I’m a author, but before I’m a author, I’m a human being. And as a human being, sometimes I make mistakes.

Let’s face it, we all make mistakes, some big, some small. Today, I need to talk about what occurs after we, as writers, make a mistake in our work: a typo, an incorrectly structured sentence, or a misspelling.

Good Grammar

Typically, my errors are delivered to my consideration by someone else - a pal, a friendly reader, or a complete stranger. These corrections have arrived by way of e-mail or a touch upon the put up where the perceived mistake appears.

The first time this happened within the comments right here at Writing Forward, I didn’t know what to do. This was years in the past, not lengthy after I began blogging. In fact, I instantly made the correction however wondered whether or not I ought to delete the corresponding touch upon the post. Did I wish to leave permanent proof that I’d made a (gasp!) mistake?

I made a decision that yes, I would go away the remark in place, thank the particular person, and transfer on. Let that stand as evidence that to err is human and I’m okay with being a mere human.
To Err is Human

Usually, when someone ideas me off to a mistake, the message is considerate; I get a clear sense that it’s just one writer trying to help one other author out, which I tremendously appreciate. One e mail I acquired lately had the topic line “As a result of I’d want somebody to inform me…” I appreciated this individual’s tact, understanding, and most of all, his candid approach.

Since I began this site, I’ve acquired such corrections sometimes, maybe a few times a year.

Not long ago, I started receiving an onslaught of corrections - a number of in a single week. Oddly, most of them were wrong. They had been confused in regards to the difference between grammar and style points or have been nitpicking over semantics. Very few of these had a useful or considerate tone. In actual fact, they principally came throughout as chastising (Ha! You made a mistake, and I discovered it. Subsequently, I’m higher than you!).

Um, aren’t all of us writers here?
Unhealthy Manners

To me, the entire motive for practising good grammar is to show respect for the craft and for one’s readers. Publicly correcting other writers with a berating tone is pretty contrary. Why bother with good grammar if you happen to’re going to run around insulting different people with bad manners?

The Web offers anonymity that we’ve never seen before on public forums. Most impolite feedback, tweets, and emails that I’ve obtained have undoubtedly been anonymous. So, I get the sensation these folks know they’re being rude.

Conversely, just about every time someone has sent me a thoughtful and friendly heads-as much as let me know one thing was improper with my website - whether or not it was a typo or a damaged link - they’ve used their actual name and email deal with and sometimes included a link to their own website.

To Forgive is Divine

In today’s increasingly interconnected world, I feel these conditions will proceed to come up an increasing number of frequently, especially for writers and bloggers who put themselves and their work in front of the studying public.

As with all critiques, our initial response to a thoughtful or pleasant correction is perhaps defensive or emotional. You may suppose you didn’t make a mistake at all otherwise you might be offended that somebody is criticizing your work regardless that you didn’t ask for his or her advice or feedback. And when the correction is unsuitable or the delivery is nasty, there’s an even greater likelihood that you just’ll be offended (and rightly so).

However, as you travel around the internet, you may see errors on other individuals’s blogs or you may come throughout them if you’re studying books. Do you have to stay mum or help a fellow writer out?
Good Grammar Manners

How can we handle nasty or haughty criticisms which are incorrect, uninvited, or simply plain rude? And what do we do once we are faced with the query of whether to let somebody know that we’ve discovered a mistake in their work?

To reply a few of these questions for myself, I did an internet search, questioning if there have been any protocols in place for this type of thing. I was happy to seek out that Grammar Girl has addressed the issue quite properly in her put up “Grammar Manners.” The first question is whether you should right somebody at all.

    If the individual whom you wish to appropriate is your child, pupil, or worker, you should, in fact, feel comfortable (if not obligated) to correct his or her grammar . . .

That makes sense. But what if it’s somebody you don’t know or barely know? What if it’s someone who's your peer and even your boss or teacher?

    In case you do wish to appropriate the grammar of someone whom you really consider would welcome and appreciate the correction, then start by asking them if it is OK to supply a suggestion . . .

I think the key phrase right here is “someone whom you truly believe would welcome and appreciate the correction.” Best and serious writers wish to know that they’ve made a mistake of their writing. But most individuals, especially non-writers, don’t significantly wish to be criticized or corrected.

With writers, I don’t think it’s essential to ask whether or not it’s OK to supply a suggestion. Really, I feel sending a friendly electronic mail (as an alternative of leaving a comment or issuing a tweet) is the best way to go. This retains the matter private and can aid you construct a relationship with the individual in query, who will seemingly appreciate your approach.

Grammar Girl makes one other vital level:

    And of course, make certain that you understand the precise grammatical rules and the way to apply them before making a correction.

Normally, I wouldn’t even point out this because it’s unimaginable to me that one would go around correcting individuals with out being a hundred% certain of the rules. Yet, I’ve received a number of such corrections. I have additionally seen incorrect corrections within the feedback sections of different blogs. I think about the one factor more embarrassing than making a mistake is being fallacious if you try to publicly right someone else for making one.

Dealing with Corrections

How can we deal with people who offer corrections and criticisms?

Personally, I always try to be well mannered, whether or not someone is friendly and heartfelt in their correction or impolite and snobbish. In fact, if the correction is mistaken (and I’ve appeared it as much as double-test that my usage was proper), I'll defend my work and clarify the rule and my source to my critic.

I’ll go away you with a couple of remaining words from Grammar Lady:

    A extra subtle method might be simply utilizing correct grammar your self-not in a pedantic means however simply as a superb example.

That’s my motto!

How do you're feeling about making public or uninvited corrections on different people’s writing? Has anyone ever corrected you or have you ever corrected someone else on a blog, social media, or public forum? How did you handle it? What do you think is more necessary - good grammar or good manners? Depart a comment and pitch in your two cents!