Perils of Poor Editing: Part One
For writers, it’s vital to examine your work in detail many times before you submit your work to publishers or upload the text of your ebook to an online bookstore. Even if you’ve checked the text a hundred times, you might still find errors that need to be addressed.
Good editing and revision is very important and yet many new writers often overlook these crucial steps in the creative writing process. However, even the most experienced writers and journalists can still make embarrassing mistakes.
Here are just a few classic examples that slipped through the net.
He crossed one leg over the other and planted both feet firmly on the ground.
This could be an interesting maneuver to witness.
He put his hands on his knees and held his head in despair.
This person appears to have two pairs of arms.
She ran down the beach and cast her eyes out to sea.
Did the girl gaze out toward the horizon or throw her own eyes into the water?
We will not stand idly by and be murdered in our beds.
I’m not sure how many people could actually sleep standing up in bed in order to be murdered, but I guess it could be possible.
Last night’s result isn’t as good as it sounds on paper.
A reporter’s take on an unexpected outcome to a sporting event seems somewhat confusing.
There’s a huge question mark hanging over him after the last game.
A below par performance by a player prompted this remark.
It shows what a hot seat that number six shirt has been.
We know what this means, but it certainly sounds very odd.
If Beethoven were alive today, he’d be turning in his grave.
This headline appeared above an article about a rather substandard orchestral performance.
New Hospital in the Pipeline.
Here’s another newspaper headline, referring this time either to a very large pipeline or a very small hospital.
The soldiers were close enough to see their enemies eating their lunch through binoculars.
Initially this one seems to be okay, but is actually complete nonsense.
And finally, a classic ad from a local newspaper.
German Shepherd. Eats anything, fond of children.
So the next time you feel tempted to skip that final examination of your work, beware. It never hurts to do that one extra check.
