So I received an email from a scheduler a few days ago that read "only apply if your the best at what you do". Maybe it's just the fact that I minored in English in college, but what an ironic display of improper grammar????

Apparently "you're" not the best at what you do scheduler!!!

I see that too in some guidelines. Shame on them.

That's why they are a scheduler and not an editor. Lol.

I tutored English in college and more than likely would have caught that if that email had been sent my way. I find it funny and ironic, yes, but had it been sent to me I would have been more like......hmmmmm what's up with this?

In the words of Buck Murdock: Irony can be pretty ironic sometimes.




Edited for lack of spelling skill.

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/24/2013 08:16PM by DRJ.

The above fits some 'editors' also. I see many errors in post that sometimes I wonder how the shopper gets approval.
I am not a whiz at grammar although, I did get thru all the English and literature required to teach. But, that was many years ago. I still go to the net and search for structure and spellings in question.

The fact that we look up to our schedulers and editors, when in fact they are just like we are, some are great and smart,
while other are not....I have taken this whole thing with a grain of salt, so, when getting an off email, I just shrug, when
getting a well written email I smile and know, this is the scheduler I want to work for (at least 80% of the time).
Many of the shoppers are well educated, and I hope those schedulers recognize this. Remember, this industry doesn't
require a college degree, so, we shouldn't be surprised at (almost) anything. I know, I know, I'm a bit cynical, blame it
on my age.

If it was a pre generated email from a system (like Sassie), it's quite possible a project manager wrote the "email".

It drives me crazy when people can't differentiate between you're and your. I see it wrong in a lot of fan fiction I read, and even if everything else is perfect, if I spot that one mistake, I can't read anymore.

Robinv

Yeah, but when you see it in the guidelines, it's ridiculous. Also, how about when the guidelines have sample narratives of an "exemplary report" containing grammatically incorrect sentences, spelling errors, and punctuation errors? I have found a few that had 5 or more ridiculously obvious errors in a 2 paragraph sample narrative. I copied and pasted them in an email with the corrections highlighted underneath them. Also, there are some smaller MS companies where the schedulers are editors and project managers as well.

SecretAgentMom Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> That's why they are a scheduler and not an editor.
> Lol.

Oh, and I wrote that before reading through all of the posts and seeing Kyle's post! LOL!

JASFLALMT Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Yeah, but when you see it in the guidelines, it's
> ridiculous. Also, how about when the guidelines
> have sample narratives of an "exemplary report"
> containing grammatically incorrect sentences,
> spelling errors, and punctuation errors? I have
> found a few that had 5 or more ridiculously
> obvious errors in a 2 paragraph sample narrative.
> I copied and pasted them in an email with the
> corrections highlighted underneath them. Also,
> there are some smaller MS companies where the
> schedulers are editors and project managers as
> well.
>
> SecretAgentMom Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > That's why they are a scheduler and not an
> editor.
> > Lol.

This week I saw a job offer go out from one of the big-five MSC's... and it had the word usage for due... they used do instead.

Speaking of grammar - my pet peeve is the misuse of the words compliment vs complement. Shop forms are often incorrect when using these words. I have brought it to the attention of every company who has done it wrong - and a few have changed it - others continue to be ignorant.

In simple terms:

Compliment - to say something nice, or to give for free

Complement - goes "with" something in a positive manner

The person who wrote that schedulers are just like shoppers, hit the nail right on the head. Definitely not even close to perfect, we are totally capable of firing off an email with an error (or two)

And if it makes anyone feel better.. when we do... we cringe for the rest of the day, knowing that may have hit several hundred emails. LOL

And one final funny... I switch from cancelled to canceled every few days and then back again, because they are both right, and after a while, they both look wrong !



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/28/2013 05:44PM by KristynScheduler.

Funny thing..I used to spell it with two "L"'s but changed.
I'm getting used to spelling color here in America and neighborhood. I hesitate when I type it though. I'm used to colour and neighbour.

That's hilarious I saw the typo before I got to the 'punch line' of your message. We all make mistakes but I know it's funny sometimes to see someone in an editing position make them.

I had a long-term relationship with a Brit and have other friends in and from the UK. I sometimes like to add the extra "u"s for flavour. :-) But the "s" for "z" business still drives me crazy.

Canuck Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Funny thing..I used to spell it with two "L"'s but
> changed.
> I'm getting used to spelling color here in America
> and neighborhood. I hesitate when I type it
> though. I'm used to colour and neighbour.

Bearclaw14 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> So I received an email from a scheduler a few days
> ago that read "only apply if your the best at what
> you do". Maybe it's just the fact that I minored
> in English in college, but what an ironic display
> of improper grammar????
>
> Apparently "you're" not the best at what you do
> scheduler!!!

Bearclaw14 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> So I received an email from a scheduler a few days
> ago that read "only apply if your the best at what
> you do". Maybe it's just the fact that I minored
> in English in college, but what an ironic display
> of improper grammar????
>
> Apparently "you're" not the best at what you do
> scheduler!!!


I can't tell you how many times I have received emails from Schedulers and spell "Manager" as "Manger."

Poor grammar is annoying but so is rude schedulers/supervisors, etc. It just blows me away that a mystery shopping company, that specializes in judging other companies, does not perform at the top of their game.

I had an editor ding me with a 9/10 once for a grammar mistake, then he/she made a couple grammar mistakes in their notes on my shop. It's pretty hypocritical.

I don't understand why MSCs stand for shop guidelines, standard-form e-mails, report questions, etc., that contain egregious errors in spelling, grammar, and usage. Why not spring for a few bucks and hire an outside proofreader/editor to review all of their "stuff" and correct it?

You'd think a company that's in the business of reviewing service would make the best effort possible to present the most professional appearance to the outside world--whether that's its customers, potential customers, or shoppers. Or should I say, "whether thats it's customers...."?

I cringe when I see a company's website strewn with errors. What does that say to a potential customer? That "we don't care enough about you to make sure our own work is correct"?

Nobody knows everything there is to know about grammar and spelling. But, if "your" not sure about something, then look it up! I'm a writer, and I always look up things when I'm not sure of something or a word doesn't look right (such as egregious, which never looks right to me and which I almost always have to double check). Apparently these schedulers and editors don't know that they don't know! They must think that your for you're, its for it's, you for your, etc. are all OK.... I constantly see the word "you" for "your." Seems it's a huge problem, leaving that "r" off. It's easy to do when you're typing, but that's why we proofread.

I have picked up a few freelance website editing jobs by e-mailing the company and telling them what grammar and spelling mistakes are on the first page (or in the first paragraph) of their site.



Pays better than shopping.....

cease

cease, I've thought about doing that, but have never gotten around to it.... But, you've inspired me! I may give that a try; thanks!

A long time ago, I tried that with a real-estate publication. OMG--it was unprofessional and horrendous (both the publication and the experience). As tactful as I tried to be, simply giving examples of the worst offenses, I was met with anger and arrogance. Little did I know that the publisher was also the person who wrote the thing--LOL! And he simply would not be told that there were blatant English-language errors in his publication. What's worse, he didn't really care! In his mind, his readers just wanted info on properties and didn't care about spelling and grammar. Of course, some of the property descriptions were so mangled, I doubt anyone reading them could have made sense of them.... But this guy insisted that it didn't matter. Sheesh!

I don't think the publication is in existence any longer. And I can understand why.

I minored in English also. I concentrated on Southern Literature and authors. With some of these reports I've had to do lately, and the annoying repetitive questions, sometimes I'm tempted to write like Erskine Caldwell on some of these things. Wonder how that would go over?

Yassuh, I wuz jus' 'bout a fixin' to head over yonder to them fancy 'mobiles and a ask them fellas how many turnips they'd take for that thar shiny new Buick.

or

That there city apartment house was a might rich for my likin' if'n ya'll ask me. Had all these contraptions in the kitchen that Ma wouldn't know what to do with. I sho' wuz pert near knocked off'n my feet when I saw that there indoor out house twixt the two bedrooms.

It never ceases to amaze me!

I always just assume that egregious errors are due to spell-check/autocorrect changing something for them--it's a lot easier on the mental health. There's still no excuse for sending it out without proofreading, but I know schedulers are usually in a huge hurry. Sometimes even when they're building the forms they're on a deadline, so minor errors end up on the form and never get fixed. It's irritating, especially when they expect perfect grammar and spelling from shoppers, but there's not much you can do about it.

Why do I always read this thread title as Iconic Message From Scheduler?