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Trunk Rules of Writing Adopted Hear.

Baby Boomer Going Like Sixty Posted on by

Typos here are OK. Especially typos in comments. This is my blog and I say so. A person who makes her living as a writer says so too!

Show me someone who is blogging every day and also complains about someone’s typos. Just try. See? You can’t. Because anyone who is trying to come up with fresh ideas, and convey them in an intelligent, organized way, on a daily basis, has way too many things on their plate to complain about other peoples’ typos.

I will do my best – even multiple edits after the initial post – to keep my posts free from typos. I have that luxury. Those of you who read in RSS see some of my worst writing style. Incomplete sentences, typos, bad grammar, the whole nine yards. You know how it goes, you read and re-read, hit publish and a big ole mistake poops out at you.
Penelope Trunk lays out these five points, and elaborates:
1. Spellchecker isn’t perfect.
2. Spelling has nothing to do with intelligence.
3. You don’t have unlimited time, so spend it on ideas, not hyphens.
4. Perfectionism is a disease.
5. Use the comments section for what matters: Intelligent discourse.

Nancy used to be my proofreader when I used paper to communicate. Now she doesn’t get the chance. She used to find some really fun typos. That opportunity is gone.

I ran across a couple of funny typos last week in posts: someone complained about their computer not “strating” properly, and a post had the heading about the “hosing market” (housing)

I shall adopt the Trunk Rules of Blogging.
I will also declare that improper comma usage will not concern me as much anymore.
I recommend you adopt the same attitude. Or not.

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Comments

Trunk Rules of Writing Adopted Hear. — 6 Comments

  1. Here, here!

    I’m with you on this 100%. I have high standards for paid publications that I read and get really persnickety about their typos. (I am a recovering professional proofreader, still working on those demons!)

    But for bloggers, typos or the occasional grammar goofs are a way of life. For blog commenters, it’s even more understandable (those teeny comment windows that pop up on Blogger!)

    Polly’s last blog post..Titi et Grosminet

  3. I’m with you, but as a former English prof, I’m still fighting that tendency to use a red pen too often. Just be a bit careful, gals and guys. Yes, some typos are funny–and possibly confusing.

  5. @Polly: Yes, two standards can be applied to typos. Anything I pay for should be typo free. Any thing that is free can have typos (to a limit.)

    @Mr. Fab: Penelope Trunk would have been a bra burner back in the day. I don’t know if she is now, I don’t follow her that regularly.

    @SeniorWriter: As my new best friend Penny (see below) pointed out: We should be careful, but not get OCD about it.

    @Penelope Trunk: Hello, welcome to my place. OK if I call you Penny? Want to exchange blogroll links. hee. I’m glad I gave you a chuckle, you need more chuckles.

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