Trying to Understand the Mindset of Overcritical Editors
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KathyC Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> pammie8223 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > There is a company that shall remain nameless
> that
> > had overly harsh editors, no matter what I
> would
> > always either get a question about something
> that
> > was clearly in the narrative and then get
> dinged
> > because they had to contact me or I would get a
> > message that they had to correct several
> > grammatical errors without ever telling me what
> > the errors were. I finally gave up. If they had
> > been a high paying company I would have tried
> to
> > stick it out but the pay just wasn't worth the
> ego
> > deflation.
>
>
> Same here pammie. My company has a name:
> Intellishop. I have noticed that some of the
> schedulers are taking the company name out of
> their shop postings. You don't see the name of the
> company until you view the body of the e-mail.
LOL KathyC! :-)
-------------------------------------------------------
> pammie8223 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > There is a company that shall remain nameless
> that
> > had overly harsh editors, no matter what I
> would
> > always either get a question about something
> that
> > was clearly in the narrative and then get
> dinged
> > because they had to contact me or I would get a
> > message that they had to correct several
> > grammatical errors without ever telling me what
> > the errors were. I finally gave up. If they had
> > been a high paying company I would have tried
> to
> > stick it out but the pay just wasn't worth the
> ego
> > deflation.
>
>
> Same here pammie. My company has a name:
> Intellishop. I have noticed that some of the
> schedulers are taking the company name out of
> their shop postings. You don't see the name of the
> company until you view the body of the e-mail.
LOL KathyC! :-)
****************
Motivation increases when we assume large responsibilities with a short deadline.
Motivation increases when we assume large responsibilities with a short deadline.
I have been editing now for almost three years and thought I would give some insight on POSSIBLE reasons for scores that are lower than expected or comments from the editor that seem to be incorrect. I do not edit for any MSC's in the U.S. so I most likely have not edited a report from anyone that reads this. Prior to editing, I also received feedback and scores from editors that made absolutely no sense to me. After becoming an editor, I had a few "Aha!" moments. My focus was always on the assignment details and not so much on the reporting requirements with the exception of the deadline that the report had to be submitted. I glazed over that last part of the instructions that usually dealt with how to fill out the report. I presumed that I needed to use complete sentences, do a simple spellcheck and that was about it. I was more or less on auto-pilot after I had logged a few dozen shops under my belt. Good gracious, was I wrong! Here is a list of examples of the most common mistakes that I find:
1. Incorrect reference used for the employee(s) you encountered. The instructions should state if you should use their proper name or refer to them specifically as "associate", "team member", "employee", "staff member", "salesperson", etc. I used to use the same reference as listed in the question, however, that is often not how the MSC wants you to refer to them. It can more than double the amount of time it takes to edit a report when an editor has to go through a lengthy report and change every single incorrect reference.
2. Responding with only "yes" or "no" in the comment field. This one can almost seem unnecessary since there is not much elaboration needed for a question such as, "Were you able to complete the shop?" after you have already selected your response. However, if the instructions state that you need to write a complete sentence for every comment field, then the editor would need to change the response to something like, "I was able to complete the shop." It seems like overkill to me too, but if that is what the company wants, then that is what has to be delivered to them.
3. Not doing a spellcheck. Now this one is what I just do not understand why a shopper would not do. You would be surprised at how many reports that I have edited where the shopper did not click the option at the bottom of the report to do a spellcheck.
4. Incorrect format used to upload receipts. If the company wants the receipts uploaded in a PDF format and the shopper uploaded it as a JPEG, then that may result in an automatic downgrade.
5. Using contractions in the report. With the companies that I edit reports for, this is a big no-no and also a very common mistake that I see in reports.
All, some or none of these examples may apply to the specific situations referenced in this thread. I just wanted to shed some light on the possibilities given my experience in the editing world.
1. Incorrect reference used for the employee(s) you encountered. The instructions should state if you should use their proper name or refer to them specifically as "associate", "team member", "employee", "staff member", "salesperson", etc. I used to use the same reference as listed in the question, however, that is often not how the MSC wants you to refer to them. It can more than double the amount of time it takes to edit a report when an editor has to go through a lengthy report and change every single incorrect reference.
2. Responding with only "yes" or "no" in the comment field. This one can almost seem unnecessary since there is not much elaboration needed for a question such as, "Were you able to complete the shop?" after you have already selected your response. However, if the instructions state that you need to write a complete sentence for every comment field, then the editor would need to change the response to something like, "I was able to complete the shop." It seems like overkill to me too, but if that is what the company wants, then that is what has to be delivered to them.
3. Not doing a spellcheck. Now this one is what I just do not understand why a shopper would not do. You would be surprised at how many reports that I have edited where the shopper did not click the option at the bottom of the report to do a spellcheck.
4. Incorrect format used to upload receipts. If the company wants the receipts uploaded in a PDF format and the shopper uploaded it as a JPEG, then that may result in an automatic downgrade.
5. Using contractions in the report. With the companies that I edit reports for, this is a big no-no and also a very common mistake that I see in reports.
All, some or none of these examples may apply to the specific situations referenced in this thread. I just wanted to shed some light on the possibilities given my experience in the editing world.
Amie, sometimes it is not as simple as using that button entitled spell check. For one Sassies MSC in particular, it rarely works.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
amie068 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have been editing now for almost three years and
> thought I would give some insight on POSSIBLE
> reasons for scores that are lower than expected or
> comments from the editor that seem to be
> incorrect. I do not edit for any MSC's in the U.S.
> so I most likely have not edited a report from
> anyone that reads this. Prior to editing, I also
> received feedback and scores from editors that
> made absolutely no sense to me. After becoming an
> editor, I had a few "Aha!" moments. My focus was
> always on the assignment details and not so much
> on the reporting requirements with the exception
> of the deadline that the report had to be
> submitted. I glazed over that last part of the
> instructions that usually dealt with how to fill
> out the report. I presumed that I needed to use
> complete sentences, do a simple spellcheck and
> that was about it. I was more or less on
> auto-pilot after I had logged a few dozen shops
> under my belt. Good gracious, was I wrong! Here is
> a list of examples of the most common mistakes
> that I find:
> 1. Incorrect reference used for the employee(s)
> you encountered. The instructions should state if
> you should use their proper name or refer to them
> specifically as "associate", "team member",
> "employee", "staff member", "salesperson", etc. I
> used to use the same reference as listed in the
> question, however, that is often not how the MSC
> wants you to refer to them. It can more than
> double the amount of time it takes to edit a
> report when an editor has to go through a lengthy
> report and change every single incorrect
> reference.
>
> 2. Responding with only "yes" or "no" in the
> comment field. This one can almost seem
> unnecessary since there is not much elaboration
> needed for a question such as, "Were you able to
> complete the shop?" after you have already
> selected your response. However, if the
> instructions state that you need to write a
> complete sentence for every comment field, then
> the editor would need to change the response to
> something like, "I was able to complete the shop."
> It seems like overkill to me too, but if that is
> what the company wants, then that is what has to
> be delivered to them.
>
> 3. Not doing a spellcheck. Now this one is what I
> just do not understand why a shopper would not do.
> You would be surprised at how many reports that I
> have edited where the shopper did not click the
> option at the bottom of the report to do a
> spellcheck.
>
> 4. Incorrect format used to upload receipts. If
> the company wants the receipts uploaded in a PDF
> format and the shopper uploaded it as a JPEG, then
> that may result in an automatic downgrade.
>
> 5. Using contractions in the report. With the
> companies that I edit reports for, this is a big
> no-no and also a very common mistake that I see in
> reports.
>
> All, some or none of these examples may apply to
> the specific situations referenced in this thread.
> I just wanted to shed some light on the
> possibilities given my experience in the editing
> world.
Some very good points there. I have just a few comments.
Re: point 1: In my limited experience as a shopper, (5 months into this business, signed up for 41 companies, 190 shops for 19 companies), MSCs almost never give any guidance whatsoever as to how they want you to refer to the sales associate, team member, etc. (So far, I have tried to avoid the long narrative high-end companies, so my perceptions might be skewed.)
Re: point 5: Since contractions are a part of standard English, I hope that the companies who do not like them make some mention of that in their guidelines. (I make a point of never using them, just in case.)
And one last point, which I am not directing at you. For points 1, 2, 4, and 5, I would hope that the editor would put something other than: "marked off for errors in spelling and grammar." I see that you mentioned the extra work that an editor has to do to fix problems. I would hope that for their own sake, editors would mention something specific, when there was a specific problem.
-------------------------------------------------------
> I have been editing now for almost three years and
> thought I would give some insight on POSSIBLE
> reasons for scores that are lower than expected or
> comments from the editor that seem to be
> incorrect. I do not edit for any MSC's in the U.S.
> so I most likely have not edited a report from
> anyone that reads this. Prior to editing, I also
> received feedback and scores from editors that
> made absolutely no sense to me. After becoming an
> editor, I had a few "Aha!" moments. My focus was
> always on the assignment details and not so much
> on the reporting requirements with the exception
> of the deadline that the report had to be
> submitted. I glazed over that last part of the
> instructions that usually dealt with how to fill
> out the report. I presumed that I needed to use
> complete sentences, do a simple spellcheck and
> that was about it. I was more or less on
> auto-pilot after I had logged a few dozen shops
> under my belt. Good gracious, was I wrong! Here is
> a list of examples of the most common mistakes
> that I find:
> 1. Incorrect reference used for the employee(s)
> you encountered. The instructions should state if
> you should use their proper name or refer to them
> specifically as "associate", "team member",
> "employee", "staff member", "salesperson", etc. I
> used to use the same reference as listed in the
> question, however, that is often not how the MSC
> wants you to refer to them. It can more than
> double the amount of time it takes to edit a
> report when an editor has to go through a lengthy
> report and change every single incorrect
> reference.
>
> 2. Responding with only "yes" or "no" in the
> comment field. This one can almost seem
> unnecessary since there is not much elaboration
> needed for a question such as, "Were you able to
> complete the shop?" after you have already
> selected your response. However, if the
> instructions state that you need to write a
> complete sentence for every comment field, then
> the editor would need to change the response to
> something like, "I was able to complete the shop."
> It seems like overkill to me too, but if that is
> what the company wants, then that is what has to
> be delivered to them.
>
> 3. Not doing a spellcheck. Now this one is what I
> just do not understand why a shopper would not do.
> You would be surprised at how many reports that I
> have edited where the shopper did not click the
> option at the bottom of the report to do a
> spellcheck.
>
> 4. Incorrect format used to upload receipts. If
> the company wants the receipts uploaded in a PDF
> format and the shopper uploaded it as a JPEG, then
> that may result in an automatic downgrade.
>
> 5. Using contractions in the report. With the
> companies that I edit reports for, this is a big
> no-no and also a very common mistake that I see in
> reports.
>
> All, some or none of these examples may apply to
> the specific situations referenced in this thread.
> I just wanted to shed some light on the
> possibilities given my experience in the editing
> world.
Some very good points there. I have just a few comments.
Re: point 1: In my limited experience as a shopper, (5 months into this business, signed up for 41 companies, 190 shops for 19 companies), MSCs almost never give any guidance whatsoever as to how they want you to refer to the sales associate, team member, etc. (So far, I have tried to avoid the long narrative high-end companies, so my perceptions might be skewed.)
Re: point 5: Since contractions are a part of standard English, I hope that the companies who do not like them make some mention of that in their guidelines. (I make a point of never using them, just in case.)
And one last point, which I am not directing at you. For points 1, 2, 4, and 5, I would hope that the editor would put something other than: "marked off for errors in spelling and grammar." I see that you mentioned the extra work that an editor has to do to fix problems. I would hope that for their own sake, editors would mention something specific, when there was a specific problem.
I also should mention that , with some companies, the feedback received is a generic comment that the company uses as a default and the editor does not write it. For the companies I work for, there is not even an option for me to actually write a comment and I have no idea what feedback is given to the shopper. I also agree with another comment about the spellcheck not working in some reports as I have made (and probably still make!) when completing my reports. To try to help with this, I usually copy and paste my response in Word to see if I made a spelling or grammatical error. Even as an editor, I have received the same "marked off for errors....." feedback as well. Talk about embarrassing! 
When it is worthwhile I will copy and paste into a Word program and use spell check. For the company mentioned, I don't bother because it is too aggravating they won't address the problem.
Based on the pay for most editors, if the choice was between editing two extra shops in that hour or sending elaborate critiques to shoppers I sure wouldn't send anything more than required.
Based on the pay for most editors, if the choice was between editing two extra shops in that hour or sending elaborate critiques to shoppers I sure wouldn't send anything more than required.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
Oops! I didn't see that this went on for another page, which made my comments redundant and I know how y'all (or all y'all) feel about redundancy.
(heart)
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/14/2014 09:43PM by stilllearning.
(heart)
I intend to live forever. So far, so good.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/14/2014 09:43PM by stilllearning.
Some of the blame for these types of errors has to fall on the MSC's. If they want us to refer to employees in a certain way, that is what the question should use. If they want a PDF, the label next to the button should say that. These things would have to be done only once at the form writing. This would save editors and shoppers time every time they do a shop. Little things like this would result in better reports which ought to make everyone happier.
Dear shoppers,
I posted this after receiving an "8", but with insulting comments that never ended.......I mean really insulting. I did not mind the shopper rating, but the insults were brutal and the infractions were miniscule. These ratings were not sent to me via e-mail, as is customary. I had to extract this from my homepage and the editor did not leave initials. So. I conducted an exact assignment with the same company within the same week and submitted a very similar report. Result: "10, Nice Job" sent to my e-mail with the name of the reviewer. SS.
I posted this after receiving an "8", but with insulting comments that never ended.......I mean really insulting. I did not mind the shopper rating, but the insults were brutal and the infractions were miniscule. These ratings were not sent to me via e-mail, as is customary. I had to extract this from my homepage and the editor did not leave initials. So. I conducted an exact assignment with the same company within the same week and submitted a very similar report. Result: "10, Nice Job" sent to my e-mail with the name of the reviewer. SS.
Lisa mentioned Sassie's spell check, which WAS a problem for me through 3 computers. Finally, I stumbled upon the following solution: After I finish the report, I save as "incomplete" and then re-enter, going directly to the bottom of the page where the button is located and it works perfectly. Occasionally, I try the direct check, but it still won't function for me.
oh, don't they suck?! They don't even have the audacity to tell you EXACTLY WHAT!~
As a brand new editor, I agree that generic comments do not help the shopper. I hope I am allowed to say things such as, "Please capitalize the first word used in a quoted sentence."
nhgirl1970 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> @nycrocks Believe it or not, it is now standard to
> use just one space after a period. It drives me
> insane.
We know this has only recently evolved and it is not stated in all style manuals to be the new standard. If you do a search for "style manual two spaces after period" you'll see there are plenty of style manuals still embracing the two space rule.
[theworldsgreatestbook.com] It is just so much easier on the eyes when there are two spaces after ending punctuation.
If I were working as a legal secretary again, it would be expected of me to type two spaces after all ending punctuation. For anything on the Internet, we generally see a one space standard.
I don't think many of these editors know that using two spaces after ending punctuation has been the standard forever and is still perfectly acceptable. If they did, they wouldn't be calling the spaces typos!
This is probably only happening because 1) nobody is teaching the value of two spaces after a sentence anymore, 2) typesetting with justification can't always handle 2 spaces, 3) text messaging 140 character limits and, last but not least, 4) laziness and the abbreviation prone culture we live in.
Nobody is teaching penmanship because learning cursive writing is no longer mandatory in elementary school. I guess somebody has to teach kids how to sign their names at some point. Ain't "progress" grand?
Just think, soon the word "you" won't exist in its proper spelling anymore. It will just be "u"! When I see older people doing this, it drives me nuts. They should and do know better.
Thanks for letting me vent! I apologize for the digression.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/16/2014 08:14AM by nycrocks.
-------------------------------------------------------
> @nycrocks Believe it or not, it is now standard to
> use just one space after a period. It drives me
> insane.
We know this has only recently evolved and it is not stated in all style manuals to be the new standard. If you do a search for "style manual two spaces after period" you'll see there are plenty of style manuals still embracing the two space rule.
[theworldsgreatestbook.com] It is just so much easier on the eyes when there are two spaces after ending punctuation.
If I were working as a legal secretary again, it would be expected of me to type two spaces after all ending punctuation. For anything on the Internet, we generally see a one space standard.
I don't think many of these editors know that using two spaces after ending punctuation has been the standard forever and is still perfectly acceptable. If they did, they wouldn't be calling the spaces typos!
This is probably only happening because 1) nobody is teaching the value of two spaces after a sentence anymore, 2) typesetting with justification can't always handle 2 spaces, 3) text messaging 140 character limits and, last but not least, 4) laziness and the abbreviation prone culture we live in.
Nobody is teaching penmanship because learning cursive writing is no longer mandatory in elementary school. I guess somebody has to teach kids how to sign their names at some point. Ain't "progress" grand?
Just think, soon the word "you" won't exist in its proper spelling anymore. It will just be "u"! When I see older people doing this, it drives me nuts. They should and do know better.
Thanks for letting me vent! I apologize for the digression.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/16/2014 08:14AM by nycrocks.
I had been working for this particular MSC for about 2 years. I NEVER got corrections or pep-talk letters UNTIL this one editor would write me every time I submitted a report!.
She nitpicked EVERY report I did. Sometimes I got lucky and another "normal" editor would get it and write great reviews on my submission. But if M---- got it, I got an ass chewing!
She nitpicked EVERY report I did. Sometimes I got lucky and another "normal" editor would get it and write great reviews on my submission. But if M---- got it, I got an ass chewing!
I work quite a bit for the bar audit place, and usually get a 10, however, last report I got a 9 and a phone call about the Bartender, which I remembered (whoosh) and stated. My grade was then raised to a 10......now that's a nice Scheduler and company. Makes you want to do good every time. The other one with the snarly Editor lost me, as she just wasn't right
in her grading, and I got tired. I am still registered, but hardly work for them, I think they lose when they are unfair or need an ego boost....I'm right, your wrong kind of thing.
in her grading, and I got tired. I am still registered, but hardly work for them, I think they lose when they are unfair or need an ego boost....I'm right, your wrong kind of thing.
Live consciously....
nycrocks Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> We know this has only recently evolved
Typographers established a single space after a period sometime in the early 20th century. Which I guess in terms of the history of the world is recent, but really not so much.
> I don't think many of these editors know that
> using two spaces after ending punctuation has been
> the standard forever and is still perfectly
> acceptable. If they did, they wouldn't be calling
> the spaces typos!
Style manuals call for a single space after a period.
> This is probably only happening because 1) nobody
> is teaching the value of two spaces after a
> sentence anymore, 2) typesetting with
> justification can't always handle 2 spaces, 3)
> text messaging 140 character limits and, last but
> not least, 4) laziness and the abbreviation prone
> culture we live in.
None of those are true. It's happening (happened really) because in the early stages of typesetting all the characters took up the same amount of horizontal space. So that l took up as much space as that p does. That puts a lot of space between the end of the p and the start of the l in please. Because of that there was a lot of empty space in type and two spaces helped break it up. Now that practically every major font that's used doesn't have all that empty space typographers have all agreed that there should only be 1 space after a period.
*you will notice this post has 2 spaces after each sentence. I also say ain't when I know it's not a real word
-------------------------------------------------------
> We know this has only recently evolved
Typographers established a single space after a period sometime in the early 20th century. Which I guess in terms of the history of the world is recent, but really not so much.
> I don't think many of these editors know that
> using two spaces after ending punctuation has been
> the standard forever and is still perfectly
> acceptable. If they did, they wouldn't be calling
> the spaces typos!
Style manuals call for a single space after a period.
> This is probably only happening because 1) nobody
> is teaching the value of two spaces after a
> sentence anymore, 2) typesetting with
> justification can't always handle 2 spaces, 3)
> text messaging 140 character limits and, last but
> not least, 4) laziness and the abbreviation prone
> culture we live in.
None of those are true. It's happening (happened really) because in the early stages of typesetting all the characters took up the same amount of horizontal space. So that l took up as much space as that p does. That puts a lot of space between the end of the p and the start of the l in please. Because of that there was a lot of empty space in type and two spaces helped break it up. Now that practically every major font that's used doesn't have all that empty space typographers have all agreed that there should only be 1 space after a period.
*you will notice this post has 2 spaces after each sentence. I also say ain't when I know it's not a real word
There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
At the moment only demons come to mind
I edit for a living. I edit books, website content and newspapers. I'm a copy editor. I received the same notation, probably by the same MSC editor who has plagued other posters here: "...several grammatical errors."
At least on one report, the error was clearly a stylistic one. I was cited five times for not capitalizing Teller and Personal Banker.
Sigh.
At least on one report, the error was clearly a stylistic one. I was cited five times for not capitalizing Teller and Personal Banker.
Sigh.
i'l like to know if they (editors) are so critical, why don't these MSC's STATE you HAVE to have had some college experience then?
I didn't finish college, but had over ten years worth. In one semester, I felt my grammar and writing skills improved 100% (had an Aunt that was an English professor and loved to critique and GRADE my personal correspondence with her!!!!! no joke!!) but, friends who never went, it is obvious they did not.
Not everyone really KNOWS to capitalize, punctuate, how to space 2 after a colon, etc..
I didn't finish college, but had over ten years worth. In one semester, I felt my grammar and writing skills improved 100% (had an Aunt that was an English professor and loved to critique and GRADE my personal correspondence with her!!!!! no joke!!) but, friends who never went, it is obvious they did not.
Not everyone really KNOWS to capitalize, punctuate, how to space 2 after a colon, etc..
The English language is the most difficult to grade because trends cause it to ebb and flow in terms of grammar and puncuation. Additionally, shoppers are not English Majors and should not be expected to be so. MS companies should know this and act accordingly with editors.
The MSC I edit for know this and we have a lot of shoppers whose first language isn't English so we're told not to dock marks off or comment on typos and grammatical errors. The downside of this is that we continue to get poorly written reports because the shoppers don't know any better.
If that many people really do not know to capitalize and punctuate it would be a sad testament to education. In my humble opinion it is not because they weren't taught to write. Text speak has taken over. As someone who loves to read and loves language, it is abhorrent.
Equal rights for others does not mean fewer rights for you. It's not pie.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
"I prefer someone who burns the flag and then wraps themselves up in the Constitution over someone who burns the Constitution and then wraps themselves up in the flag." -Molly Ivins
Never try to teach a pig to sing. It's a waste of your time and it really annoys the pig.
I <3 txt spk
There are reasons that a body stays in motion
At the moment only demons come to mind
At the moment only demons come to mind
A semi-off topic comment:
More than those who lack knowledge/concern as to their compositions, I avoid all conversation with anyone who needs an hour to share two minutes of information and/or is unable to speak without employing the irritating pauses of "like, he/she goes and/or you know."
Now, for a topic comment:
Never in my 71 yrs. of life had I ever encountered the rule of double spacing following a period. The moral of my comment is that each day I'm on the Internet, 17 yrs. to date, is a learning experience for me.
More than those who lack knowledge/concern as to their compositions, I avoid all conversation with anyone who needs an hour to share two minutes of information and/or is unable to speak without employing the irritating pauses of "like, he/she goes and/or you know."
Now, for a topic comment:
Never in my 71 yrs. of life had I ever encountered the rule of double spacing following a period. The moral of my comment is that each day I'm on the Internet, 17 yrs. to date, is a learning experience for me.
shopperbob Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Never in my 71 yrs. of life had I ever encountered
> the rule of double spacing following a period. The
> moral of my comment is that each day I'm on the
> Internet, 17 yrs. to date, is a learning
> experience for me.
Did you ever take a typing class? The rule was for typed manuscripts. It never applied to typesetting, so it never would have shown up in any printed material you read.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Never in my 71 yrs. of life had I ever encountered
> the rule of double spacing following a period. The
> moral of my comment is that each day I'm on the
> Internet, 17 yrs. to date, is a learning
> experience for me.
Did you ever take a typing class? The rule was for typed manuscripts. It never applied to typesetting, so it never would have shown up in any printed material you read.
shopperbob Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> >
> Never in my 71 yrs. of life had I ever encountered
> the rule of double spacing following a period. The
> moral of my comment is that each day I'm on the
> Internet, 17 yrs. to date, is a learning
> experience for me.
Bob,
When I was in high school, (not saying how long ago) I took a college prep course that was 1/2 year typing...on a typewriter. That course has paid off nearly as much as my college degree, in terms of being able to touch type and earn summer employment while in school and now doing reports. The rule was 2 spaces after a period. I always did so until I began mystery shopping and was corrected by several companies to the "new" way of doing it. Now, once in awhile I get corrected back to the "old" way of 2 spaces after a period or other punctuation mark. I can't recall the company, but it was not too long ago I got a "10" with a suggestion to leave two spaces after punc. Customer Service Experts also requires two spaces for all their reports. It seems to be a request from heavy narrative companies.
-------------------------------------------------------
> >
> Never in my 71 yrs. of life had I ever encountered
> the rule of double spacing following a period. The
> moral of my comment is that each day I'm on the
> Internet, 17 yrs. to date, is a learning
> experience for me.
Bob,
When I was in high school, (not saying how long ago) I took a college prep course that was 1/2 year typing...on a typewriter. That course has paid off nearly as much as my college degree, in terms of being able to touch type and earn summer employment while in school and now doing reports. The rule was 2 spaces after a period. I always did so until I began mystery shopping and was corrected by several companies to the "new" way of doing it. Now, once in awhile I get corrected back to the "old" way of 2 spaces after a period or other punctuation mark. I can't recall the company, but it was not too long ago I got a "10" with a suggestion to leave two spaces after punc. Customer Service Experts also requires two spaces for all their reports. It seems to be a request from heavy narrative companies.
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The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..
Mark Twain
The more I learn about people...the more I like my dog..
Mark Twain
Thanks to both Ishmael and Ms. Judi. The lack of any formal typing training explains my ignorance with respect to double spacing.
I wish every MSC would just give us thier own style guide. They would only have to make it once. There they could tell us, one space or two. Oxford comma or no oxford comma. etc.etc.
I'm sureI 've been dinged for things that are ok in one MSC and not in others.
I'm sureI 've been dinged for things that are ok in one MSC and not in others.
They need to put any nitpicky formatting rules right on the report page. I've shopped for over 40 companies at this point; I sure don't want to be looking up the rules for each before I do a report. They should say right above the narrative box, "Two spaces between sentences. Double space between paragraphs. Capitalize words like Clerk and Teller and Banker. Narrative should be gender neutral and do not use the clerk's name. Always use the Clerk's name if you know it. All narrative must be written in past tense." Or what ever is their nitpick of choice.
As for needing a college degree to write proper narratives, I have never taken a college class that taught me grammar; I learned it in grade and high school. The two spaces after punctuation thing I learned in my one-semester typing class my senior year of high school. Self-taught typists or hunt and peckers might not know that.
But that one is so nitpicky they shouldn't even mention it. It does not affect the readability of the narrative. And a two-second search and replace can fix it.
As for needing a college degree to write proper narratives, I have never taken a college class that taught me grammar; I learned it in grade and high school. The two spaces after punctuation thing I learned in my one-semester typing class my senior year of high school. Self-taught typists or hunt and peckers might not know that.
But that one is so nitpicky they shouldn't even mention it. It does not affect the readability of the narrative. And a two-second search and replace can fix it.
Time to build a bigger bridge.
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