I'm both fishing for an 'official' answer and want to know people's thoughts
Editing the Scribe?
Shyft the Pyro
I love the content, but there's just too many errors in this week's issue (http://www.guildwars.com/community/t...ibe-060707.php) for me to enjoy it. Was it rushed? Does the Scribe need an editor?
I'm both fishing for an 'official' answer and want to know people's thoughts
I'm both fishing for an 'official' answer and want to know people's thoughts
Zinger314
The Celestial Ministry is The Scribe. They don't want you to know more.
Imperial Cantha is watching you!
Imperial Cantha is watching you!
Gaile Gray
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Originally Posted by Shyft the Pyro
I love the content, but there's just too many errors in this week's issue (http://www.guildwars.com/community/t...ibe-060707.php) for me to enjoy it. Was it rushed? Does the Scribe need an editor?
I'm both fishing for an 'official' answer and want to know people's thoughts |
Zinger314
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Originally Posted by Gaile Gray
What are you specific concerns? The documents are edited by two professional editors. Errors happen, of course, or sometimes are not caught, even with careful attention to detail. But I'd like example of actual errors (as opposed to personal disagreements with opinion or differences of style). If you can provide those, it would be quite helpful.
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Originally Posted by Scribe
We valiantly guarded the Celestial Essence that they coveted and after a furious fight repelled their wicked army.
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Originally Posted by Me
We valiantly guarded the Celestial Essence that they coveted and, after a furious fight, we repelled their wicked army.
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Commas keep the world spinning.
bigwig
yeah but does the lack of commas really keep anyone from enjoying it?
Zinger314
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Originally Posted by bigwig
yeah but does the lack of commas really keep anyone from enjoying it?
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anti_z3r0
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Originally Posted by Zinger314
I, as a grammar Nazi, noticed one thing:
Commas keep the world spinning. |
Zinger314
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Originally Posted by anti_z3r0
Those are unnecessary commas.
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However, there is a different method if you are comma-phobic:
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Originally Posted by Me
We valiantly guarded the Celestial Essence that they coveted and repelled their wicked army after a furious fight.
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Former Ruling
The top thing teachers have to count off for in papers is the overuse of commas.....Its like some popular way of writing.
WHY does everyone think that every sentence needs 2-3 commas?
You need a comma to split ideas like in your example only if the split off portion has alittle to nothing to do with the point of the sentence.
Like: Jimmy, a sailor, likes Coca Cola.
Him being a sailor or not has nothing to do with the main idea of his love of cola.
This is about the only time that you'll ever have to split a sentence with commas.
The sentence you dislike is fine. The furious fight adds to the main point of the sentence.
WHY does everyone think that every sentence needs 2-3 commas?
You need a comma to split ideas like in your example only if the split off portion has alittle to nothing to do with the point of the sentence.
Like: Jimmy, a sailor, likes Coca Cola.
Him being a sailor or not has nothing to do with the main idea of his love of cola.
This is about the only time that you'll ever have to split a sentence with commas.
The sentence you dislike is fine. The furious fight adds to the main point of the sentence.
Eripens Vitae
A mistake i noticed was that one certain build had the Lightning Surge elite as well as the Spiteful Spirit elite.
Sounds like hax :P
Sounds like hax :P
Synxernal
My teacher gave us a lesson that he wanted us to use MORE commas, such as in the format that Zinger314 presented us.
Branskins
There are unnecessary commas...
And the commas make it look horribly unprofessional. The break caused by the commas makes the sentence lack any kind of fluid-ness.
If the sentence somehow started with When... then you would need a comma after the clause. And if I rememeber correctly an adverbial clause at the beginning requires a comma, if one appears at the end it is optional.
And the commas make it look horribly unprofessional. The break caused by the commas makes the sentence lack any kind of fluid-ness.
If the sentence somehow started with When... then you would need a comma after the clause. And if I rememeber correctly an adverbial clause at the beginning requires a comma, if one appears at the end it is optional.
Bale_Shadowscar
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| "The battle against the demonic invaders was all but won," |
Branskins
You have to look at the context. The battle was still going on. The emepror came to award people for defeating them when all of a sudden they come and siege the town!
I believe it is saying we thought it was won... but there was a lot more to do still.
Or I could be completely wrong! It is summer and I tend to forget grammar :O
I believe it is saying we thought it was won... but there was a lot more to do still.
Or I could be completely wrong! It is summer and I tend to forget grammar :O
James the crazy
this is slightly off-topic but...
ZOMG HAMSTORM!
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| Fire Magic is most effective combined with skills that slow or otherwise prevent your opponent from leaving your range. The Warrior's Hamstring skill.. |
J snukka
OMG who cares. It's a scribe that people read for fun and get enjoyment out of it. OOOOO commas this commas that. How pathetic can one be to complain that grammar in a Scribe is ruining their enjoyment of reading it. It is optional to read it. 99.8% of the people reading the scribe aren't grammar freaks so why does this matter. This thread is pointless. Don't read the Scribe again if it bothers you.
BTW I loved it, even if I don't agree with what was said about the elementalist class. But you don't see me making a thread about that.
BTW I loved it, even if I don't agree with what was said about the elementalist class. But you don't see me making a thread about that.
Across The Battle
I got a 47 in English class so I didn't notice any screw ups. -_-
Shyft the Pyro
Alright Gaile, here is the list of things that bother me in the latest Scribe. Note that while I am not a "professional editor" I have been editing a literary magazine at my college for over a year now, so I hope that counts for something.
This is a factual error that many have made even during the festival. The item we had to bring to Imperial Sorcerers was called a Celestial Charge, not Celestial Essence. I'm guessing most people were familiar with the Celestial Essences that drop in the Nahpui Quarter mission and only glanced over the items, believing them to be identical.
The above sentence should end with as from their primary, or have secondary replaced with second for consistency.
I personally dislike often being used so often
I'd change the sentence to read Earth Magic is often classified as "support magic" and rarely used for direct damage.
Here the first , but should be removed, so the sentence reads I do not know how many she gave out in the end, but such magnanimity is a true sign of greatness.
The above is missing an I between whom and did. The sentence should read Thanks are in order for the festival-goers mentioned here and all the other kind souls whom I did not have the privilege to meet this week.
Looks like the "professional editors" are making a few too many editing mistakes to keep their jobs. Would you mind firing them both and letting me take over at half the pay as an "unprofessional" editor?
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| We valiantly guarded the Celestial Essence... |
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| Elementalists often can use just as many skills from their secondary profession as from their first |
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| Earth Magic is often classified as "support magic" not often used for direct damage |
I'd change the sentence to read Earth Magic is often classified as "support magic" and rarely used for direct damage.
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| I do not know how many she gave out in the end, but, but such magnanimity is a true sign of greatness |
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| Thanks are in order for the festival-goers mentioned here and all the other kind souls whom did not have the privilege to meet this week. |
Looks like the "professional editors" are making a few too many editing mistakes to keep their jobs. Would you mind firing them both and letting me take over at half the pay as an "unprofessional" editor?
Shyft the Pyro
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Originally Posted by Zinger314
The Celestial Ministry is The Scribe. They don't want you to know more.
Imperial Cantha is watching you! |
I refuse to believe such a person - who's been in the presence of kings and emperors - would allow themselves to be recruited by the Canthan bureaucracy
Two April Mornings
pretty good points shyft
Branskins
You try writing on old parchment in the middle of a busy city! Writing at ones desk where it is quiet is much different from someone who is roleplaying a scribe during a huge event with loads of people!
Maybe I am trying to defend him too much. Maybe they are trying to carry out the roleplaying with mistakes? Hm I do not know.
But people getting picky about things over the internet can get a little annoying. I mean it is the internet and if that bugs you... read the thousands of forum posts; they are filled with grammatical mistakes.
Maybe I am trying to defend him too much. Maybe they are trying to carry out the roleplaying with mistakes? Hm I do not know.
But people getting picky about things over the internet can get a little annoying. I mean it is the internet and if that bugs you... read the thousands of forum posts; they are filled with grammatical mistakes.
Zehnchu
One scroll is from New York & the other is Los Angeles, I would hate to see the Wall Street Scroll.
Feminist Terrorist
If a job is worth doing, it's worth doing right.
IMO, just because other people make mistakes is no reason to lower one's standards.
I'm sure that all comes off as smug, but that's not my intent. I'm an idealist, a crusader, and believe that people should strive to do their best in all things, at all times.
IMO, just because other people make mistakes is no reason to lower one's standards.
I'm sure that all comes off as smug, but that's not my intent. I'm an idealist, a crusader, and believe that people should strive to do their best in all things, at all times.
Gaile Gray
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Originally Posted by Shyft the Pyro
I love the content, but there's just too many errors in this week's issue (http://www.guildwars.com/community/t...ibe-060707.php) for me to enjoy it. Was it rushed? Does the Scribe need an editor?
I'm both fishing for an 'official' answer and want to know people's thoughts |
But FYI: The first call for commas is wrong. Commas are not required there, although I personally would have chosen to use them. Your other callouts are primarily subjective. Others are absolutely erroneous. One or two might be accurate, but for goodness, sake, you're wasting Inde's bandwidth when there is an email address to which you could send your input? I was mistaken in not pointing that out in the earlier post, and I apologize. Via email, we welcome any and all comments, suggestions, and questions, and it is of great benefit to hear from those who wish to make a contribution. I would anticipate that forum threads would be more for points of general discussion.If you hope to establish your profession as an editor, take it from someone who has been quite successful in that very role (although did not serve as such here): Learn to separate yourself from your preferences and allow the writer to display his or her own voice whenever possible. Do we care that you do not like "often?" Nope, not a diddly.
It is not an editor's place to reconstruct, but to shine, polish, and amend when there are errors. It is not an editor's role to recast in his or her own wording, when the words of another tell the tale. The editor serves mostly as an aid and in most assignments should not presume to offer the final word on nearly any stylistic element or construct, but only on what is truly an error.Lastly, attend Definition 2, and learn.
The Great Al
are you guys serious? It's one thing if the guy misspells "Guild Wars," but this isn't a literary magazine, it's an online gaming newsletter! Honestly, some people just like to complain about everything.
J snukka
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Originally Posted by Gaile Gray
Oh, now, some would say you're fishing for a job and for self-aggrandizement, don't you think?
But FYI: The first call for commas is wrong. Commas are not required there, although I personally would have chosen to use them. Your other callouts are primarily subjective. Others are absolutely erroneous. One or two might be accurate, but for goodness, sake, you're wasting Inde's bandwidth when there is an email address to which you could send your input? I was mistaken in not pointing that out in the earlier post, and I apologize. Via email, we welcome any and all comments, suggestions, and questions, and it is of great benefit to hear from those who wish to make a contribution. I would anticipate that forum threads would be more for points of general discussion.If you hope to establish your profession as an editor, take it from someone who has been quite successful in that very role (although did not serve as such here): Learn to separate yourself from your preferences and allow the writer to display his or her own voice whenever possible. Do we care that you do not like "often?" Nope, not a diddly. It is not an editor's place to reconstruct, but to shine, polish, and amend when there are errors. It is not an editor's role to recast in his or her own wording, when the words of another tell the tale. The editor serves mostly as an aid and in most assignments should not presume to offer the final word on nearly any stylistic element or construct, but only on what is truly an error.Lastly, attend Definition 2, and learn. |
Shyft the Pyro
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Originally Posted by Gaile Gray
Oh, now, some would say you're fishing for a job and for self-aggrandizement, don't you think?
But FYI: The first call for commas is wrong. Commas are not required there, although I personally would have chosen to use them. Your other callouts are primarily subjective. Others are absolutely erroneous. One or two might be accurate, but for goodness, sake, you're wasting Inde's bandwidth when there is an email address to which you could send your input? I was mistaken in not pointing that out in the earlier post, and I apologize. Via email, we welcome any and all comments, suggestions, and questions, and it is of great benefit to hear from those who wish to make a contribution. I would anticipate that forum threads would be more for points of general discussion.If you hope to establish your profession as an editor, take it from someone who has been quite successful in that very role (although did not serve as such here): Learn to separate yourself from your preferences and allow the writer to display his or her own voice whenever possible. Do we care that you do not like "often?" Nope, not a diddly. It is not an editor's place to reconstruct, but to shine, polish, and amend when there are errors. It is not an editor's role to recast in his or her own wording, when the words of another tell the tale. The editor serves mostly as an aid and in most assignments should not presume to offer the final word on nearly any stylistic element or construct, but only on what is truly an error.Lastly, attend Definition 2, and learn. |
The commas were not my call, and I believe were mentioned by the others only because I didn't explicitly quote the questionable parts in my first post.
Even if you wish to dismiss the first three points I quoted as matters of "preference," the last two are clearly editing errors.
The Great Al
I was going to make a whole dramatic post but it was just a huge flame, which is basically what you're asking for anyway.
The Scribe is free. You don't need to read it, and if you do read it, you have no reason to complain about a typo or two.
The Scribe is free. You don't need to read it, and if you do read it, you have no reason to complain about a typo or two.
Almighty Zi
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Originally Posted by Shyft the Pyro
I have been editing a literary magazine at my college for over a year now.
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Zinger314
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Originally Posted by Almighty Zi
Well, if we all were editors of a 'literary magazine' then I'm sure that we would all be looking for holes or areas of improvement in the punctuation and grammar of the article. As we are not, I think that we appreciated the article for what is was and couldn't give a toss about its literary merits.
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The commas may not be required, but the sentence reads very awkward without them...
Almighty Zi
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Originally Posted by Zinger314
I'm 16 years old, and I care about grammar. I'm the completely opposite spectrum.
The commas may not be required, but the sentence reads very awkward without them... |
If the article had contained any glaring errors or had been particularly badly written then perhaps I too would share the OP's view of the article.
Shyft the Pyro
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Originally Posted by Almighty Zi
What I was trying to point out in my previous post is that the OP was biased in his view of the article. I care about grammar and punctuation too but I read the article for its content and not to look for grammatical errors.
If the article had contained any glaring errors or had been particularly badly written then perhaps I too would share the OP's view of the article. |
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Originally Posted by Shyft the Pyro
I love the content, but there's just too many errors in this week's issue for me to enjoy it.
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The Great Al
why should errors detract from a reading experience? Again, this isn't webster's dictionary, its a guild wars newsletter. The commas really weren't necessary, and it is extremely common for people to miss two 'but's in a row. If you are honestly going to let two or 3 ambiguous errors detract from a reading experience, then there's no reason to read it at all, or anything on this site. The scribe is useful for its' content, it's not a literary magazine or a novel.
that being said, i know Gaile has said that the scribe guy has played more gw than anyone, but i don't think his elementalist builds seem all that great
that being said, i know Gaile has said that the scribe guy has played more gw than anyone, but i don't think his elementalist builds seem all that great
Kool Pajamas
There were a few errors, but, but, but, but, but, but, but, who cares?
Step down from your pedastal. omg i said pedastal not pedestal. lol
Step down from your pedastal. omg i said pedastal not pedestal. lol
Dalia
Well, Ms. Gray, there's editing and then there's editing. Forgive us if we don't "take it from you" and instead have our own opinions. While the type of editing you describe might serve well for most types of business writing, creative writing often demands more scrutiny. There were many weaknesses in this week's Scribe -- sentence structure, verb tense, modifiers, point of view -- real basic stuff! (The scribe seems to adore the word "despite.")
We might also have different opinions as to what constitutes "wasting Inde's bandwidth." For those of us to whom writing is important, raising the level of GW's prose is worthy of discussion. So far I haven't seen any posts that rank any of GW's writing as particularly stellar. "Despite" the inevitable flames such posts draw, a discussion might just up the bar a bit.
Also contradictory seems to be GW's stand that the forums are to be our main means of communication with Anet and your request that we use email instead. By the way, what email address should be used to submit our "comments, suggestions and questions?" One that generates an automated reply?
Your last paragraph reminds me of Ellen DeGeneres's bit about the phrase "just kidding," how folks seem to think adding that phrase excuses anything. Seems to me, you're getting a vitriolic lately in your replies -- just kidding!
Dalia;>
We might also have different opinions as to what constitutes "wasting Inde's bandwidth." For those of us to whom writing is important, raising the level of GW's prose is worthy of discussion. So far I haven't seen any posts that rank any of GW's writing as particularly stellar. "Despite" the inevitable flames such posts draw, a discussion might just up the bar a bit.
Also contradictory seems to be GW's stand that the forums are to be our main means of communication with Anet and your request that we use email instead. By the way, what email address should be used to submit our "comments, suggestions and questions?" One that generates an automated reply?
Your last paragraph reminds me of Ellen DeGeneres's bit about the phrase "just kidding," how folks seem to think adding that phrase excuses anything. Seems to me, you're getting a vitriolic lately in your replies -- just kidding!
Dalia;>
SerenitySilverstar
Congratulations. We just stepped into the realm which would deserve a hearty point-and-laugh by Something Awful's Weekend Web.
Curse You
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Originally Posted by James the crazy
this is slightly off-topic but...
ZOMG HAMSTORM! |
It says:
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A Deadly Combination Strike with a Hamstring attack to cripple your fleeing opponent, then rain fire down upon him as he slowly limps away. |
WLlama
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| While the type of editing you describe might serve well for most types of business writing, creative writing often demands more scrutiny. |
I typically find it most important to preserve the voice of the author in creative pieces; unlike business writings, which tend to be more focused on precise wording.As for judging which writing style requires more scrutiny, both have their own editing techniques. Thus a direct comparison of the two is unlikely to bear fruit and in my opinion, neither style of writing predetermines the amount of editing/scrutiny required.
/tries to stop twitching
YunSooJin
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Originally Posted by Dalia
Well, Ms. Gray, there's editing and then there's editing. Forgive us if we don't "take it from you" and instead have our own opinions. While the type of editing you describe might serve well for most types of business writing, creative writing often demands more scrutiny. There were many weaknesses in this week's Scribe -- sentence structure, verb tense, modifiers, point of view -- real basic stuff! (The scribe seems to adore the word "despite.")
We might also have different opinions as to what constitutes "wasting Inde's bandwidth." For those of us to whom writing is important, raising the level of GW's prose is worthy of discussion. So far I haven't seen any posts that rank any of GW's writing as particularly stellar. "Despite" the inevitable flames such posts draw, a discussion might just up the bar a bit. Also contradictory seems to be GW's stand that the forums are to be our main means of communication with Anet and your request that we use email instead. By the way, what email address should be used to submit our "comments, suggestions and questions?" One that generates an automated reply? Your last paragraph reminds me of Ellen DeGeneres's bit about the phrase "just kidding," how folks seem to think adding that phrase excuses anything. Seems to me, you're getting a vitriolic lately in your replies -- just kidding! Dalia;> |
Rent
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Originally Posted by SerenitySilverstar
Congratulations. We just stepped into the realm which would deserve a hearty point-and-laugh by Something Awful's Weekend Web.
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