I know people wonder why I often use sports sentences to display examples of editing. That's simple: I find more sports sentences that need editing. Most (but not all) of the news and feature material I read is well edited.
Let's look at this one:
Walden’s shoulder hit what appeared to be Cutler’s shoulder while outside linebacker Clay Matthews was tackling the quarterback.
Is this the same?
Walden’s shoulder appeared to hit Cutler’s shoulder while outside linebacker Clay Matthews was tackling the quarterback.
It's a minor edit, but I think it's better this way.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
Who vs. whom, again
I hate to go back to "who vs. whom" again, but it appears necessary. Found online:
After all, whom are the Dolphins going to get to replace Sparano on an interim basis?
After all, whom are the Dolphins going to get to replace Sparano on an interim basis?
Saturday, September 24, 2011
To my sister and I
I just heard an author on radio say "to my sister and I." No. I believe that would be "to my sister and me." To me, you wouldn't say "to I."
I do understand his mistake. It's easier to write right than it is to speak correctly.
I do understand his mistake. It's easier to write right than it is to speak correctly.
><
EMAIL: tgilli52@gmail.com TWITTER: EDITORatWORK
MORE EDITOR@WORK BLOG ENTRIES
BLOG ENTRIES BY TOM GILLISPIE
ANECDOTES BY TOM GILLISPIE
ENTRIES FROM THE DOG BLOG
(a book of great stories about the Intimidator)
(the book of great NASCAR stories)
National Punctuation Day
For all of you writers and editors out there, today is National Punctuation Day. I don't know if there is anything big planned -- picnics, fireworks, trick or treaters -- but I wish we could do something.
Obviously, punctuation is near and dear to me.
Obviously, punctuation is near and dear to me.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
COMMENT: You need an editor
Here's a comment from a reader on my post about writers needing editors (whether they think they do or not):
Thanks for the comment, WordzGuy.
- +1, as the kids say. Roger Angell, who knows a thing or two about writing, once said this:
"Every writer needs a good editor. All of them, even the best. It's interesting that the older and best-known and most professional writers are the ones who really appreciate an editor. Young writers are terrified. They think, 'What I've done should not be touched.'"
I will also venture to observe that in these "I don't need an editor" discussions, the writer is probably thinking only about things like minor grammatical errors and typos. Whereas editing encompasses such issues as identifying who exactly the writer is talking to, and why they need the information; whether the information is being presented in a logical and useful order; whether it contains fluff or obscurity, or is simply incomplete; etc.
Thanks for the comment, WordzGuy.
><
EMAIL: tgilli52@gmail.com TWITTER: EDITORatWORK
MORE EDITOR@WORK BLOG ENTRIES
BLOG ENTRIES BY TOM GILLISPIE
ANECDOTES BY TOM GILLISPIE
ENTRIES FROM THE DOG BLOG
(a book of great stories about the Intimidator)
(the book of great NASCAR stories)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)