Poor editing & research - does it matter?

[EcclesCake]

I'm reading a crime novel, OK so it's not a great literary work but it doesn't mean it shouldn't be edited and researched properly.

The lead character has just 'got dressed and had a shower', well that's one way to wash your clothes I suppose.

He's now chatting to a retired school teacher in his late eighties who visited Musee d'Orsay on school trips. Ok, but I don't know many teachers who worked beyond retirement age.

Sorry rant over, I'm not usually one to be picky abut these things but those two have really irritated me.

I know that most novels has a disclaimer in them about accuracy, but it doesn't justify sloppy writing.

[HowardKennitby]

Stern letter to the publishers?

[EcclesCake]

If I lived in Tunbridge Wells I might but as it is I'm not sufficiently riled to waste 60p on a stamp ;-)

[Kiki-frog]

LOL Eccles, if you don't work as an editor already, then you should think about it. That's the sort of thing that riles me as well. I've been working as an editor since my 20s and am anally retentive beyond belief when it comes to this sort of thing.

[Davethedog]

Musee d'Orsay opened in 1986 if hes 88 could have been 64 when it opened so could easily have gone on school trip(s) there.

Your right of course , but it might have been possible :-)

[EcclesCake]

Glad I'm not alone Kiki!

Dave, that is assuming the book was written and published this year.......

[Davethedog]

Eccles ah ha - I thought I was just being pedantic :-D

I think i'll rest my cases and sit on this here bench.

[heathfield]

Years ago, our local paper used to run a weekly serial story, usually something with romance in it. We all looked forward to the weekend, and would scan the page looking for the next howler. I remember one in particular..."Her eyes flew round the room and finally settled on his face." Winged eyeballs? What an image!

[Infomaniac]

I've just finished reading a Lynda La Plante book and although it was a cracking read I had the nails-down-the-blackboard feeling everytime she used the word "inferred" instead of "implied", and "refuted" instead of "denied".

[Bambiagain]

Yes, it grates on the nerves. I've just finished a book which, although mostly well-written, managed two incorrect uses of "who" in two pages along with a reference to a couple still being on their honeymoon when a couple of weeks earlier they had had an engagement party with absolutely no mention of a wedding. Poor editing. Can I have the job, please?

[Bambiagain]

Hanging head in shame - that was two incorrect uses of "whom". Ok, I just got the sack already.

[maggiebee]

Just had a howler in an e-mail asking for a contribution to J's retrial gift. Didn't even know there had been a first trial, but knew she was retiring lol

[woofgang]

spell checker has a lot to answer for. A workmate of mine used to rely on it heavily as she was slightly dyslexic but also could never find her glasses. One day she wrote an assessment of a lady who she had visited whose sight was poor so my friend had suggested that she should investigate "reading glasses" spellchecker changed it to "reading classes" lol. Happily I proofread it before she sent it to the assessment requestor!

[Nibble]

Oh, that'll be another letter from "Angry of Tunbridge Wells" to the Editor then ;)

[Bambiagain]

I once rejected an applicant for a job because her CV told me she was "contentious." If this was correct, I didn't want to employ her. If it was a mistake I didn't want someone who didn't know how to spell conscientious.

[woofgang]

Bambi she might just have been pathologically honest

[Bambiagain]

Pathalogically honest but still contentious. Sorry, not suitable for the job!

[woofgang]

I know.....just sayin.....