Tuesday, March 10, 2020
Even Grammar Gurus Make Mistakes
Even Grammar Gurus Make Mistakes Even Grammar Gurus Make Mistakes Even Grammar Gurus Make Mistakes By Mark Nichol Iââ¬â¢ve noticed that Iââ¬â¢ve been overlooking more mistakes in these posts recently or perhaps itââ¬â¢s just that I havenââ¬â¢t been making fewer errors as I go along, as I would have expected after six monthsââ¬â¢ worth of almost daily submissions. Thanks to astute site visitors who (usually) politely point out typographical errors, I note that occasionally I type the wrong form of a word (necessary instead of necessarily, for example), or that, when I provide a sample sentence with an error and then provide an annotated correction, sometimes I forget to actually correct the sentence. (Does that jive I mean, jibe with your observation?) Iââ¬â¢d like to be able to tell you, ââ¬Å"I meant to do that I just wanted to see if anybody was paying attention,â⬠but the truth is, I make mistakes. And, like most bloggers, I donââ¬â¢t have an editor to sweep up after me. And, as Iââ¬â¢ve often said, especially to people unfamiliar with the professional publishing worldââ¬â¢s writing-editing-proofreading protocol, everybody needs an editor even editors. But before you send me your resume, note that weââ¬â¢re not hiring blogs are, by their nature, a more or less spontaneous medium of communication (though I try to review my work carefully), and, anyway, DailyWritingTips.com doesnââ¬â¢t have the resources to implement a more traditional editorial procedure (not yet, at least). I realize all too well that in my advisory capacity, I have a responsibility to strive for rigorous flawlessness a nearly impossible task I will nonetheless continually attempt to accomplish, but I also thank you in arrears and in advance for your (good-natured, I hope) comments about each lapsus clavis. Speaking of slip-ups, there are mechanical errors, and there are errors of fact. I do not claim to be an unimpeachable authority on every topic I write about. But I have spent many years intensively acquiring a practical knowledge of language, and by teaching editing (which I used to do), writing about composition (which I do now), and researching language usage (which I have always done), I have learned and processed much about writing and editing. In this forum, I welcome the opportunity to share that knowledge and insight with you, and in this forum, you are welcome and encouraged to respond in kind. Note this well, however: If you disagree with anything I write about writing, thatââ¬â¢s your prerogative. But donââ¬â¢t rely on your assumptions or your education. (Those influences often coalesce imperfectly, and educators make mistakes, too.) The best way to learn is to consult multiple sources and develop your own understanding at a point where those sources intersect and note that I didnââ¬â¢t refer to a fixed point. I endeavor to be consistent yet flexible, and I heartily recommend that attitude to all. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the General category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Comparative Forms of Adjectives34 Writing Tips That Will Make You a Better WriterTypes of Plots
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