know if I have grammatical errors. I like the extra set of eyes, hence why I try to have my hubby read my work too.
09/13/2012
It wouldn't bother me if everyone had editors, however as he editors here aren't professionals and are awarded points for this. It would most likely lead to people not even reading the review and publishing right away. As this happens as it is.
I know my reviews have errors in them. Doesn't bother me any. I am human and make many mistakes. I try my best and that is all the matters.
To me, as long as the typos don't change the meaning; I don't care. Basic grammar and the like isn't everyone's strong point. It certainly isn't mine. And there really isn't a need for someone to go all grammar Nazi on the person. Contact the person privately or go through the administration. Don't embarrass someone publicly on their own review. That is disrespectful.
I know my reviews have errors in them. Doesn't bother me any. I am human and make many mistakes. I try my best and that is all the matters.
To me, as long as the typos don't change the meaning; I don't care. Basic grammar and the like isn't everyone's strong point. It certainly isn't mine. And there really isn't a need for someone to go all grammar Nazi on the person. Contact the person privately or go through the administration. Don't embarrass someone publicly on their own review. That is disrespectful.
09/13/2012
Quote:
Just to clarify, on more than one occasion we as contributors have been asked by EF to not notify a reviewer if there are mistakes in the review as it can be taken the wrong way. The best solution is to either contact Sammi or JR and have them handle it. That way there are no worries about being misunderstood. So it's possible that Sammi contacting you was the result of someone else bringing that particular review to her attention.
Originally posted by
K101
I have a few things to add, but first and foremost: why didn't you go tell them instead of coming here? You know, it's important to privately and kindly point minor errors out to a reviwer, especially if they're so "prolific" as
...
more
I have a few things to add, but first and foremost: why didn't you go tell them instead of coming here? You know, it's important to privately and kindly point minor errors out to a reviwer, especially if they're so "prolific" as you claim.
I personally think the editor program is jacked up because ANYBODY and EVERYBODY eventually gets in and if you've been around for a while, hello! Have you seen some of the editors' work? I remember I'd pay more attention when I was an editor, but some of it is just mind blowing and you know when it's a true mistake on their part or if they're just totally unqualified by reading several of their published reviews. Sadly, there are many editors and it's because editing is not as simple as it seems.
I make typing errors a lot. I get excited and I type quickly and go crazy sometimes, but I do revise. I literally spend hours on every review I write, but mistakes happen. No biggie unless you're an editor. In that case, mistakes are less tolerable because well, you signed up and said "hey, I can do this job" and then you can't, but yet you continue to edit for the points? That is poor behavior.
I personally have taken courses and still am on writing, revising and editing. I've spent a year in an editing class, so when I signed up, I knew I was qualified and have college credit to back it up. Not saying it should be a requirement, because that's not fair. But people should really look at their own reviews and study/recognize the simple errors that slip by them before being an editor.
I have books that I have read and can tell you exactly how many errors appear and on what pages! I'm pretty good I think. But I know I may miss things in my own reviews.
While I'm strict on myself because that's how I've been taught as a writer and editor, but I know it's harder with your own work. I'm not as hard on others as I am myself. If I see one mistake in a review, I think nothing of it and I don't let it change how I feel about the reviewer. If I see several, I might be wondering a little. Now if I see an editor that's published several reviews and more than one review contains a mistake, to be frank, I do not think they deserve to be an editor. Sorry, but I truly feel that some of us work HARD to make it as close to perfect as possible and then you have people who don't know the difference between than and then! Not to be rude about it, but I do think it's unfair to everybody at EF when editors cannot edit and yet they continue to do so. I can think of at least 5 who I've read more than 20 reviews full of errors, big errors!
However, I do know that mistakes happen. I remember one time while editing I had gotten a review from the task market, but when I would go to try and edit, it was not there. I kept looking and going back to my tasks and didn't see anything of it. So I really thought I had just made a mistake in thinking I took this review for a task! I thought I just missed something or was going crazy. A long while later, someone messaged me, one of the people who update you as an editor (Sammi or someone.)
Anyways, they said they came across a review I published and that it honestly did not look like it was ever seen! I flipped out. She gave me the link to the review, I read it and nearly had a stroke! It was buried back in my very first page of tasks. Somehow, although it was one of my last.
I was disappointed and kicked myself a hundred times for letting such a horribly written review go published. It was a weird thing seing that I was never able to "edit" or read the review when I "thought" I took it as a task. But mistakes happen, I try to get over it. I was able to go back and edit things, but told the person that it was a mistake that it was published and they would not be published again with that many unreadable errors.
I was also upset that the review had been read and rated poorly on my part and yet none of those people had the dam* decency to come to me and say "whoa! Kendra, this is not like you. What are you thinking publishing something with so many errors." Nothing. Nobody felt they had enough time to mention it to me, but were real happy to rate me poorly, which is understandable, but this is my point: you TELL the person. How do you ever expect them to learn if you rate them, but never bring anything to their attention? It's not friendly-like in my opinion. Of course I don't expect people to point out my mistakes or blame them, but it's very much something appreciated.
I have a few friends on EF who will always message me if they catch an error in my review. Once one of my friends here did and then worried I'd be upset. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it when someone just sends me a kind message giving me a heads up that I may have missed something. I do the same out of kindness. There's a difference in saying "you suck" and "I think you got too exicted and made an error."
Sure, we all make them, but the standards for an editor should be a lot higher than for a reviewer who's proven they can publish their own work and it be readable, conaining less than a few errors. less
I personally think the editor program is jacked up because ANYBODY and EVERYBODY eventually gets in and if you've been around for a while, hello! Have you seen some of the editors' work? I remember I'd pay more attention when I was an editor, but some of it is just mind blowing and you know when it's a true mistake on their part or if they're just totally unqualified by reading several of their published reviews. Sadly, there are many editors and it's because editing is not as simple as it seems.
I make typing errors a lot. I get excited and I type quickly and go crazy sometimes, but I do revise. I literally spend hours on every review I write, but mistakes happen. No biggie unless you're an editor. In that case, mistakes are less tolerable because well, you signed up and said "hey, I can do this job" and then you can't, but yet you continue to edit for the points? That is poor behavior.
I personally have taken courses and still am on writing, revising and editing. I've spent a year in an editing class, so when I signed up, I knew I was qualified and have college credit to back it up. Not saying it should be a requirement, because that's not fair. But people should really look at their own reviews and study/recognize the simple errors that slip by them before being an editor.
I have books that I have read and can tell you exactly how many errors appear and on what pages! I'm pretty good I think. But I know I may miss things in my own reviews.
While I'm strict on myself because that's how I've been taught as a writer and editor, but I know it's harder with your own work. I'm not as hard on others as I am myself. If I see one mistake in a review, I think nothing of it and I don't let it change how I feel about the reviewer. If I see several, I might be wondering a little. Now if I see an editor that's published several reviews and more than one review contains a mistake, to be frank, I do not think they deserve to be an editor. Sorry, but I truly feel that some of us work HARD to make it as close to perfect as possible and then you have people who don't know the difference between than and then! Not to be rude about it, but I do think it's unfair to everybody at EF when editors cannot edit and yet they continue to do so. I can think of at least 5 who I've read more than 20 reviews full of errors, big errors!
However, I do know that mistakes happen. I remember one time while editing I had gotten a review from the task market, but when I would go to try and edit, it was not there. I kept looking and going back to my tasks and didn't see anything of it. So I really thought I had just made a mistake in thinking I took this review for a task! I thought I just missed something or was going crazy. A long while later, someone messaged me, one of the people who update you as an editor (Sammi or someone.)
Anyways, they said they came across a review I published and that it honestly did not look like it was ever seen! I flipped out. She gave me the link to the review, I read it and nearly had a stroke! It was buried back in my very first page of tasks. Somehow, although it was one of my last.
I was disappointed and kicked myself a hundred times for letting such a horribly written review go published. It was a weird thing seing that I was never able to "edit" or read the review when I "thought" I took it as a task. But mistakes happen, I try to get over it. I was able to go back and edit things, but told the person that it was a mistake that it was published and they would not be published again with that many unreadable errors.
I was also upset that the review had been read and rated poorly on my part and yet none of those people had the dam* decency to come to me and say "whoa! Kendra, this is not like you. What are you thinking publishing something with so many errors." Nothing. Nobody felt they had enough time to mention it to me, but were real happy to rate me poorly, which is understandable, but this is my point: you TELL the person. How do you ever expect them to learn if you rate them, but never bring anything to their attention? It's not friendly-like in my opinion. Of course I don't expect people to point out my mistakes or blame them, but it's very much something appreciated.
I have a few friends on EF who will always message me if they catch an error in my review. Once one of my friends here did and then worried I'd be upset. I can't tell you how much I appreciate it when someone just sends me a kind message giving me a heads up that I may have missed something. I do the same out of kindness. There's a difference in saying "you suck" and "I think you got too exicted and made an error."
Sure, we all make them, but the standards for an editor should be a lot higher than for a reviewer who's proven they can publish their own work and it be readable, conaining less than a few errors. less
Personally, when I come across a glaring error, I message the editor privately to let them know. But not everyone may be comfortable doing so.
And to answer the original question, no I don't think that everyone needs to have their work read by an editor. However, I think that self editing based on rank doesn't work.
09/13/2012
Yes, It makes sense; anyone can miss an error
09/13/2012
I'm with Kindred when it comes to self editing based on rank. Some people still need to be edited even after that benchmark.
If a contributor is a self editor and has a typo - I'll send them a message and let them know. Feel free to do the same for me.
If an editor lets error after error go - contact Sammi. Take into consideration that editing reviews is not as easy as it may sound. Some of the reviews that come through are - interesting. Editors are limited as to what they can actually do. However, when an editor doesn't invest any time in a review and just signs off on it (yeah, it happens) then they shouldn't be editing at all.
If a contributor is a self editor and has a typo - I'll send them a message and let them know. Feel free to do the same for me.
If an editor lets error after error go - contact Sammi. Take into consideration that editing reviews is not as easy as it may sound. Some of the reviews that come through are - interesting. Editors are limited as to what they can actually do. However, when an editor doesn't invest any time in a review and just signs off on it (yeah, it happens) then they shouldn't be editing at all.
09/13/2012
hey i know i make typos and errors a lot ... if people would learn to use the spelling and grammar check on MSWord then it wouldn't be a problem lol
09/13/2012
As Kindred and TheSinDoll said above, if you find an edited review that has errors, please send it to me (either as a message, or in an email to sammi@edenfantasys.com ). I'm always happy to look them over and contact the editor with the mistakes they made and what corrections should have been made.
Spelling and grammar checkers miss a lot, especially if the misspelled word is actually a word, so they shouldn't be too heavily relied on. Try running this through Word's spelling and grammar checker and see what it actually picks out (it's an extreme example, but you see what I mean )
"Eye halve a spelling checker, it came with my pea sea. It plainly marks four my revue miss steaks eye kin knot sea. I strike a quay and type a word and weight for it to say weather eye yam wrong oar write. It shows me strait a weigh as soon as a mist ache is maid. It nose bee fore two long and eye can put the error rite. Its rare lea ever wrong; Eye have run this poem threw it, I am shore your pleased to no. Its letter-perfect awl the way- my checker told me sew."
Spelling and grammar checkers miss a lot, especially if the misspelled word is actually a word, so they shouldn't be too heavily relied on. Try running this through Word's spelling and grammar checker and see what it actually picks out (it's an extreme example, but you see what I mean )
"Eye halve a spelling checker, it came with my pea sea. It plainly marks four my revue miss steaks eye kin knot sea. I strike a quay and type a word and weight for it to say weather eye yam wrong oar write. It shows me strait a weigh as soon as a mist ache is maid. It nose bee fore two long and eye can put the error rite. Its rare lea ever wrong; Eye have run this poem threw it, I am shore your pleased to no. Its letter-perfect awl the way- my checker told me sew."
09/13/2012
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