This may be redundant and may need to be moved, but I simply cannot understand the mindset of editors who are overcritical to the point of reaching for errors that don't exist. What is the internal/financial motivation?

Maybe they're just OCD or narcissists or something. I can't imagine any practical motivation, either!

It wouldn't surprise me if the MSC tasks them with hunting down X number of errors in each report because NO report can be perfect.
After all, we're all half-wits in their eyes.

In at least some cases it is being passed down from the top and the editors are just doing what they are told. One company in particular seems to think heavy handed editing is what makes them stand out from the other companies. Of course this results in high turnover, which results in getting a brutal edit job asking for eye color and number of cavities from a middle manager two weeks after the shop is done. One of my favorite stories is the report that was passed back to me three times for a lack of redundancy, but the editor never noticed that I shopped the wrong location.

Perhaps they think it's a form of job security. If they find X number of errors, then it looks like they're really working, as opposed to if they never or rarely find errors.

I think Phoebe nailed it above ^^^

I have shops regularly returned for unnecessary clarifications by editors at a MSC where I developed the standards for their reports long ago. It only happens from the new editors that don't know or trust me.

Obvious overcompensation for their inadequacies.

About a year or so ago an editor docked me for "numerous grammar errors". I called them out on it. I told the editor I am not infallible, but I am an English teacher. I am sure I would not have had numerous errors. I asked the person to give me examples of my errors. I was ignored and given a 7 for the shop. I was paid and have had work since, so I never brought it up with the MSC again. However, I very rarely take shops with them.

The same happens to me with one company. I have done three shops with them, and all three gave me a 9/10 for "several grammatical errors" or something. I teach college level English - I make mistakes, but not several in each report, for several reports in a row. Especially when so many other companies consistently give me a 10/10. I just let it roll off my back - I don't care as long as they pay me. If I like the shop, I will take it again, and laugh when I get another 9/10. After all, it really doesn't matter.

I get very few "grammatical errors", though I am aware that from time to time I start typing a thought and may change thought in mid-stream so that eventually number may not match. I rarely proof my work unless I am proofing for content to make sure that I covered everything.

What I have noted is that new editors handling my work are much more likely to find 'issues' than editors I have worked with over time. My guess is that they are under close scrutiny as to finding errors, potential errors and possible lack of clarity. They also are being observed for whether they are 'fixing too much' or are 'firm' with shoppers as to what their expectations are. They get over it or they get out of editing.

Beyond that, when an editor finds fault I tend to respond mentally that they are having a bad day and humor them. 'Kick me instead of the dog because I at least can understand you are having a bad day and your foot isn't long enough to reach me.' I really don't worry much about scores except with a new-to-me company.

As far as I am concerned, 1) I used your spell checker, so there should be no issues there; 2) I have bad days too so mediocre prose is a definite possibility; 3) I know I always attempt to write for clarity so I'm not going to get bent out of shape if you don't understand what I'm saying.

Many likely grade that way many teachers do: Nine is really, really good, but I hold out on the Ten in case there is a fantastic report. Since no bonus points can be given (unless you count a Hero Citation as bonus points) a Ten is serious kudos from some editors.

Cettie Wrote:
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> Obvious overcompensation for their inadequacies.


Maybe they need Hard Nights male enhancement. I know where they can get some!

My fav was one time I had gotten so fed up with the editor of one msc for not reading the reports and just returning for further clarity, that the conversation went like this:
You posted a picture of a business. This is not proof of visit. Please post a picture of the receipt. If you did not get a receipt, why not?

my response was a simple: Did you not read the narrative. It is explained in great detail about the free merchandise that leave the store.

I haven't heard back from the editor however the shop was finalized.

I received a rating this week that basically said they were giving me a 10 because they could not find anything wrong with the report. The slant of the email was they were disappointed. Huh??

Completely job security. When you start nitpicking apart an $8.00 report what else would be the point?

While I'll make an occasional typo, generally when I get complaints about spelling and grammar I figure the editor doesn't really know proper spelling or grammar and they're criticizing me for not doing it they way they would have done it.

If someone thinks it's "potatoe" and you spell it "potato" they may mark you off for spelling.

Shoppers think its a real pain for they're to be a low grade on there report because it's editor thinks their should be an "it's" when it's correct word is "its."

(And it's really hard to write like that when you do know better.)

HAHAHA - I think your grammer is prefect.

I've gotten snarky emails about "non-standard English". No doubt it means the editor didn't understand the words I used or perhaps only spoke "duh" fluently.

This thread is especially relevant to me, as I've received several comments of correction with spelling errors. In addition, I've been marked for using verbiage that, as the editor stated, the common "Englisher" wouldn't comprehend. Continuing, I accepted many years ago that some editors didn't understand the subjunctive mode/mood of our language. Finally, we come to the inability to distinguish between "take" and "bring."

Due to the incessant pestering by the editors of Intelli-shop, I refuse all work with that MSC except bonused oil changes. On one occasion, I was contacted for additional information 41 days after completing the report. In my opinion, life is far too short to be aggravated for a small sum of money.

As a parting comment: I've never had a single problem with either the company proper or the schedulers in 9 yrs. of our association.

There was one company that had two clients and I did work for both clients. The editors for one client always gave me glowing reviews and the editors for the other client was quite ruthless and mean in their comments. I ended up no longer working for the second client and when the scheduler asked me I told her I was tired of the reviews from that particular editor and she said she knew it and was sorry.

dspeakes Wrote: (emphasis added by me)
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> Shoppers think its a real pain for they're to be a
> low grade on there report because it's editor
> thinks their should be an "it's" when it's
> correct word is "its."
>
> (And it's really hard to write like that when you
> do know better.)

and then teriraia Wrote:
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> HAHAHA - I think your grammer is prefect.


Oh yes... how embarrassing to make a grammatical error, when trying to demonstrate a grammatical error! And then a spelling error, when pointing out said grammatical error. Either of those sounds like something *I* would do. It also sounds like something most MS editors *do* do. HAHAHAHAHA!!! (And not in a mean way, not at all; just a 'one of those things' way.)



And now a different subject, Cettie wrote:
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No doubt it means the editor didn't understand the words I used or perhaps only spoke "duh" fluently.



HAHAHAHAHA!!!!! *LOVE* the part about only speaking "duh" fluently.

ShopperBob: The use of the term "Englisher" makes me think Amish.....!

Power over the shoppers...now if they made extra for every misspelled word, I'd get it.....

There is one MSC that I do not work for anymore (think "describe the leasing office" and "what is the leasing agent's eye color" simply because every time I have taken a bonused shop, the editor nit-picks and duns real money from my shop fee for the errors they "find." I personally believe that they have been told to find whatever they can so that they don't have to pay the bonuses.

Lately it seems their shops don't get picked up quite so quickly anymore and I think it's due to them grinding the shoppers down over time.

Gosh, plmccut, I'm glad you posted this. I almost forgot I need to enter the follow up for a visit.

I'm sorry to hear about the nit-picking. I have only done video shops for them since my first two written shops years ago. I haven't had any nit-picking on the video side, luckily.

I have had to force myself not to use two spaces after periods anymore because I got remarks like "Shop Grade 9 for minor typos." I knew I hadn't made any. Younger people are no longer adhering to the standard in place for over a hundred years of using two spaces after sentence endings, so the editors had to have counted the extra spaces as typos! I'm no longer receiving those comments.

@nycrocks Believe it or not, it is now standard to use just one space after a period. It drives me insane.

I still put 2 spaces. Most of the narrative driven hospitality reports that I work on require it.

The two spaces has something to do with typesetting and font appearance.

[www.slate.com]

I recently submitted a report regarding interacting with associates with the following:

"I interacted with the following associates. "A", description, "B", description, and "C", description. There was a fourth associate, description, who I noticed at a distance but did not get close enough to have an interaction."

I received a reply from the editor asking me which associated I interacted with. I replied, "As I said in the first sentence of my reply, I interacted with the following associates. The only one I did not interact with is the last one, because we never got close enough."

I actually received an apology.