Author Topic: Why my workplace needs an editor (Read 2823 times)

Brinestone · « **on:** January 11, 2006, 10:15:03 AM »

IMPORTANT: ALL AGENTS. DO NOT HELP ASSIST THE CLIENT WITH ANY INFORMATION![/b]

At the top of a page, appearing just as I posted it. I mean, it's not like it's a mistake most people would miss if they even looked at it.

But then there's my boss who insists on doing all editing and proofreading herself in the evenings at home in overtime because she has no time during the day, despite my insistence that I am very good at editing, that I really enjoy doing it, and that I have the time to do it and take the pressure off of her.

I haven't told her she's not a very good editor. I don't think that would go over well.

Jonathon · « **Reply #1 on:** January 11, 2006, 10:16:37 AM »

I've come to realize that there is often a vast gulf between people who think they are good at editing and people are good at editing.

Mr. Anderson · « **Reply #2 on:** January 11, 2006, 12:19:23 PM »

Quote

I've come to realize that there is often a vast gulf between people who think they are good at editing and people are good at editing.

Spot the typo.

Porter · « **Reply #3 on:** January 11, 2006, 12:29:20 PM »

:laugh:

Jonathon · « **Reply #4 on:** January 11, 2006, 12:30:04 PM »

And if you want to start paying me to edit everything I write, I'd be happy to fix it.

By the way, thanks. I needed the self-esteem boost.

Mr. Anderson · « **Reply #5 on:** January 11, 2006, 03:13:14 PM »

Sorry.

(((Jonathon)))

pooka · « **Reply #6 on:** January 11, 2006, 04:28:59 PM »

Usually when there is an editing problem, I can take a vague stab at where they went wrong. Your original example leaves me without any foothold.

Brinestone · « **Reply #7 on:** January 11, 2006, 04:39:07 PM »

Well, if they meant to say "help assist," it's incredibly redundant. To me it looks like they wrote "help," decided that "assist" sounded more professional, and then forgot to take "help" out again. So there's an extra word.

And that's not even touching the issue of the awkwardness of helping someone with information. Do they mean, "Do not provide the client with any information"?

I would edit the sentence thusly:

"All agents: Do not provide the client with any information!"

Jonathon · « **Reply #8 on:** January 11, 2006, 05:16:56 PM »

One of my current favorite awkward signs is on the back of the piano in the relief society room at church. It reads, "You can use this piano to move to other rooms." Um, how about "You can move this piano to other rooms"?

rivka · « **Reply #9 on:** January 11, 2006, 05:24:02 PM »

Are you unaware that the piano has a secondary function as a short-range transporter?

pooka · « **Reply #10 on:** January 11, 2006, 05:25:19 PM »

Oh, I didn't notice the double synonyms. I was groping for the actual meaning. So it really means that? What kind of business is this?

Icarus · « **Reply #11 on:** January 11, 2006, 05:29:37 PM »

JB: Its just Davidson Slaw. Their snow excaping it.

rivka · « **Reply #12 on:** January 11, 2006, 05:42:47 PM »

Ic, your post makes my head hurt.

sarcasticmuppet · « **Reply #13 on:** January 11, 2006, 05:45:02 PM »

Piano Sledding!!!

Jonathon · « **Reply #14 on:** January 11, 2006, 06:43:36 PM »

Quote

Are you unaware that the piano has a secondary function as a short-range transporter?

Not anymore.

So what's Davidson's Law, dare I ask?

Icarus · « **Reply #15 on:** January 11, 2006, 06:50:46 PM »

Oh, it would do Tom's heart good to see it brought up independently of him, but I'm afraid he doesn't check this side, does he?

-o-

I'm slightly misusing it. Properly speaking, Davidson's law, as I understand it, is that a post that initiates the pointing out of another's grammatical, syntactical, or other language error will almost inevitably contain one itself.

Jonathon · « **Reply #16 on:** January 11, 2006, 06:56:41 PM »

Ah, yes. And this, of course, is one of the reasons why I try not to do that very often.

pooka · « **Reply #17 on:** January 11, 2006, 07:18:03 PM »

It's an eerie illustration of the mote and beam in the eye goody.

Brinestone · « **Reply #18 on:** January 11, 2006, 09:32:22 PM »

It's a call center for a bank, so there is a lot of very secure information that you don't want to hand out to just anyone who calls claiming to be a client. I'm sure there was a good and legitimate reason why that was written at the top of a page. So the apparent lack of good customer service was, believe it or not, not my concern.