alannajm, while paragraphs are more than one sentence long the vast majority of the time (as ebit123 says), in some cases they can be one sentence, and it's not incorrect. My high-school-aged son has been taught that a sentence is generally between four and six sentences--depending on the length of the sentences.

But, particularly in journalism, where sentences often include many clauses and lots of information, you'll find one-sentence paragraphs. An introductory sentence to a story usually includes the "who, what, where, when" information and can form an entire paragraph.

Also, for stylistic effect, some writers use very short paragraphs to punctuate their ideas. That can get hard to read, though....

I'm a professional copywriter, and the rule that I've always been taught and followed is to start a new paragraph when you're transitioning to a new thought or making a change in "direction," or summarizing/wrapping up content, etc. The exact number of sentences isn't critical, as long as you're breaking at points that make sense. I do a lot of promotional-type copy, and it's usually better to keep paragraphs short to make copy punchy and impactful (but we're talking short pieces, not novels--lol)

I don't think there's any hard and fast rule that states a paragraph "must" consist of "at least" X number of sentences, but I'm sure there's NO rule that says a paragraph "must" be "only" one sentence long!



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/26/2013 02:50PM by BirdyC.

I never had a paragraph problem, but I did a car shop. I did the same car shop 6 months prior and had the same employee and he gave me the same card. They took off points because they said I used an old card. Had they looked, they would have seen it was the same employee and he used the same card.

It has been awhile since I did a shop for Intellishop but don't they require that you write the date of the shop on the front of the card? Some companies ask that you write the Job ID on the card. This is a way to prevent duplicates.

Plusha Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I feel like we should start new topic "The
> weirdest Intellishop editor's feedback"


Yup, and the title should include the words "ass" and "elbow."

The rules of grammar are up to the interpretation of the teacher. It depends on what you are writing. You will write stories and articles different than reports and evaluations. Report writing has quite a few acceptable exceptions to the standard rules.

Shop reports are just that, reports.

It is totally acceptable to write multiple sentences in one paragraph or write just a one sentence paragraph. I have been writing reports for my job for 27 years and shop audits for 3 years. Many of the shop reports are redundant. Even though the question is objective, they still want a narrative. If the answer is "yes" to the question, there is not much to write. For example:

The front door glass was clean and free of smudges and smears.

The lobby floor was clean and free of litter and debris.

In report writing it is suggested that each topic is separated. It is simply a description of what is taking place. One sentence paragraphs are an acceptable exception to the rules of grammar.

So with that said, the one proof reader at Intellishop can not make up their minds. I have submitted many reports to Intellishop in the same format. Most of them are one, two or three sentence max paragraphs.

I got hit with points because I was not writing multiple sentence paragraphs. How many sentences can I write about front door glass that is clean????

I sent a response to the proofreader and scheduler to find out how Intellishop wants it. I will update the blog on the response.

Many of the proofreaders and editors I have dealt with are great people. They realize everyone has a different writing style and that each client needs to be able to understand the report.

The problem with a few editors and proofreaders is that they look at the reports like they are professors. They do not want to look outside the box and "read" the report. The report has to make sense to the client and has to be easy to read. These editors are usually brand new and starting out. All they have to go with is what they learned in school.

On to the one or two who simply use the spell check on one system and tell you that you mis-spelled words. The dictionary on that particular platform is never up to date.

Then, there is that one or two editors/proofreaders who are on the power trip because they have the red pen. It is their way or the highway and if you ask a question, they get offender. I do not work for that unnamed MSC any more, but many of you know which one I am talking about.

This company has the most inconsistent proofreaders.

I just deactivated my account after a ridiculous request wanting me to tell them how many stalls were in restrooms for a comparison shop that I've done several of and never needed to provide that information before.

This the day after another proofreader complained I hadn't used an employees name throughout a report and deducted 2 points from the shop for this, even though they'd sent it back to me for revision.

If you shop for them, the best guide is to ignore what you expect from a good MSC. Such as on time replies from schedulers. I've had 2 different shops accepted the day after I said I'd do them (applied around noon on Monday to do the shop Monday night, Tuesday morning they accept the shop and then get upset when I say I can't do it). Also don't expect any of your grading or proofreading to be consistent.

I'd just like to get paid by this company for shops I did well over a month ago.

How much over a month ago? Depending on the client, they have been paying most of their shops the end of the month following the month in which the shops are performed. So, for shops performed during the month of October, I would expect to be paid between November 20th and 24th.

lennier84 Wrote:

>
> This the day after another proofreader complained
> I hadn't used an employees name throughout a
> report and deducted 2 points from the shop for
> this, even though they'd sent it back to me for
> revision.
>
>

Seems like we got the same proofreader...l got 1 point off for this

I almost deactivated my account with them after the first shop. The editor was rude and insulting although there was nothing he asked me to correct. Then I took a couple of shops and had the most amazing editor ever. Nothing but praise and thanks. One editor took off three points because a report couldn't be submitted for three days because I had to wait on a return phone call. I wrote 3 times to have that score change to 10 but it never happened. So for them I have decided they are at the bottom of my list and if there is a shop I really like because of pay and reimbursement I'll take it. Otherwise, there are more shops available with other companies that are much easier to work for.

A paragraph can be as long as several pages or as short as a single word.

I did the shop 10/9 and I've been paid the 20th every month but October which fell on a weekend. I got 2points deducted because they had to contact me. How many ways can I report that there were 3 clerks at the register upon my arrival and I didn't pass anyone in the aisles?

I've always wondered about the no self assignment below 5 thing. I'm not an overly talented or gifted writer, I just have a fairly decent idea of how to keep sentences coherent, and in the 4 shops if done for IS, I've gotten 3 10's and a 9 where they just said to be sure to run the spellchecker before submitting. What does it take to go below a 5? Seems like that would be a LOT of completely rejected assignments, bad grammar, and terrible spelling. Or maybe I'm missing something.

jonchance Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I've always wondered about the no self assignment
> below 5 thing. I'm not an overly talented or
> gifted writer, I just have a fairly decent idea of
> how to keep sentences coherent, and in the 4 shops
> if done for IS, I've gotten 3 10's and a 9 where
> they just said to be sure to run the spellchecker
> before submitting. What does it take to go below a
> 5? Seems like that would be a LOT of completely
> rejected assignments, bad grammar, and terrible
> spelling. Or maybe I'm missing something.

Uh...have you read some of the posts on this forum? I have a REAL good idea how some shoppers get below a 5.

I also find Intellishop's editing and scoring maddeningly inconsistent. I get many, many shops on which I'm thanked for providing such amazing details and for being so thorough. And then I'll get one in which they tell me to make sure I answer all the questions (I always double-check to make sure I do). The most annoying report score though happened this weekend. I received a 9/10 score with the comment to make sure I spell check before submitting. Now, I do not make spelling errors, although I can make typos. But I double-checked this report before I submitted it, and there were no such errors. I went back and reviewed my copy of the report I had submitted after I got the comment and confirmed there were no spelling errors in the report. I actually wrote back to the proofreader asking for clarity on the spelling problem, since I am certain there were no such errors. No response received from the proofreader.

Underground woman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> But I
> double-checked this report before I submitted it,
> and there were no such errors. I went back and
> reviewed my copy of the report I had submitted
> after I got the comment and confirmed there were
> no spelling errors in the report. I actually wrote
> back to the proofreader asking for clarity on the
> spelling problem, since I am certain there were no
> such errors. No response received from the
> proofreader.


My guess, based on some of the editorial comments I've gotten, is that the editor/proofreader thought you'd spelled something wrong that you had right, because he or she doesn't spell it right, and assumes he/she is correct and that you are wrong. And/or this person doesn't know that "Spell Check" doesn't always get it right, either! Spell check is wrong as often as it is right....

For your reading enjoyment:


Shop Grade: 8

Comments: Thank you for you report; it has been finalized. Two points were
deducted because you did not address all of you answer selections in the
narratives. Have a great day!

OMG, so awesome. The use of "you" in place of "your" twice. Fricking classic!
I did have a great day. Made $100 in 2 hours. Priceless.

14.2.5 !! Its silly huH!

What does that mean?

I've had consistent scoring from various Intelli-shop proofreaders, and the one time I had questions/needed feedback from someone regarding a shop, the scheduler (Stacy Stamm) responded to my emails very quickly.

There is another company from which I get generic comments when I finish shops (ie, all '10' ratings have the same comment, all '9' have the same - doesn't really make for feedback you can learn from) - did a series of shops for them and *one* got an eight, no idea why due to generic comment. But I know the work I do and one eight among all the 10's isn't going to kill me, you know?

LA

Ah...and regarding the paragraphs comment...I wonder if the proofreader may have just had a hard time expressing what s/he meant by the comment, and ended up with a comment that makes no sense whatsoever...I don't think that comment really means what it sounds like it means!

_LA_ Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Ah...and regarding the paragraphs comment...I
> wonder if the proofreader may have just had a hard
> time expressing what s/he meant by the comment,
> and ended up with a comment that makes no sense
> whatsoever...I don't think that comment really
> means what it sounds like it means!

I wonder if there's any chance that it meant: 'no compound sentences'. So, instead of 'one sentence per paragraph', it meant to say 'one clause per sentence'.

Ishmael Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> I wonder if there's any chance that it meant: 'no
> compound sentences'. So, instead of 'one sentence
> per paragraph', it meant to say 'one clause per
> sentence'.


Does that mean the editor/proofreader and/or the client can't understand a sentence with more than one clause in it? If so, we are doomed.

I have done shops (not for Intellishop) that require 'five sentences minimum' for every narrative -- even those that really don't require it. Imagine having to write five sentences about how clean the toilet is. There is no way to do that and say different things every sentence but to write the shortest, simplest sentences imaginable. If that's what the client wants from me - so be it!

I have done several jobs for Intelli. I usually get a 10. I think one of the editors is a problem. I got a 7 because I used the word you're v your wrong.
I understand how important spelling is and writing a good report, but I don't understand that I am writing a report with perfect grammar. I am not an English major, just a Mystery shopper. I could understand a 9, but not a 7. If I remember correctly they do not have spell check in the report. They are the only company I have worked for that doesn't. I have shopped over 2000 shops.

shopper8, if you want to rely on spellcheck (which, personally, I don't recommend), you can either type your narratives in Word and check them before you copy them into the report, or copy and paste from your report into Word and check.

I think that although shoppers aren't supposed to be writing pieces of great literature, theses, or journalistic reporting, we should be expected to pretty much have basic grammar under control. Not perfect, of course, but we should "get" the basic "their, they're, there; your/you're; its/its; were/we're, etc." (And, yes, I've seen were and we're mixed up before!!!!)

I don't mean that we should have mastery over obscure points of grammar or the spelling of words not in common use.... But, from what I've been able to gather in the few months I've been shopping is that editors are more focused on making sure the content covers what the client needs covered, and don't necessarily have a lot of time to spend on basic grammar and spelling. Not that that isn't part of their jobs, but I expect to be docked points if an editor has to correct my grammar errors.

If that was your only grammar or spelling error, I'd probably have given you an 8, but not a 9! And I'm a tough editor....



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 12/15/2013 12:07AM by BirdyC.

And remember, if your relying on spellcheck, you're report may look rather strange.

Ishmael made my point for me--on purpose, I know! Spellcheck very often tells you that something is wrong when its write, and suggests you change it to an incorrect word or usage! It's always telling me that my semicolons are incorrect, when I no they're not!!!! It tells me to use commas when commas aren't the proper punctuation.

(errors above intentional, in case you're wondering....)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 12/15/2013 03:27AM by BirdyC.

Not to mention, for the spell check built into Chrome, there's several legitimate words it doesn't recognize. Can't remember what any of them are, right now; but I know I run into that quite regularly. I Google the word to make sure it's spelled correctly and is considered a grammatically correct word. Even though I'm *sure* it is... I just want to make sure my mind isn't stuck in an alternate reality or something. So far each word I've checked always has been legit ~ and spelled correctly!

I agree about the basic grammar thing... more of us need to master it. One I've been noticing lately, is using "that" instead of "who".

Example:
Hilda is the one that gave me my order. (buzz! wrong.)
Hilda is the one who gave me my order. (ding! right.)

And you know what? Even though, for some odd-ball reason, I've been overly aware of this improper usage by people all around me, both in real life and on the internet, both spoken and in writing... I did it myself on a post on this forum not too long ago! Discovered it when reviewing my post ~ after posting. I think I was looking at what I'd said again, because someone had responded to my post and I hadn't remembered what all I'd said. Heh. Anyway, I didn't bother to go back and edit it, though.

StormCloud Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> >
> I agree about the basic grammar thing... more of
> us need to master it. One I've been noticing
> lately, is using "that" instead of "who".
>
> Example:
> Hilda is the one that gave me my order. (buzz!
> wrong.)
> Hilda is the one who gave me my order. (ding!
> right.)
>


Excellent points! And your example is one that drives me over the edge! The converse of that is that people use "company" and "who, they, etc." instead of "that, it, etc." Companies are entities, not people....

"The company changed its payment schedule."
Not, "The company changed their payment schedule."

And, "The company that does the pizza shops...."
Not, "The company who does the pizza shops...."

Is this a dumb suggestion? Maybe there could be an area on this forum for a grammar primer? Shoppers could post questions about grammar and spelling, and folks could help them out. Maybe it would help us write better reports, and we wouldn't @#$%& about editors so much--LOL!