Post 4

Well,still surviving, if a little bruised. I'm obviously going to have to watch my Ps and Qs a little more carefully. There are some very tender egos out there. Suggesting to an author that they may have made a mistake in their MS is fraught with danger. Where did this dreadful practice of using apostrophe s as plural come from? "Friend's" begs the question"Friend's WHAT?", whereas "Friends" refers to more than one friend, but somehow the former version seems to have become the standard usage for the latter. Just reading an ebook becomes painful with this sort of error. I mean, I've heard about self publishing, but PLEASE, get someone who knows what they are about to check the work first! You owe it to your readers, and your self respect as an author. English is a language that is tetchy, with socalled "modern variations" being given as the excuse for bad spelling or grammar, but most of the world that uses English as a means of communication uses STANDARD SPELLINGS! The poor devils who are from a background other than English speaking, and desperately trying to learn the language, don't cope well with errors in what is purportedly written English. Believe me, I know. Been there, done that. In spades, since Australians don't really speak English. Most of them come close, but not quite. There is a phrase used in this country-"Telling someone where to go", which equates to the British term "Sod off" or a ruder equivalent. DEFINITELY NOT giving someone directions. At least written English does not usually have nasal twangs in pronunciation. Sometimes, I go back to reading Nietsche in the German,just to get a break. Götterdämmerung does not have many errors left in it. For that matter,nor does a Dutch version of Napoleon's biography. Unfortunately, my French is not good enough for the original version. Still, telling an author that "roux" does not mean "roué" didn't go down well either. Why is it so hard for some people to accept that others may speak more than one language? It's almost unheard of in Europe to NOT speak more than one. For me, I feel that it's an extra string to my bow, and there's no extra charge while I'm proof reading.:-) Oh well, I'll just sit back and keep busy for now. My original offer still stands, just look at my first post. As soon as I work out how to post my prices in the side bar, I'll do so. Soon.

3rd Post 02/06/2012 (Australia)

Well, I've had plenty of time to read, as there's no incoming yet. The trouble is, I just get mad at the puerile errors I see. A breast may be a small PEAK, but to sneak a look at one is to PEEK! A fireplace has a mantel, not a cloak. ( mantle). An horse (yes, AN horse) neighs,whinnies, or nickers.It does not say nay, nor does it wear knickers! Prairie oysters are NOT BULLOCKS. Bullocks are draught oxen. 'Chard' is broadleaf vegetable, 'charred' is a state of being after fire.A plaintiff in court, may utter a 'plaintive' cry after losing a court case, but they are NOT the same thing! How can people call themselves authors, when/ if they cannot even get these simple things right. Why write 'site' or 'cite', when they mean 'sight'? ( Or any incorrect variation within these three?)No wonder migrants from a non English speaking background have trouble learning English. I read so many reviews from dissatisfied readers about ebooks, and yet very few of these books ever seem to be properly edited/proofread. I'm beginning to believe that computer generated words must carry some blame, but proof reading should catch these. So why is it not happening? Are editors/proofreaders pricing themselves out of the market? Are they demanding unreasonable fees? Is home publishing ignoring quality control, or are there people out there trying to cash in on a new market, without regard for the language? If an author is charging $0.99 for a book, and editors charge $200-300 to proofread, how eager is an author to pay such fees? Even then, you have to be lucky, and get a GOOD editor.I've seen books that have allegedly been edited at least twice, and they are still PATHETIC! I call it fraud, when they take money under false pretenses like that. When an author finishes a book, it should only need to be edited ONCE, if the editor knows his/her stuff. Well, I guess that's my gripe for this week, but I hope a few authors have read these comments and taken them to heart. Good luck, and may the muse be with you. And remember, a mews is where the falcons were kept. :-)Rob.