My other job is as a typist and editor. I proofread all of my shop reports. I also keep a copy and then when I get that "you're only an 8 or 9" review, I go back and see if I can see any of their "punctuation and grammar errors". It DRIVES ME NUTS to get a report back and not be able to see what it is that they say is wrong.

Disclaimer: I don't always proofread and edit/double check my postings, so before anyone points out my failings on the forum, I'm just tossing that out there. I don't submit my forum posts to an employer or their clients, so...

But ugh, ugh, ugh. I just reviewed a shop that I'd done for this MSC a few weeks ago. I got an 8 out of 10. It said that I need to proofread my work. That they'd found grammar and punctuation errors. So, I made absolutely certain that I triple checked everything before I submitted the two reports last night. Have a rating today.. 9. 1-3 errors found. GRRRRRR.

As has been mentioned here previously, sometimes editors change correct grammar to incorrect then say it was your error. Sometimes they just don't know. But, when that is the case, maybe the MSCs should not use these editors. Also, there's been speculation that editors might feel pressure to find something, ANYTHING wrong, just to show that they have made corrections, thereby earning their pay.

Some companies have their own style preferences. For example, if you use “a.m.” instead of “AM,” the scheduler will have to change it.

I also know that I tend to write longer sentences than are needed. I make an effort to split whenever possible. Reports ought to read a bit choppy.

I just got dinged for using "checkout" instead of "check out". Next time I'll just say "cashier".

I mean, I'm not saying my stuff is perfect. I'm absolutely certain that I've got mistakes occasionally. But my typing accuracy and punctuation when I type is highly accurate. If I was *editing* someone else, it's far more likely that a mistake will scoot through. If it's valid, then ding me. But really, where are these editors when their company's emails go out, because across the board, there are spelling errors. Simple ones that wouldn't have been missed by spellcheck. Like reversed ie versus ei in certain words. Now, some of it, I can see being missed by spellcheck, but really, it's awesome to hold someone else to a higher standard than you hold your own employees.

Just ranting. Eights and nines aren't actually all that bad. I just take it personally. In all honesty, it probably doesn't even affect my status with them all that much, and I can't complain about the turn around.

Long ago, I was informed that what happened could not have happened. [M'kay. I was there, awake, and alert. I saw it, heard it, and timed it. I dd not photograph the missing and changed name tags (nor was this demanded), but I described the persons involved. But it did not happen, and that is the real fake news because that it just the way it is because they say so. Signing off, shop-et-al.]

Yeah, I've taken to recording conversations so that in case someone comes back and says, "Nope, that was never said," I can say, "Yeah, it was. Want the recording?" Sometimes I feel like I should invest in video recording stuff just so I can film the shops to have proof. I mean, my nephew used to drive for Lyft and Uber, and he invested in a dash cam which he faced toward the backseat, because of someone saying they did or did not do something and giving him a bad report.

But there's a lot of that "it's this way because I say it's so" therefore it must be true vibe going around these days. I mean, I love it when people spout unsupported opinion and call it fact.

-- My dog told me that you'd pay double my fee. Therefore, where is my doubled fee? What do you mean you never said that? My dog heard you and told me. This is a binding contract. Where is my doubled fee???? --

@JW wrote:

I just got dinged for using "checkout" instead of "check out". Next time I'll just say "cashier".

I would have reported "checkout" myself!

Yeah, I would have used checkout.

@JW wrote:

I just got dinged for using "checkout" instead of "check out". Next time I'll just say "cashier".

In what context did you use it? Both terms are accurate in different situations. Did you say, e.g., that you went to the checkout counter? Or did you say that you went to the counter to checkout?

If the former, then one word is correct, and you shouldn't have been dinged. If the context were the latter, then checkout as one word is incorrect.

But, as everyone notes, editors for MSCs often make mistakes and change our correct wording to that which is incorrect. In addition to hiring editors who can check to make sure that all observations were made and that shop instructions were followed, MSCs need to hire people who know proper writing. They should also make it clear what style guide they use, but when I have asked some MSCs what style to follow, some have no idea what I'm talking about.

Oh, and this post reminds me that I *must* uninstall Grammarly. It's incompetent, immaterial, and irrelevant.

@1cent wrote:

Some companies have their own style preferences. For example, if you use “a.m.” instead of “AM,” the scheduler will have to change it.

They'll have to change that over my dead body! LOL. All, or almost all, standard style guides use either a.m. or A.M. One would never write, for example, 9antemeridian. so why type 9AM? I don't know; it's just illogical to me. Although I realize that in today's computerized world, the periods get left out of many abbreviations. But "Chicago Manual of Style" and the AP Style Guide, the two most-used style guides, both use the periods.

@BirdyC wrote:

@1cent wrote:

Some companies have their own style preferences. For example, if you use “a.m.” instead of “AM,” the scheduler will have to change it.

They'll have to change that over my dead body! LOL. All, or almost all, standard style guides use either a.m. or A.M. One would never write, for example, 9antemeridian. so why type 9AM? I don't know; it's just illogical to me. Although I realize that in today's computerized world, the periods get left out of many abbreviations. But "Chicago Manual of Style" and the AP Style Guide, the two most-used style guides, both use the periods.

That's my point. Mystery shopping companies have their own preferred style which does not necessarily match other writing styles. You can choose to present information however you want, but the editors then have to change it. They then take marks off based on the added work they had to do.

"Good" writing is not an absolute. It is about how to conforms to the standard given. You mention two style guides, but there are many. Even looking at just journalism, individual papers will have their own style preferences. They are interesting to read.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/10/2019 06:17AM by 1cent.

I was on a shop today, and threw away a whole dollar on a local newspaper.

Why?

Because the headline shrieked:

"Hazardous Road Conditions Reek Havoc on Motorists"

Indeed. I just had to bring that home!!!

But if they won't tell you what their house style is, how the hell can you write to it? As I said, I've asked some MSCs what style they use, and they don't know or won't say. They want APA? I'll write to APA. Strunk & White? I'll do that. Why they simply don't use one of the ones in most common use, I don't know. But whatever; just tell us! I know some give very brief, very general guidelines, but they shouldn't mark you down on a correct usage if it conflicts with their "rules" if they won't tell you the rules.

Frankly, I think most MSCs don't have established styles. They do what they've seen done or what they pull out of thin air. Whether those things are right or not.



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/10/2019 12:49PM by BirdyC.

I figure the MSCs probably hire people who pass a general grammar test, without promoting a particular style and then those editors edit based on what they were taught either in school or somewhere else, and the MSC just never sets forth any sort of guideline.

I think the biggest part of what bothers me is that I have no idea what they corrected. I absolutely hate it that I have no idea what they corrected.

A while back I had an editor give me a grade I didn't like. I had done a bar integrity shop at a steakhouse and I had gone by myself. Well, I had to have some reason why I was there on a snowy night, where the roads were getting bad, and I used the excuse that my husband wouldn't leave me alone and I was working on project. I was using my tablet, not to do the shop, but because I needed to be able to look "down" at something so I could covertly watch them. In the report, I had something to the effect of I'd allowed them to see my screen, meaning, I laid the tablet on the bar, and they could easily see the screen if they chose to look at it. They were really good bartenders, and very aware of every time a customer glanced their way. So, I needed a reason to be looking down because every time I would glance over to watch them, they'd ask me if I needed anything.

So, I used the tablet and the project as an excuse. Anyway, the editor was like... you showed them your tablet. I said, "No, I didn't." She said, "You wrote it right here in the report." I said, I never said I showed them the tablet. And I remember her getting mad, but she misinterpreted what I said. I guess I could have been clearer or phrased it differently, but she was really mad, and then because I told her what I meant and she didn't believe me - she basically called me a liar - it was impossible to have any sort of reasonable working relationship with her. But she just removed all reference to it. And I told her that if they check the cameras, they're going to see the tablet. That needs to be in there because it's relevant to why I'm using a tablet on this shop.

@BirdyC wrote:

@JW wrote:

I just got dinged for using "checkout" instead of "check out". Next time I'll just say "cashier".

In what context did you use it? Both terms are accurate in different situations. Did you say, e.g., that you went to the checkout counter? Or did you say that you went to the counter to checkout?
.

I used the word as a noun, as in "I appreciated the ample area provided for the checkout line".

For this company, I've learned to use a plethora of verbiage (reduntantly, dare I say?), as opposed to other companies who request one word responses.

I loved essay questions in high school.

I had to talk my college economics professor into adding 3 essay questions to the final exam so that I could pass it.

I do not do well on "yes/no" answers, because I can ALWAYS think of at least one exception to the yes or no that is the "correct" answer. And the "yes/no" questions never say "Generally speaking..." or "Usually...", or "Most often....". They just say "It is...." with a yes or no demanded. And they are NOT answerable with yes or no!!

So I used the essay questions to explain every answer that could not be answered yes or no and be correct.

Ended up with an A++.

Fifty years later, and I STILL overthink this stuff, LOL!!!

@JW wrote:

I used the word as a noun, as in "I appreciated the ample area provided for the checkout line".

For this company, I've learned to use a plethora of verbiage (reduntantly, dare I say?), as opposed to other companies who request one word responses.

I loved essay questions in high school.

You were absolutely correct in your usage! The only other correct way to have written that would be "check-out" line, using the hyphen in the compound adjective instead of making it one word. "Check out" as two discrete words is wrong. The editor doesn't know what she's doing.

Well I'm no expert, but I would say you check out at the checkout. Guess I would have been dinged too.

@JW wrote:

I just got dinged for using "checkout" instead of "check out". Next time I'll just say "cashier".

@panama18 wrote:

Well I'm no expert, but I would say you check out at the checkout. Guess I would have been dinged too.

Exactly!

Havok DOES reek sometimes. Maybe there was a pot farm fire.

Well, it WAS in Colorado!!!