I agree very much with Kristen and brinestone – there’s a lot of content out there and I’d like to be the one to fix it sometimes.

In response to Courtney — most ebooks that cost $47 are crap by definition. My humble opinion, at any rate.

If a writer is going to write and expect to get anything published or even looked at, I’m sorry but they should already have (or at least be in the process of achieving) perfect grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc. skills.

Here’s why copyediting is a job: copyeditors make your writing more concise and readable. Copyeditors make sure that your pronouns agree in number with the nouns they replace–in the sentence above, for example, “writer” is singular; “they” is plural. They add commas after introductory phrases (such as “I’m sorry, but…”). They catch sloppy or vague writing, such as the pointless use of “etc.”

Here’s how I, a former copyeditor, would have edited your sentence:

Writers who expect their work to be published need to have near-perfect grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

…because, of course, NOBODY, not even the best copyeditor, is perfect. And I’m sorry, but those who are “in the process of achieving” good grammar definitely need editing.

Fortunately, most of the comments here show that good writers understand why copyediting isn’t “baloney.”

(Also, many modern style guides agree that straining at sentence-ending prepositions and split infinitives is pointless and out of date. I end sentences with prepositions and split infinitives all the time. It sounds better that way.)

As for the internet, it may just be correct that no one cares. I do think that spelling and grammar are not taught as strictly in the schools in the U.S. anymore as it seems more and more high school graduates are unable to write a paper without glaring mis-spellings and grammatical nightmares.

It’s no wonder that the purists (and I’m clearly not one of them) view the English language as having gone to hell in handbasket. Of course, the purists would argue that the literary world must, at all costs, be protected from split infinitives and sentence-ending prepositions. I can certainly understand this argument. After all, if, for instance, you allow a split infinitive to casually slide on through, who’s to say it won’t just stop there. Pretty soon, dangling modifiers will show up, thereby propelling what is now considered acceptable English into a state of chaos – kind of like the “Domino Theory” as it might pertain to the English language.

I couldn’t help but get a chuckle from what you said about Microsoft Word. Those poor grantwriters, especially the males. I mean, one day you’re a healthy, young, male grantwriter, and the next, you’ve aged countless years and have, in fact, become transgendered! You’re now a grandmother! And it’s all due to an unfortunate mishap involving Microsoft Word and its well-meaning, yet often-wrong auto-correct function! Well, at least you have an association to look to for support, right? And also, you now have several lovely grandchildren with whom to become acquainted – even if you have absolutely no clue as to their parents’ whereabouts. However, your career as a grantwriter is now over. I hope there’s a good retirement plan!

Anyway, thanks for the thought-provoking post, and also for the useful links.

Cheers!

Dave

To me, a “copy editor job” is made up baloney!

S

As a once and future copy editor, though, it’s part of my nature to be picky about such things. The sad thing about this seeming negligence toward editing is that it shows up in people who ought to know better. I just completed a master’s in creative writing, and the level of proofing I saw in my colleagues’ work over the last few years was disheartening (mind you, I’m not talking about simple mistakes, to which anyone can fall afoul, like I frequently do; I mean a systematic inattention to checking one’s work). It’s the whole medium/message question again. *sigh* Dyspepsia, here I come…

That disappeared when e-mail and “Internet” time telescoped the time I got to spend on most projects.

Today, I’m lucky if I have to the chance to let something sit overnight so I can look at it with a fresh pair of eyes.

Still, a copywriter is responsible for making sure what they deliver is correct in terms of spelling, grammar, etc.

Part of the gig.