, question for Amanda

[pbnesbit at msn.com]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at y..., "Kelley" <SKTHOMPSON_1 at m...> wrote:
> Hello all--
> 
> > 
> And, speaking of Amanda, I have a general question for her 
regarding 
> editing:  In your experience, what seem to be the most common 
> mistakes people make with grammar, syntax, spelling, and so forth?  
I 
> often notice the same few words misspelled (usually in the same 
way) 
> over and over (I seem to find 'definite' spelled 'definate' more 
than 
> any other, but perhaps that's just one I always notice), and lots 
of 
> misuse with 'there, they're, and their', 'your' and 'you're', 'to' 
> and 'too' (less so with 'two'), etc.  This is just for my own 
> curiosity, as I'm one of those people with dictionaries next to the 
> computer for almost daily use, and I'm always going back and forth 
> over punctuation, sentence structure, etc.
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> Kelley

Kelley, 

Well, I'm not Amanda, but I *did* run a business for a while where I 
did copy editing.  I've found the same thing and I'll even add one--
the use of it's for its.  The former English professor in me wants to 
take a red pen to those fanfics!!  I will go so far as to let people 
who do that know in a review.  In posts, I can see how it could slip 
through the cracks, but it doesn't take a long time to re-read and 
correct.  I'm one of those folks who doesn't use a dictionary, but 
has one in her head!  

Peace & Plenty, 

Parker