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errors in report about errors
May. 5th, 2009 12:47 pmA supermarket has been forced to withdraw a set of toys designed to help toddlers learn to read because some of the words were misspelled.
The alphabet building blocks sold by Morrisons included a picture of an umbrella captioned 'Umberlla', a boat beside the word 'Yatch' and even an 'X Mas Tree'.
Suzanne Toulson complained to her local store in Duckinfield, Greater Manchester after seeing the toy , which had been bought by her son and daughter-in-law their nine-month old daughter Millie,.
But despite the spelling errors, the store initially refused to take the product off the shelves, saying replacements were on order but the existing stock would be allowed to run out.
What I love best about this article in the Telegraph is not the subject but the fact that the third sentence has two punctuation errors and is missing a crucial word.
The alphabet building blocks sold by Morrisons included a picture of an umbrella captioned 'Umberlla', a boat beside the word 'Yatch' and even an 'X Mas Tree'.
Suzanne Toulson complained to her local store in Duckinfield, Greater Manchester after seeing the toy , which had been bought by her son and daughter-in-law their nine-month old daughter Millie,.
But despite the spelling errors, the store initially refused to take the product off the shelves, saying replacements were on order but the existing stock would be allowed to run out.
What I love best about this article in the Telegraph is not the subject but the fact that the third sentence has two punctuation errors and is missing a crucial word.
that BBC! at it again....
Sep. 19th, 2008 10:28 am"In a rare move for a political unknown, Palin made it personal between the man running for president, Obama, and herself. They are of the same generation: she is 44 to his 47, and represent bipolar extremes."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7624074.stm
As a general reader, I'm accustomed to seeing to very different things referred to as 'polar opposites'.
As a political scientist, I'm familiar with references to a bipolar world.
And of course one is acquainted with the diagnosis of bipolar disorder.
But I think referring to two candidates, or two positions, as being bipolar extremes is rather over-egging the rhetorical pudding.
Jan Spoor
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7624074.stm
As a general reader, I'm accustomed to seeing to very different things referred to as 'polar opposites'.
As a political scientist, I'm familiar with references to a bipolar world.
And of course one is acquainted with the diagnosis of bipolar disorder.
But I think referring to two candidates, or two positions, as being bipolar extremes is rather over-egging the rhetorical pudding.
Jan Spoor
editing job in MD
Aug. 22nd, 2008 05:22 pmFor any of my editorial and/or local friends who might be interested:
Job Description:
Challenging Full-time Position Open for Accomplished Writer/Editor
with Supervisory and Quality Control Skills.
AFYA, Inc., in Laurel, MD, has a full-time supervisory position open for a Quality Control Manager - Writer/Editor. Qualified candidates will be experienced writer/editors with the ability to supervise editorial and graphic design staff, manage the production of a variety of deliverables, and perform writing and editing as needed. This manager will establish and enforce editorial standards, supervise a Senior Graphic Designer and editors (both full-time and on-call), conduct quality control reviews of deliverables, and contribute to the development of
proposals and other marketing and business development materials.
Requires a B.A. in English, journalism, or a related field; 7 years of experience in managing a publications production department, and 5 years of supervisory experience. Must be knowledgeable of the GPO Manual of Style and be able to edit using the track changes function in Microsoft Word. Must be able to juggle multiple priorities and work well under pressure. Anyone recommending a candidate who is subsequently hired for the position will receive a $500 referral bonus.
Payrate: $57 to $65K per annum
Contact Info:
ContactName: Angela Pyle
ContactTitle: Human Resources Director
Company: AFYA, Inc.
Address: 8101 Sandy Spring Road, Suite 301
Laurel, Maryland 20707
JobURL: www.afyainc.com
Job Description:
Challenging Full-time Position Open for Accomplished Writer/Editor
with Supervisory and Quality Control Skills.
AFYA, Inc., in Laurel, MD, has a full-time supervisory position open for a Quality Control Manager - Writer/Editor. Qualified candidates will be experienced writer/editors with the ability to supervise editorial and graphic design staff, manage the production of a variety of deliverables, and perform writing and editing as needed. This manager will establish and enforce editorial standards, supervise a Senior Graphic Designer and editors (both full-time and on-call), conduct quality control reviews of deliverables, and contribute to the development of
proposals and other marketing and business development materials.
Requires a B.A. in English, journalism, or a related field; 7 years of experience in managing a publications production department, and 5 years of supervisory experience. Must be knowledgeable of the GPO Manual of Style and be able to edit using the track changes function in Microsoft Word. Must be able to juggle multiple priorities and work well under pressure. Anyone recommending a candidate who is subsequently hired for the position will receive a $500 referral bonus.
Payrate: $57 to $65K per annum
Contact Info:
ContactName: Angela Pyle
ContactTitle: Human Resources Director
Company: AFYA, Inc.
Address: 8101 Sandy Spring Road, Suite 301
Laurel, Maryland 20707
JobURL: www.afyainc.com
There's a pretty regular mistake that people who don't speak German make when writing about historical German military units. For whatever reason, they refer to sovereigns' bodyguards as "lieb guard" units.
"Lieb" of course means "love"; what they really mean are "leib guard" (bodyguard) units. But it happens all the time, along with people who think "Peninsular" is a noun and have trouble with French words like "chausseur" and "voltigeur".
But what I saw just now was priceless. One person in a thread referred to the "Lieb Guard" and I thought, "Oh, here we go..." And then someone replied, correctly referring to the "Leib...
....Gaurd". Aiiiieeeee!
:-)
(Of course, almost no one goes so far as to correctly refer to such units as "Leib Garde". Now that would just be crazy...
"Lieb" of course means "love"; what they really mean are "leib guard" (bodyguard) units. But it happens all the time, along with people who think "Peninsular" is a noun and have trouble with French words like "chausseur" and "voltigeur".
But what I saw just now was priceless. One person in a thread referred to the "Lieb Guard" and I thought, "Oh, here we go..." And then someone replied, correctly referring to the "Leib...
....Gaurd". Aiiiieeeee!
:-)
(Of course, almost no one goes so far as to correctly refer to such units as "Leib Garde". Now that would just be crazy...
oh, thanks!
Mar. 12th, 2008 12:03 pmA friend of mine "helpfully" passed on this link to a US Airways promotion for cheap fares to Scotland. My reply included the observation that maybe I can get a discount by editing United's copy for them!
* There is only one Stone of Destiny, not several.
* The Jacobite (which runs over the route filmed for the Harry Potter movies) goes *across* the Glenfinnan Viaduct. If it ran *through* the arches, it would have to have a very snaky track (given that the arches run in a line under the viaduct...)
* If you could see Nessie from the top of Ben Nevis, it would be rather remarkable, as Loch Ness is about 30 miles away from Ben Nevis, and the top of the mountain is usually shrouded in cloud.
Gahhhh!
* There is only one Stone of Destiny, not several.
* The Jacobite (which runs over the route filmed for the Harry Potter movies) goes *across* the Glenfinnan Viaduct. If it ran *through* the arches, it would have to have a very snaky track (given that the arches run in a line under the viaduct...)
* If you could see Nessie from the top of Ben Nevis, it would be rather remarkable, as Loch Ness is about 30 miles away from Ben Nevis, and the top of the mountain is usually shrouded in cloud.
Gahhhh!
while I'm bitching...
Oct. 5th, 2007 11:00 amI'm continuing to read this book about the Argylls in Iraq, but the bad job that was done editing it is bothering me more and more. The narrative is all over the place, jumping backward and forward in time without warning or reason. Characters are mentioned without ever being introduced. Acronyms are used without ever being explained. E.g., a lot of the soldiers named in the narrative are from the Princess of Wales' Royal Regiment (PWRR), but 'the PWRR' is referred to throughout without it ever being defined. There is no index. Totally irrelevant facts are thrown in higgledy piggledy with relevant ones. Other information is completely omitted, without which a reader who isn't familiar with the way the British Army works or with modern British society (or British geography) would be completely lost.
The crowning moment (so far) came, however, when a soldier was told he needed to go to hospital in 'Shauncliff'. Not in a quotation, just spelled that way in text.
The British army barracks in question is at SHORNCLIFFE, Kent.
Whiskey. Tango. Foxtrot.
Did someone really get paid to edit this book? If so, the publisher (Mainstream Publishing or Edinburgh) should be pursuing that individual for a refund...
The crowning moment (so far) came, however, when a soldier was told he needed to go to hospital in 'Shauncliff'. Not in a quotation, just spelled that way in text.
The British army barracks in question is at SHORNCLIFFE, Kent.
Whiskey. Tango. Foxtrot.
Did someone really get paid to edit this book? If so, the publisher (Mainstream Publishing or Edinburgh) should be pursuing that individual for a refund...
A member of an editorial group I'm part of is working on an article for our society newsletter; the topic is the editing of theses. University students often contact members of our Glasgow group seeking editorial services for their theses, which has raised some interesting questions of professional and academic ethics. What my colleague is particularly interested in accumulating are examples of guidance provided to students by their universities about what is acceptable and what is not in terms of getting their work professionally edited.
So if you've been a student (or a university official) involved in such discussions, and you would care to share the guidance you received (or formulated), contact me at the usual address; I (and my colleague) will be very grateful!
So if you've been a student (or a university official) involved in such discussions, and you would care to share the guidance you received (or formulated), contact me at the usual address; I (and my colleague) will be very grateful!
(no subject)
Jun. 14th, 2007 01:38 pmOn ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
brits_americans someone posted, "The husband and I are renting a flat in England through an estate agent. We're having pigeon problems. They are roosting on the window sills/roof and shitting all over the front door area, the only access to the building. It's getting tracked into the hall as well, and I'm sure people's cars. I have tried to contact them 3 times about it, but nothing has been done."
You know, I think the pigeons would not be that hard to contact, if they are right over the door, but the fact they are not doing anything about their shit really fails to surprise me.
brits_americans someone posted, "The husband and I are renting a flat in England through an estate agent. We're having pigeon problems. They are roosting on the window sills/roof and shitting all over the front door area, the only access to the building. It's getting tracked into the hall as well, and I'm sure people's cars. I have tried to contact them 3 times about it, but nothing has been done."You know, I think the pigeons would not be that hard to contact, if they are right over the door, but the fact they are not doing anything about their shit really fails to surprise me.
(no subject)
Jun. 8th, 2007 04:32 pmSorry I've not had time to update much lately. Hopefully I'll have a little time over the weekend.
Things continue to go well at home (simply lovely, in fact), and mildly irritating to simply infuriating at work. The latest--we're gettign MS Office 2003 installed this week, but some of the HTMLising software I use can't handle something so *advanced*! Cue the endless bueracracy churning to get us a copy of the new edition while the people who need our products wait, and wait, and wait...
Speaking of churning bueracracy, my application to move from associate to full membership in the SfEP may finally have been approved. May...
Bryan was over last night and got the entertainment of seeing a rather inebriated![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
soccer_fox arrive home from an evening with some of her friends from the Hill. Even when she's smeekit, she's sweet, though--it's really amazing.
OK, must get back to work. I'll leave you with one of my favourite "quick look" sites, the BBC's weekly ."Your Pictures of Scotland". The last one especially is a stunner!
Things continue to go well at home (simply lovely, in fact), and mildly irritating to simply infuriating at work. The latest--we're gettign MS Office 2003 installed this week, but some of the HTMLising software I use can't handle something so *advanced*! Cue the endless bueracracy churning to get us a copy of the new edition while the people who need our products wait, and wait, and wait...
Speaking of churning bueracracy, my application to move from associate to full membership in the SfEP may finally have been approved. May...
Bryan was over last night and got the entertainment of seeing a rather inebriated
soccer_fox arrive home from an evening with some of her friends from the Hill. Even when she's smeekit, she's sweet, though--it's really amazing.OK, must get back to work. I'll leave you with one of my favourite "quick look" sites, the BBC's weekly ."Your Pictures of Scotland". The last one especially is a stunner!
confusion traced to its source
Mar. 5th, 2007 08:36 amOne of the two framed photographs of Scotland that I have hanging in my bedroom is a Michael MacGregor photo of Achnambeithach, the farm in Glen Coe that serves as the HQ for Glencoe Mountain Rescue. Glen Coe is one of the most beautiful places I know, and that photo serves as a touchstone for me for one of the many reasons I want to live in Scotland someday--it is an incredibly beautiful country.
But I always have trouble spelling Achnambeithach (I imagine one of my readers can provide a translation of the name, if tempted properly :-), and frequently I can't find anything on it when I Google. And I realised today that one reason is that the lovely, well-chosen sans serif script that spells out the name on the print says... "Achambeithach".
Yet another reason to suspect that Scotland could use one more editor....
But I always have trouble spelling Achnambeithach (I imagine one of my readers can provide a translation of the name, if tempted properly :-), and frequently I can't find anything on it when I Google. And I realised today that one reason is that the lovely, well-chosen sans serif script that spells out the name on the print says... "Achambeithach".
Yet another reason to suspect that Scotland could use one more editor....
...oh, and...
Nov. 28th, 2006 08:12 amI sent in my application to the Society for Editors and Proofreaders for ordinary membership (one joins as an 'associate member'), which allows for more advertising possibilities, a little more professional cred., etc. I wasn't sure that my training (most of it several years old) and my references would be enough (ANOTHER points-based scheme--they seem to like them in the UK!) to qualify me, and my work experience wouldn't count (it's more than three years since I worked professionally as an editor).
I got a letter in the mail last night with the receipt for my ordinary membership fee. :-)
It seems silly to be so pleased about being 'ordinary', but I am.
Edit: Sadly, I have been informed that's just a receipt for the membership *application* fee. They are still waiting to hear from my references before actually upgrading me.
I got a letter in the mail last night with the receipt for my ordinary membership fee. :-)
It seems silly to be so pleased about being 'ordinary', but I am.
Edit: Sadly, I have been informed that's just a receipt for the membership *application* fee. They are still waiting to hear from my references before actually upgrading me.
I'd love to apply for this job, but it ain't going to happen right now. I'd be well suited, I've done some corporate communications work (I did lots of editing and some copywriting for the communications and development offices in my two nonprofit jobs), and that's a sweet salary for a quiet university job in a place like Stirling.
*sigh*
*sigh*
editing in the UK
Feb. 13th, 2006 10:20 pmI think I've probably asked this before, but I would be grateful if any of my UK readers who are involved in the publishing industry (or work as proofreaders, editors, or technical authors in whatever field) and wouldn't mind my picking their brains could give me a shout, I would be most grateful.
