It seems my article, "Letter to the Editor's..." has drawn both criticism and favoritism. I expected both, when I wrote it.
However, being an editor myself, I must say, there are some articles that need some major reworking. I have never claimed to be a perfect writer, and I must say I am not the perfect editor either.
There are many good editors on blearcherreport.com. I am happy that they take the time to do what they do, because my articles need help sometimes.
Therefore, I must ask all of you who write articles to keep writing. But, please proof read the articles before you make a final post. Here are some things that I feel would help the editors:
1. Check punctuation
2. Check spelling
3. Do research to ensure your article contains facts (unless you are stating opinion).
4. Don't have your paragraph be more than 2 to 4 sentences. Space them out so the article doesn't look to cluttered.
5. Don't space it out too much. Many people will see how long the article looks and decide not to read it.
6. Make sure your tags match the article. Use all the tags you want that have to do with the content.
7. Type your article in Microsoft Word or similar program, that will help proof read it, then copy and paste it to Bleacherreport.com
8. Make sure you use a picture that relates to the article.
9. Make sure you choose a title that is catchy and informative of the article
10. Don't always listen to people who write articles like this. LOL!
"That's all I have to say about that".
We editors strive to make the right corrections (though we aren't perfect). If you edit your article first, the editor will not have to change much, if any.
Thanks for writing. Thanks to the editors who help out. Let's help take bleacherreport.com to the top.
Comments (14) Add a comment »
from about 1 month ago
Dude, again, I don't know if you're going for the irony factor again, but you violated your first two rules in this very short article, so how can you expect us to listen--or take your edits seriously.
1.) Check punctuation: You have an unnecessary comma in your first paragraph, and your period is outside (rather than inside) of the quotation marks at the very end of the article.
2.) Check spelling: Proofread is one word. You have it written as two--proof read (twice). On your number 5 bullet, you have the word "t" instead of "to."
In addition, Bleacher Report specifically asks writers to write out numbers under 10. You violate this rule twice.
Finally, the phrase "informative of the article" doesn't make sense.
I'm not trying to attack this article or you, but I guess I don't understand how an editor would write an article asking writers to proofread after he hasn't even proofread his own work. This seems to be part of the problem you addressed in your first article. Some people might not think they need help when really they need more than just a little.
I apologize if this came off too harsh or rude. That was not my intent.
from about 1 month ago
Tim,
Thank you for your observation. I was hoping someone would catch some of the errors an comment on them. However, did not intentionally mispell the word "to". And, the period is correct, outside the parentheis.
To clarify, these are the kinds of things that editors should look for and change, punctuation, etc.... My point, do not change meaning of the article. However, those who write need to do their best to proof read.
The use of the phrase, "informative of the article", is correct as well. Informative means to inform; providing or disclosing information; instructive.
Thanks for the comments. I think eyes will be opened on both sides...
One thing I can guarentee, I expect that all editors will now proof my articles with a fine-toothed comb, in order to make sure they are correct. LOL
from about 1 month ago
In all seriousness, what grammar book are you using? Periods and commas are inside quotation marks; semi-colons and colons are outside.
Not to beat a dead horse, but here is your sentence:
"Make sure you choose a title that is catchy and informative of the article"
By your definition, this is translated into: Make sure you choose a title that is catchy and providing information of the article." Catchy of the article? Providing information of the article?
Yes, I'm splitting hairs here, but it's all to show how we read our own work. What we write makes perfect sense to us; however, readers can't jump inside our brains. Objective editors see these kinds of things.
from about 1 month ago
That said, I 100% agree with your last sentence.
from about 1 month ago
Tim,
If the section of words that are inside the parentheses make up a full sentence, then yes, the period goes inside. If they are inclusive of the original sentence then the period goes outside.
Either way, you are only validating my point. Which is, the editors need to look for those types of things. Punctuation and grammar and spelling and improper word use and articles that use the word and instead a comma, are all things the editor should look for. However, these things can be caught in proofreading. One, may not catch everything, that is why we have editors, but at least try.
I'm not sure how yo get your conclusions on some of the grammar issues, but I'm the one from WV. I should be the one who is having the trouble...
The whole point of my articles: To show that we all make mistakes, but some can be prevented...
thanks
from about 1 month ago
Bleacher Report: Where sports arguments turn into grammar debates.
You ARE the one having trouble, WV. Your first comment does not make sense, which reads: If the section of words that are inside the parentheses make up a full sentence, then yes, the period goes inside. If they are inclusive of the original sentence then the period goes outside.
You are confusing two issues: complete sentences and quoting a quotation. Those are not opposites, as you are presenting them. They are two different issues. Regardless, they do not address the mistakes in your original article.
On top of that, the sentence from your article we are referring to IS a complete sentence: "That's all I have to say about that". Subject-Verb-Complete Thought.
The Chicago Manual of Style, which BR uses, says this:
6.8 Periods and commas
Periods and commas precede closing quotation marks, whether double or single. This is a traditional style, in use well before the first edition of this manual (1906). As nicely expressed in William Strunk Jr. and E. B. White’s Elements of Style, “Typographical usage dictates that the comma be inside the [quotation] marks, though logically it often seems not to belong there” (p. 36; see bibliog. 1.1). The same goes for the period.
From Ryan Alberti's Bleacher Report Style Post from BR's blog:
b. Quotation Marks
Bleacher Report also abides by conventional rules for quotes and quotation marks...note that all punctuation (excluding dashes and parentheses) should go “inside,” and not “outside”, the “quotation marks.” (“Got it?”)
from about 1 month ago
You guy's are both awesome, I look forward to both of you editing my articles in the future. Between both of you my articles should be 'crispy clean'. Should the period be inside or outside the quote? I say outside. LOL!
from about 1 month ago
Sorry Scott, but from grammarbook.com, they express a different rule for periods. Look for yourself at http://www.grammarbook.com/punctuation/quotes.asp
I'm with Mark though, either Scott or Tim can edit my articles.
from about 1 month ago
This is GREAT!!
When did we start talking about "quotation marks?" I thought we were discussing (parentheses)...
Thanks Mark and Rob.
Tim, should I infer that you still agree with the last sentence of the article "?"
from about 1 month ago
That is hilarious. We were talking about two different sentences.
Reread my first comment:
"and your period is outside (rather than inside) of the quotation marks at the very end of the article."
I guess you read that as parentheses.
Nothing like a grammar debate on a Tuesday...
from about 1 month ago
Wow, I use a lot of statistics in my articles and have been accused of making people's heads hurt by using them.
I would like to inform you that this debate makes my head hurt.
I am not nearly as dedicated or as punctilious as you all with my writing. Perhaps that's why I get so few reads (ok - we all know it's the stats...).
I just wanted a t-shirt.
from about 1 month ago
We all just want t-shirts, dude. That's really what this debate was about.
from about 1 month ago
HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! Don't know how that got confused... Hey I was having fun though... At least we can say we are both right... LOL
I have a t-shirt coming. I will sell it at the right price... or maybe not
from about 1 month ago
...and the debate goes on! Okay, we have a winner - Scott you win, because you are getting the T-shirt. Tim probably already has 'won', oops.. I mean 'one'. Ha.. Ha! (period outside?)
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