The
first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group
day. Members post about their doubts and
fears, discuss struggles and triumphs, and offer words of encouragement to
others who are struggling. If you aren't a member...please feel free to join us. We'd love to have you.
I'm going to post today on another p word: Proofing and it's importance.
Usually at some point during the morning I pull up my day's blog post and give it a quick peruse and read my comments. Last month, I sat down with my morning coffee, turned on CNN, pulled up my blog and gasped! On my short post, and y'all know most of mine aren't long:), was two--count them--two errors. One: I'd used the word to instead of too. And yes I'm using too many to, too, twos, close together:) And a sentence so awkward it made my brain hurt. I immediately made corrections but most of the blogster buds visit early and had come and gone. Let me just say here, thank you for your kindness in ignoring my blunders and pretending all was as it should be:) But as writers proofing is extremely important in all our endeavors. Because it's our craft we should hold ourselves to high standards. We are judged by what we write. I'll be the first to admit, I get lazy when it comes to emails, texting, and now apparently blogging. Blush. Blush. Hmm, maybe I should put closer proofing on my 2017 resolutions list. What you don't think I should put off improving my proofing skills that long.....perhaps you're right;)
~*~
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On sale @ Amazon for .99 September 5-11.
If anyone is interested in a download in exchange for a review, shoot me an email or leave me a comment. Thanks;)
38 comments:
While not a writer as such, I am a woeful proof reader. I read what should be there rather than what is - and often suffer from dyslexic fingers.
And you have another book out? When do you rest?
I class them as typing errors, not mistakes, and yes, we all make them! Hugs, Valerie
I am so guilty of spelling mistakes.....as people probably notice. Great post Sandra.
Happy Wednesday to you.
Yvonne.
We always see the typos after we hit send on emails too!
I would've fixed them as well. I'll delete a comment and start over if I mess up.
I try not to make mistakes, but sometimes I just can't spell to save my life.
I actually also see my mistakes after I hit enter!
I'm currently in the process of editing my memoir. I could not believe how many time I had misspelled "antidepressant"!
Exactly, I think we all see what we expect to.
Dyslexic fingers....love it. I've got to remember that one.
Queens been out a little while, just running a sale:)
I can't remember ever finding a typo or error on your posts, Val. Kudos.
Hugs
You know, Yvonne, if you have them it's not noticeable. Especially since you write in verse and if the spelling is different it just looks like you've used creative license.
I can read right past some errors and never catch them.
I'd fix them if I see them in a blog post too, sometimes I miss them though, we all do now and then.
We all make mistakes. Heck, my fingers get going so fast that I know I've left more than my fair share of typos in comments. *shrugs* As long as we all understand that it happens, eh?
Isn't that the truth?:)
I do that too:)
Been there. Done that.
Me too.....Isn't that frustrating?
Been there--as I'm sure everyone reading your post has. I added a Grammarly app to Chrome that forces me to think about some writing issues it finds, but it still doesn't catch everything. I don't know any proofing program that does.
There's always a word or two that snags us, isn't there?
You're not alone. I made a mistake in a blog title not long ago. Everyone and their best friend tweeted it. It made my face burn and my gut clench. *sigh*
Anna from elements of emaginette
It's nice to know I'm not the only one who makes those errors. But even some best-selling authors could use a better final proofreader for their work. Good advice for everyone.
I have to laugh. I sent out one of my very polished and completely proofed emails just the other day. I even sent a test to myself to be sure all i's had been dotted. Well, all the i's were perfect, but the first sentence was missing a word. :-)
I'm right there with ya.
Yeah, we do:)
Good point, Crystal. I like EC's dyslexic fingers:)
That's a great idea about using Grammarly.
I won't tell, if you don't tell! LOL! But, I understand where you are coming from Sandra, this is what you do. It would be like me putting a painting out there, and not really looking at what I did.
For over 30 years I worked as a writer and editor and one of the projects was a magazine. We would proof and proof -- that thing would go through seven or eight rounds between the first entry of material till the final proof. Through more than one set of eyes (because we all know the pitfalls of proofing our own stuff). And more than once we'd find something.
I'm a pretty good speller but the reason that Marmelade Gypsy is spelled with an "e" in the middle (instead of the correct Marmalade) is because I didn't catch it for two or three years and I wasn't about to change it then!
I work in marketing, and you wouldn't believe the amount of emails I get that aren't properly proofread. It took me a full five minutes today to decipher someone's message to me. Sometimes I'm surprised my colleagues can't hear me grinding my teeth in rage. I think small mistakes are ok every once in a while though ;). Best of luck with your writing!
Rachel x
September IWSG co-host
Proofing never ends does it?
Don't ya hate it when that happens?
Exactly;)
Thanks for sharing that Jeanie. I didn't realize you were a writer/editor though I'm not surprised after reading your blogs:) I prefer your spelling of Marmelade Gypsy.
Yikes!
I'm not a writer, nor do I pretend to be. However, you have no idea how many times I read and reread what I've written before I hit publish. I see glaring mistakes like here in the US, we are supposed to put the punctuation inside the "quotation mark." I guess they don't do that in Canada and the UK.
My biggest problem that I most often correct is keeping the subject with the verb. I makes this mistake on occasion!
I always laugh when people use dangling or misplaced modifiers. The cat ate the mouse after it died. NOT a good example, but I couldn't think of a good one off the cuff.
And finally, I catch myself at times (and other times, don't catch it at all) changing the subject of the sentence. I should make sure you do it right this time!
OK, thanks for the proofreading lesson, too.
Oh proofing. The bane of my existence. I tend to work in first and second drafts only. Not out of any kind of arrogance, but my brain just doesn't find any alterations after that (even when they're there).
This is why I <3 my editor for more official stuffs. She da best.
You are right...and I hang my head low because I do proof read but I know that my sentences can be wonky and I have been known to screw up other things since grammar was never my strong suit. It reminds me of grade 7 when there was a grammar test. I actually got a perfect score but the teacher thought I cheated. I told her I couldn't because everyone around me got answers wrong. The other kids were actually on my side but the teacher would not believe me because I usually sucked at these tests.
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