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Before we discuss the vital importance of revising our writing through careful proofreading, I wanted to tell ya there's a cool contest brewing. Check back tomorrow for more details!
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Reading prose for our fall issue of Rose & Thorn Journal, I've noticed a lot of sloppiness in sentence structure and clarity of meaning lately. Often we write quickly, our fingers struggling to keep up with our speeding brains, and mistakes follow. That's why it is so.important.to.edit.our.work. Be double and triple sure you are saying what you intend to say, and that your words aren't betraying you!
The following examples sent to me by a friend illustrate what I'm talking about better than anything I've read in a long time. Plus, they made me smile.
Have you ever written something like these actual newspaper headlines?
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Man Kills Self Before Shooting Wife and Daughter
Something Went Wrong in Jet Crash, Expert Says
Police Begin Campaign to Run Down Jaywalkers
Panda Mating Fails; Veterinarian Takes Over
Miners Refuse to Work after Death
Juvenile Court to Try Shooting Defendant
War Dims Hope for Peace
If Strike Isn't Settled Quickly, It May Last Awhile
Cold Wave Linked to Temperatures
Enfield ( London ) Couple Slain; Police Suspect Homicide
Red Tape Holds Up New Bridges
New Study of Obesity Looks for Larger Test Group
Astronaut Takes Blame for Gas in Spacecraft
Kids Make Nutritious Snacks
Local High School Dropouts Cut in Half
Hospitals Sued by 7 Foot Doctors
Typhoon Rips Through Cemetery; Hundreds Dead
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If you just can't get enough, here are more Headline Fails to oggle. :D
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15 comments:
Touch of foot in mouth before brain in gear! Lovely set of what-not-to examples...
Funny! What one tiny wording can change... :O)
Love the headlines! What a difference word structure can be to the meaning you are trying to convey!
Yeah, Jinksy, I learn best by these visual examples too. :)
Diane - Yes ma'am. So true.
Donna - It's a known side effect from fingers flying across the keyboard trying to keep up with a brain on fire!
Oh, those are good. My paper had a recent headline: Fire likely caused destruction of house. Ya think???
It's a good call, Angie! We could all use to slow down a bit, and ensure we're doing our best.
You make me want rain. :)
GREAT examples!
I seem to be catching more and more errors in modern novels, despite all our "advances"!
Blessings,
patti
I think one of the biggest mistakes writers make is when they are in too much of a hurry to submit - whether to publishers, agents, or literary magazines, et cetera.
Stop, take a breath, make the work something you will be proud of -- and the place is not going anywhere, so take your time - if the place IS going somewhere and you are afraid to miss out, then maybe it's not the place you should be looking into!
Finally, if in doubt, read aloud, or have a trusted friend or colleague read something you are not sure about...make sure that friend or colleague knows you mean business and knows to be honest!
LOL I love these!! And I know I need to edit everything!!
Laughing more as I read down the list!
That poor veterinarian! :)
Yes, editing is always necessary. Always.
Great thoughts, y'all.
Kat...couldn't agree more!
Great examples of careless proofreading, and so funny, too! My problem is that I edit too much! I edit, then edit, and then edit, again. But with recipes, one error could ruin the results. Loved this rainy day, too!
Oh and ps. There's a little surprise for you, over at my place, sha!
HAHAH. Good morning giggles from you dear lady!
Marguerite, thanks for the beautiful award, sha! :D
Carrie --- so glad you enjoyed. Laughins is one of life's good gifts.
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