Any one else annoyed by those anonymous PROFESSIONAL PROOF-READER POSERS

[Match Made In Heaven]

I received a flame once telling me something like "go back to school and learn how to spell", but I just tossed it. There may be a few typos that get through Spellcheck, but I know that my spelling's not bad enough to complain about. If yours isn't that bad either, then don't worry about it. If it is that bad, then you should do something about it.

What bothers me about criticisms like this is how niggling and petty they are. I mean, tell me about the characters, or tell me about the plot, but don't bother me with this nickel-and-dime stuff that I can get a machine to take care of.

--Zoot

Feedback on Character and plot are so rare. Most feedback seems to come as "you made several spelling errors that spellcheck won't catch" or "I was so horny after reading your story" or "I have an idea of what you should make your characters do next."

Maybe someone should write a "How to" on giving good feedback. I thought about it one time, writing one not on feedback in general, but on the type I would like to get. But the qeustion is- would anyone pay attention?

 

[cantdog]

No, I've seen the proofreader. The problem isn't spelling or grammar or syntax or usage, it's a person who knows better.

No one minds someone who knows. Usually. But someone who knows better is a pain.

 

[pop_54]

No, I've seen the proofreader. The problem isn't spelling or grammar or syntax or usage, it's a person who knows better.

No one minds someone who knows. Usually. But someone who knows better is a pain.

You are so right friend cantdog, I hate know it all's.

As far as use of the English language goes however... who defines 'knows' and 'knows better' anyway... There are so many different views on the subject from so many different 'so called' authoritative journals etc... the most 'supposedly' authoritative and revered written by non-English nationals it seems, as almost all negative critisism of spelling / grammar etc seems to come from across the pond reviewers.

There seems to be an almost fanatical insistence on 'so called' proper English useage, syntax, grammar, absolute correct by the book spelling, present in North American educational system that isn't so evident over here in the old country... Our kids are expected to achieve knowledge of the language and all associated definitions and standards, but are allowed to experiment and bend the rules a little as long as the written piece fits the plot... Most English people write English as we speak it... something that it appears is very wrong by the authoritative books, and the know it all English language critics.

The only book I've ever really taken any notice of is the OED, and that's only for an awkward spelling or definition... The OED lists and defines all known words of the English language, and gives a rough guide as to usage... but doesn't belittle itself by trying to 'tell' you how to use those words... The OED is constantly being revised and added to, because the English language is constantly evolving... You cannot apply firm constraints on a language that is evolving this way.

I have spelling and grammar turned off on Word 2000 cos those silly little red and green squiggly lines all over the bloody place really get up my hooter... I only check words I'm having a mental block with for spelling.

As the good Dr Zoot says, as long as the story works and is readable, what the fuck does proper usage and grammar matter.

 

[ABSTRUSE]

Wasn't juansojr a profesional proofreader?

 

[cantdog]

You are so right friend cantdog, I hate know it all's.

As far as use of the English language goes however... who defines 'knows' and 'knows better' anyway... There are so many different views on the subject from so many different 'so called' authoritative journals etc... the most 'supposedly' authoritative and revered written by non-English nationals it seems, as almost all negative critisism of spelling / grammar etc seems to come from across the pond reviewers.

There seems to be an almost fanatical insistence on 'so called' proper English useage, syntax, grammar, absolute correct by the book spelling, present in North American educational system that isn't so evident over here in the old country... Our kids are expected to achieve knowledge of the language and all associated definitions and standards, but are allowed to experiment and bend the rules a little as long as the written piece fits the plot... Most English people write English as we speak it... something that it appears is very wrong by the authoritative books, and the know it all English language critics.

The only book I've ever really taken any notice of is the OED, and that's only for an awkward spelling or definition... The OED lists and defines all known words of the English language, and gives a rough guide as to usage... but doesn't belittle itself by trying to 'tell' you how to use those words... The OED is constantly being revised and added to, because the English language is constantly evolving... You cannot apply firm constraints on a language that is evolving this way.

I have spelling and grammar turned off on Word 2000 cos those silly little red and green squiggly lines all over the bloody place really get up my hooter... I only check words I'm having a mental block with for spelling.

As the good Dr Zoot says, as long as the story works and is readable, what the fuck does proper usage and grammar matter.

We, the native speakers of the tongue, are the experts on its grammar, anyway. Grammar systems, as taught, are attempts to describe what we make happen in speech and prose.

Prescribing is useful only if you are teaching the language. I have a lot of fun with language, and I have taught English, French, and German. Grammar comes into its own in a language classroom.

It is not entirely all of the U.S. which gets bent about grammar. My Texas friend says that punctilious grammar has one effect: it makes you sound, he says, like a stuck-up Eastern ass.

 

[Black Tulip]

I have this very special comment, I will probably never delete:

A boring old story
04/01/04 by Anonymous in Critic's Hell
This is one hell of a boring story.
Everything is so wrong.
The author has no clue regarding the subject. I suggest that the author, at the very least, go to high-school and get educated.

Not sure what I'm supposed to learn in high school as the story is about lessons on the Kama Sutra. Is that a topic in the US?

As a foreigner I use both grammar and spell checker, but most of the grammar suggestions are ludicrous. Apart from that, I trust my editor.

I have a multilanguage pack installed so maybe that gives me more choices, but I have never counted the number of English versions I can pick. I have US English as standard for Lit stories, but I can take UK English, Canadian, Jamaican, Zimbabwe, you name it.

The Word version I use is from the Office 97, originally.

 

[pop_54]

I have this very special comment, I will probably never delete:



Not sure what I'm supposed to learn in high school as the story is about lessons on the Kama Sutra. Is that a topic in the US?

As a foreigner I use both grammar and spell checker, but most of the grammar suggestions are ludicrous. Apart from that, I trust my editor.

I have a multilanguage pack installed so maybe that gives me more choices, but I have never counted the number of English versions I can pick. I have US English as standard for Lit stories, but I can take UK English, Canadian, Jamaican, Zimbabwe, you name it.

The Word version I use is from the Office 97, originally.

I think they must have lessons on everything over there love


As a non English speaking national darling Tulip, you probably speak and write more precise and proper English than me, cos you were taught it that way... and you probably try harder than I do anyway.

You are so right about Word grammar check... bloody ludicrous suggestions a lot of the time, mainly because it's a hotch potch of common so called 'proper' phrases etc and hasn't got a clue in which context you are writing, or what you are trying to convey.

When I bother with mine it's set to real English, as is the spell check... I was once advised to become more 'Mid-Atlantic' with my spelling and grammar in order that 'all' would understand my writings better... Can you guess my reply ... As a clue it contained reference to said adviser 'going away in short sharp sexual jerks'.

 

[Guest]

"Mid-Atlantic", Pops? What the fuck do fish know about English?

Perdita

 

[Black Tulip]

 

[cloudy]

I have this very special comment, I will probably never delete:



Not sure what I'm supposed to learn in high school as the story is about lessons on the Kama Sutra. Is that a topic in the US?

As a foreigner I use both grammar and spell checker, but most of the grammar suggestions are ludicrous. Apart from that, I trust my editor.

I have a multilanguage pack installed so maybe that gives me more choices, but I have never counted the number of English versions I can pick. I have US English as standard for Lit stories, but I can take UK English, Canadian, Jamaican, Zimbabwe, you name it.

The Word version I use is from the Office 97, originally.

Courses in the Kama Sutra? Here? ROTFL! This is the most sexually repressed country in the world, I think. Show a little boob at the Super Bowl and the prudes come crawling out of the woodwork.

And, you're right, I think the schools, even college, put so much emphasis on grammar that people get a little obsessive about it. I know all universities don't have the same English requirements for graduation, but I think most, require something like a year composed of composition and literature to graduate. The one I went to, no matter what your major was, required a full year of composition, and then a full year of literature, and you had to pass a tough English competency exam. If you didn't pass, you didn't graduate, no ifs, ands, or buts.

I think our favorite critic, Anonymous, has to find something to pick apart in a story, and since giving constructive criticism on character development, or plot, would mean they would actually have to engage their mind, he/she takes the easy way out and picks on grammar or spelling.

 

[herecomestherain]

I've been called comma shy...

"The older I grow, the less important the comma becomes. Let the reader catch his own breath."

- Elizabeth Clarkson Zwart

 

[SlickTony]

It is perfectly permissible to have grammatical errors in either dialog or first-person narrative when it is consistent with the characters.

However, in all other circumstances it is incumbent on Literotica writers--indeed, all who aspire to good erotic writing--to be as meticulous as possible about grammar. Badly written and error-bestrewn erotica has too long been allowed to give the entire genre a bad name.

 

[Uncle South Loop]

Below is comment by one of my adoring anonymous commenters. It's on the 3rd part my 4 part story "Derailed". Votes on other 3 parts are averageing above 4 while this bomber (I'm sure) has the one part running below 4 - probably voted 1 or 2.

Well, at least, he didn't pick on my grammer or spelling. LOL

'WITH THE POWER COME CONTROL

08/01/04 by Anonymous in USA
THE POWER THIS MAN HAS,WHY WOULD HE LET THIS WOMAN CONTROL HIM.THE OLD LADY HIS FIRST CLIENT HELP GAVE HIM HIS POWER,SO SHE THE ONE WHO CONTROLS HIM NOT THE SLUT.'