Today I want to talk about three fairly common problems that I see when editing manuscripts for authors. And these are also three of the problems we will work on in my new online Self-Editing Course. Email me for the course description as my webmaster doesn’t have it posted at my site, yet. PLFry620@yahoo.com.
Here are some chronic errors that I find in otherwise pretty good manuscripts;
1: List sentences that contain incorrect elements. I consider a sentence where you list several items, ideas, places or individuals, a list sentence. In fact, the sentence you just read is an example of a list sentence. Some authors, however, present items in their lists that do not fit properly within that particular sentence. Here’s an example: “While in this area, you can fish in the lakes, swim in the water holes, wade in the streams, the sun will warm you, hike on the trails and go skiing. Can you identify the “item” that doesn’t belong? Yes, it is “The sun will warm you.” You can change it to read, “Bask in the sun.” Now it works.
Here’s another example, “Jane purchased a home last August and then, after watering the gardens, coloring her hair, the cat went to the boarder and she filled her car with gas, she drove to her daughter’s house for the rest of the summer.”
You would never knowingly write a sentence like either of these. But I can tell you that they can appear in your perfect manuscript without you noticing.
2: Passive sentences. A passive sentence is usually one that is written, in my opinion, backwards. Passive sentences weaken your message or story. Here are a couple of examples of passive sentences. “In 90 miles, Palm Springs is reached.” I would recommend, instead, “Drive 90 miles to Palm Springs.” Here’s another one: “The ice cream cone was eaten by Clementine.” And how about this: “A nice, relaxing garden is found outside in the back.”
Instead, I would recommend, “Clementine ate the ice cream cone.” And “Relax in the lovely garden just outside the French doors of the luxury hotel.”
Of course, there are instances where a passive sentence works. But authors sometimes try to get so creative in the way they present a concept that they turn a sentence everyway but right and it becomes everything but clear.
3: Using words that don’t work. Does a lake have an “end?” Can a hillside “decline?” Will a kitten “crotch under a bush?” Is a dog apt to “bear his teeth,” “walk rather then run” or “peruse it’s own trial?”
We all make mistakes as we write, weather (er, I mean, “whether”) we are writing a book or an email to a fiend (oops, that’s “friend.”) But we don’t always catch our arrows—I meant to say, “errors.” And that’s why we must hire an experienced editor before we publish.
Let me save you money on your editing bill by teaching you how to do a more thorough job of self-editing. Sign up today for my self-editing course. Not only do you get the course, but you get me! I’ll work alongside you while you apply the lessons presented and that could be worth way more than the $200 course fee.
Contact me for a course description: PLFry620@yahoo.com. Learn more about Patricia Fry at http://www.matilijapress.com
I would like to know more about *processes* editors should use to catch errors before they are published. I work in the health insurance industry as a marketing communications manager. We want to create eliminate errors from our materials (policy documents, letters, Web site, newsletters, brochures, e-mails, etc.). Processes we already use include:
–Think about what you are writing from your audience’s point of view. What do they want to know? How will they react to the words you are using?
–Take a break before proofreading your own work
–Have someone else (or more) proofread your work
–Be aware of common mistakes and watch for tips to help you learn more
–Use a common style guide and dictionary
–Read and learn from the work of others
Hello Rebecca,
It sounds like you have an excellent program in place for improving your written material. Two things to keep in mind–there’s probably nothing anywhere that is absolutely free of one or more errors. I’m not suggesting that you lower your standards, just try not to stress too much in search of perfection. Simply do your best work each time, all the time.
I also suggest that you strive for consistency. With so many people working with a document, you risk it becoming a mishmash of inconsistencies: One person might prefer writing “website” and another insists on “Web site.” While one editor/proofreader uses one space between sentences (which is correct, by the way) another one still types two spaces.
Choose a style guide and make sure everyone involved uses it–journalists tend to use the AP Style guide, authors should use the Chicago Manual of Style.
Consider hiring a good proofreader who has the last word on all documents.
Good luck,
Patricia