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Grammar/Spelling/Syntax Rant

Long story short: a friend of my dad's is writing a comedic biography about his life and wanted me to take a look at it.  I started reading said book last night and I physically cannot get past the first chapter!  Not because of a lack of interest in the subject or motivation to actually read, but because I want to grab a red pen and go to town on the dang thing!  The only thing stopping me is the knowledge that if I start making corrections, each page is going to end up resembling a gorey CSI crime scene! 

I understand not everyone is a stickler for proper use of the English language when writing non-Internet material, but just reading two pages of this book would have my high school teachers rolling over in their graves (figuratively of course since to my knowledge none of them are actually deceased).  Complete lack of proper punctuation (or any punctuation sometimes for that matter), using words incorrectly (like "flaying" instead of "flailing"), and no sense of sentence structure whatsoever!  Gah!  I told DH last night that I don't know how I'm going to be able to finish reading it when every line has my fingers itching to scrawl red ink all over the page.  And how am I supposed to give him any kind of feedback when all I can focus on are the issues with the actual writing? 

Yeah, I'm being totally irrational about this and I know it's not a big deal in the grand scheme, but it just kills me that such subpar skills are seemingly becoming the norm nowadays.  Whew!  Rant complete :)

Re: Grammar/Spelling/Syntax Rant

  • I don't understand why you don't tell him about all the grammatical errors? He's going to publish this book? Is there someone else that is going to read it for the grammatical stuff?
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  • You're not being irrational, I would feel the exact way you do. Even though you may feel a little uncomfortable, go ahead and correct the errors for him. (if you have the time-- sounds like there are a ton!) Or, you could let him know before you're done reading that you're enjoying reading it so far and it's cool subject matter but would he be ok with you correcting any spelling/etc errors that you might find? Hopefully/probably he will say yes.

    Years ago, a co-worker asked me to read the first chapter in some book he was trying to write. The same thing happened to me as what's happening to you. The chapter was filled with every error imaginable. It was ridiculous! After he'd left for the day, I put the papers on his desk with a post it note saying something about how the subject matter was really cool and he should keep it up but also I had caught some spelling/grammar/punctuation errors and would he like me to help him with them? I was like "I'll be happy to show them to you tomorrow if you'd like" because I felt bad about giving the papers back to him with red marks. Well, he never approached me for any more help, lol. His loss I guess :p

  • Since he asked you to take a look at it, did he want you to make corrections as well? Maybe you could ask him if he minds if you put in your two cents?
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  • imagebriezygator:

    I understand not everyone is a stickler for proper use of the English language when writing non-Internet material,

    Other way around for me. Online, I notice it, but it doesn't really bother me. But in print? Come on. Especially if you're hoping for publication. If he's serious about this, offer your help. If it's that distracting to you, just think of a potential editor reading it. You think s/he would feel any different? 

    Lily has a book that uses the wrong "its," and it bothers the piss out of me. I seriously want to throw it in the trash. (And I never would've thought of myself as the book banning type, lol.) So if you're irrational, I'm right there with you.

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  • imagek8elee03:
    imagebriezygator:

    I understand not everyone is a stickler for proper use of the English language when writing non-Internet material,

    Other way around for me. Online, I notice it, but it doesn't really bother me. But in print? Come on. Especially if you're hoping for publication. If he's serious about this, offer your help. If it's that distracting to you, just think of a potential editor reading it. You think s/he would feel any different? 

    Lily has a book that uses the wrong "its," and it bothers the piss out of me. I seriously want to throw it in the trash. (And I never would've thought of myself as the book banning type, lol.) So if you're irrational, I'm right there with you.

     

    Edit it already.  Idiots are everywhere and they need your help, seriously.  I hope he feels some shame when he sees all of that red ink.

    DD has a book about jungle animals or some such nonsense.  There are 2-3 pages about a bush baby.  I know a bush baby is a real thing, but in my backwoods step-family, it was often paired with the n-word to talk about an infant/toddler with the slightest pigmentation in their skin.  I blush every time we get to that section of the book.  I hate it so much I, too, want to throw the book away.

    imageimage
  • See, the problem is that I'm not really sure if he wants help with the actual writing or he just wants an opinion of it's a good read.  He didn't really ever say.  I guess I can ask my dad if he mentioned anything about it to him.  Lol, now that I'm re-reading my post I realize that I really sound like a crazy person.

    imagek8elee03:
    Other way around for me. Online, I notice it, but it doesn't really bother me. But in print? Come on. Especially if you're hoping for publication. If he's serious about this, offer your help. If it's that distracting to you, just think of a potential editor reading it. You think s/he would feel any different? 

    Lily has a book that uses the wrong "its," and it bothers the piss out of me. I seriously want to throw it in the trash. (And I never would've thought of myself as the book banning type, lol.) So if you're irrational, I'm right there with you.

    Oops, I mixed up my words there on that one, lol.  I was meaning not being a stickler with Internet material and not print-based and I must've mashed the two together to get Internet-based.  Must've been blinded by my completely irrational irritation, lol.

    And yeah, that book error would drive me absolutely nuts!

  • I thought you might've meant it the other way around, too, but I wasn't sure because some people feel really strongly about errors online, too. (I'd be lying if I said they NEVER bother me, especially some repeated spelling errors like aisle, lens, and lose. Gah.)

    And, yes, you're on tricky ground, but you are also in a position to help. I am an editor (not for books), but I've dealt with a range of personalities. I really don't get why it's so hard for some people to accept; the best writers need editors. Editors need editors. I've never written a perfect first draft of anything, ever. And neither has anyone else, y'know?

    If he is serious about publication, he will have to get a thicker skin, though. Spelling and grammar are surface errors. Real editors will - and should - go much deeper. Ask your dad for his opinion, or maybe ask him if he's having it reviewed or something. If the thought hasn't crossed his mind, offer to go through it for him, if you actually want to, that is. Wink

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    My silly Lily is almost 4. BabyFruit Ticker
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