tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post3910824599398536309..comments2024-03-26T23:41:10.319+00:00Comments on Authors Electric: Copy-Editing: A Second Pair of Eyes - Kathleen Jones on GrammarlyKatherine Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17196712319655603442noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-47851510484013176522013-08-06T14:48:30.794+01:002013-08-06T14:48:30.794+01:00I tried it, based on your recommendation, but was ...I tried it, based on your recommendation, but was immediately put off by noticing they have no 'fiction' category.<br /><br />The trial was horrible - you can't apply business and journalism standards to fiction.<br /><br />I hit ignore for EVERY single recommendation it made - 48 in a single scene from the WIP. A waste of time.<br /><br />I tried it because something that catches punctuation errors would occasionally be handy. Especially things like unclosed quotation marks.<br /><br />The only things it would be useful for in FICTION are caught much better by my subscription to Autocrit - I would never declare a scene finished until Autocrit and I both agreed, because I have a tendency to repeat phrases and words, and only sometimes is it intentional.<br /><br />For fiction, I would unreservedly recommend Autocrit - so much cheaper, more available, and infinitely patient than a live editor - for the things it does well. I review AC on my blog, if anyone cares to look (http://liebjabberings.wordpress.com/2013/03/15/letting-computers-help-you-write-and-edit/).<br /><br />Thanks for taking the time to post about Grammarly, but I would NOT recommend it for fiction.<br />ABEAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-72183040370177222952013-08-06T10:33:21.083+01:002013-08-06T10:33:21.083+01:00Now if there could be something that would highlig...Now if there could be something that would highlight the spelling mistakes that are still real words, just those momentary lapses you spot a year later when you're rereading the eBook - that would be nice! I don't think I could use this though. If I write a passive, I mean to write a passive. (And that dislike of the passive seems to be a peculiarly American tic) I do a lot of reading aloud though, to see what things sound like. Catherine Czerkawskahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14554969254207924049noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-67869288763695443342013-08-05T18:41:52.924+01:002013-08-05T18:41:52.924+01:00Sorry everyone - I left the wrong email address on...Sorry everyone - I left the wrong email address on the blog - the right one is kathleenferberjones@gmail.com<br />Kathleen Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07645566938871914385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-6155839175279779242013-08-05T18:40:55.531+01:002013-08-05T18:40:55.531+01:00Interesting mix of opinions. Yes, if I could affo...Interesting mix of opinions. Yes, if I could afford it, I would use a human being. But I just can't. Jan, I can sympathise - Grammarly in the wrong hands could be quite deadly! But I once had a Penguin editor who did the same thing all on her own, so I guess it's down to the person in the end.<br />Nick - thanks for the tip re programme/program - I always think that program is US.<br />Bob, I sympathise with the cyber imperialism. I'm all for keeping English English English, if you get my meaning!<br />Lydian, Chris, Dennis and Debbie - I'll see what can be done with a trial - see how it works for you. <br />Kathleen Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07645566938871914385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-30436220479066796782013-08-05T16:06:39.525+01:002013-08-05T16:06:39.525+01:00I tend to agree with Bob Newman.
I had an editor u...I tend to agree with Bob Newman.<br />I had an editor use the Grammarly programme and she made a total mess of all three of my books and I was back to square one! Expensive...<br />It is a pet hate of mine, this blending of US and UK. I've had non UK residents tell me that my spelling was awful (no mistakes at all, just the British version) so much so, that I've added a disclaimer now to all of my work, explaining that not only is the spelling British English but it follows grammatical conventions also, especially in dialogue. My settings are very much rooted in the landscape here (Wales, UK) and to reply on an American package seems a little too trusting. <br />My new editor uses his own eyes and discretion, and I'm more than happy to pay for that. Jan Ruthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16016647223297254901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-11179018919240483642013-08-05T14:08:04.273+01:002013-08-05T14:08:04.273+01:00I still think the best way is to choose test reade...I still think the best way is to choose test readers whose command of English you know to be good, and just give it to them. I've picked up loads of stuff that way, and vice versa when it's time for their books.<br /><br />BTW - as we're talking grammar usuage - I suppose it behooves me to mention that it's always 'program' not 'programme' when talking about a computer program! Only mention it because of the subject matter! ;-)Nick Greenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08191176209084540085noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-79824539741324676722013-08-05T11:49:38.693+01:002013-08-05T11:49:38.693+01:00I'm very suspicious of anything like this. Vir...I'm very suspicious of anything like this. Virtually all such software is insidiously promoting American cultural imperialism. On MS Word, I have everything set for UK English, and it still e.g. insists that "any more" ought to be a single word (one of my pet hates). Snail books often have mistakes of this kind too. I think it's better to rely on your own knowledge of the language, otherwise its only a matter of time before the badstars have us all writing in American.Bob Newmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-30264636611100089032013-08-05T11:45:44.721+01:002013-08-05T11:45:44.721+01:00You were involved with Creme de la Crime, Chris? S...You were involved with Creme de la Crime, Chris? So was I. Must talk to you about that at some point, as I was less than impressed by them. And yes, please, Kathleen - I'd be interested in a trial copy too!Debbie Bennetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06761474820689143835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-87665988389802908922013-08-05T09:56:56.053+01:002013-08-05T09:56:56.053+01:00This sounds good, so yes please. I'm currentl...This sounds good, so yes please. I'm currently trying to finish the REAL ending to Out of the Mouths of Babes and also get my Ghost anthology ready for launching at the ebook fest and I haven't got time to send them out anywhere. I think the texts are clean, but what does an unobservant person like me know, who can't even send a simple email without three typos? I think this comment is free from mistakes, but, as I said before, what do I kow?Dennis Hamleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15781139870037634374noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-26647155544251092702013-08-05T09:30:40.878+01:002013-08-05T09:30:40.878+01:00Yes please,Kathleen. I'm resurrecting a previo...Yes please,Kathleen. I'm resurrecting a previously finished novel which was spoiled by various editors! after I became involved with creme de la crime when I was one of the 20 winners of their international crime writing competition. You were not allowed to argue with the editors, and all 4 of them had different ideas. In the process I spoiled the novel and need to rewrite it, so a second pair of eyes, even virtual ones would help me to make a start.Chris Longmuirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02488093821886798927noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-74832422149172779742013-08-05T09:21:47.410+01:002013-08-05T09:21:47.410+01:00Interesting post. I wonder if it works on a Mac?
...Interesting post. I wonder if it works on a Mac?<br /><br />In the past I've always invested in a real copy editor - and can't think what my work would be like without her. She even checks all my place names - and I've been horrified how many of those I get wrong (scribbled in my notebook, then the scribble copied) and the occasional sentence where I get carried away.JOhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03127111575563904349noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-48839920224949479842013-08-05T08:58:01.348+01:002013-08-05T08:58:01.348+01:00it's bounced straight back twice now, sorry!it's bounced straight back twice now, sorry!Lydia Bennethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09328239009863878547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-90574989361395563592013-08-05T08:56:17.164+01:002013-08-05T08:56:17.164+01:00Kathleen, I emailed at the address you gave and it...Kathleen, I emailed at the address you gave and it bounced back, mailerdaemon, I copied and pasted it so I don't know what the prob is. my email is valaws@yahoo.co.uk. Lydia Bennethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09328239009863878547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-13356076580767932372013-08-05T08:51:50.706+01:002013-08-05T08:51:50.706+01:00Yes please, Kathleen, I'll give it a go. I@m j...Yes please, Kathleen, I'll give it a go. I@m just formatting my book for kindle release on 24th. it is very hard to spot your own typos. my crime novel is very 'voicy' and has dialect in it, so it'll be interesting to see how it works on that!Lydia Bennethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09328239009863878547noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-1029134498505338072013-08-05T08:23:17.429+01:002013-08-05T08:23:17.429+01:00Don't be too impressed, Julia, most are backli...Don't be too impressed, Julia, most are backlist!!<br />Kathleen Joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07645566938871914385noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429560125838989988.post-43944865669858140882013-08-05T08:10:20.665+01:002013-08-05T08:10:20.665+01:00Sounds a worthwhile programme. I don't have Wo...Sounds a worthwhile programme. I don't have Word or might be putting my hand up for one of your free trials. (Current book subsisting on the goodwill of friends) Impressed you have so many in the pipeline!<br />julia joneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09773900100240758504noreply@blogger.com