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Newbury Today Forum _ Newbury News _ Proofreader required at local newspaper.
Posted by: Grumpy May 10 2012, 07:21 AM
This posting will probably be removed by admin, but am I alone in thinking that the quality of our local newspaper is deteriorating.
Page 12 today:
"Department in the soptlight following Cameo auctioneers row"
Posted by: Bloggo May 10 2012, 07:31 AM
Page 12 today:
"Department in the soptlight following Cameo auctioneers row"
It happens with every news paper from time to time. Come on, give them a break. Its a good "value for money" paper and I can overlook the odd typo.
Posted by: Biker1 May 10 2012, 07:48 AM
In my experience it's not the odd one it's fairly regular.
They have got names wrong when I have put a family insertion in as well.
"Value for money"? Hmmmmmmmmm.
Posted by: Bloggo May 10 2012, 07:56 AM
They have got names wrong when I have put a family insertion in as well.
"Value for money"? Hmmmmmmmmm.
Well, every one has there own opinion particularly about quality and value for money.
It would be a sad day if it closed in my opinion.
Posted by: Biker1 May 10 2012, 08:08 AM
Agreed.
But having a monopoly I think that's unlikely to happen.
Posted by: Roger T May 10 2012, 08:27 AM
It's a shame, I think, such minor spelling errors can account for so much. But agreed, there is a need for proof reading. Spell checking too, I would imagine it's ultimately the fault of the editor.
I guess it accounts for little but, looks unprofessional. Like cycling to work with no trousers on.
Posted by: Bloggo May 10 2012, 08:36 AM
An interesting comparison Rog. Not one that would spring to my mind.
Posted by: Andy Capp May 10 2012, 09:59 AM
It is cheaper than parking for an hour in Newbury!
And about the same price as a chocolate bar.
Posted by: Baffers100 May 10 2012, 10:03 AM
I'm glad I'm not the only one to complain about this.
Check this out for a prime example;
http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/2012/funeral-for-newbury-centenarian
I would have thought that somebody who has formed a career as a journalist (even if it is for the local rag) would be able to use a comma properly! I'm not generally a grammar nazi and do make mistakes myself- that said I'm not a journalist, and I don't get paid on what I write.
In regards to the above article, I emailed the author. He had the time to send me back an email, but not time to proof read his own work! I don't care that the online news is free, where are the standards and where is the pride in your work? I don't buy the paper myself, but if this is subject to the same standard as the online editorials then I wouldn't even wrap my chips in it.
I feel it is particularly bad publishing such badly written pieces wth spelling and grammatical errors when the article is about somebody who has recently passed away. At least proof read those out of respect!
Posted by: Roger T May 10 2012, 10:37 AM
I thought so, too. But in the same way, it would be unexpected to see. Much like mistakes, in the printed press. Or typed press, in this case.
Although I think Chips in Newspaper is very good, a British staple food of the summer-y seaside. And in that case, I doubt you would notice a typing error.
Posted by: andy1979uk May 10 2012, 10:38 AM
Although I think Chips in Newspaper is very good, a British staple food of the summer-y seaside. And in that case, I doubt you would notice a typing error.
Cries
Frist sentance good, second sentance dribble.
Posted by: Bloggo May 10 2012, 10:45 AM
Although I think Chips in Newspaper is very good, a British staple food of the summer-y seaside. And in that case, I doubt you would notice a typing error.
Quite so.
Posted by: Grumpy May 10 2012, 10:49 AM
Check this out for a prime example;
http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/2012/funeral-for-newbury-centenarian
Chief reporter?
Posted by: Baffers100 May 10 2012, 11:07 AM
Chief reporter indeed. He obviously leads by example!
Posted by: Biker1 May 10 2012, 04:38 PM
And about the same price as a chocolate bar.I have NEVER paid to park in Newbury!
and I think I'd rather have the Cadbury's.
Posted by: NWNREADER May 10 2012, 08:50 PM
Frist sentance good, second sentance dribble.
Aren't these errors in spelling in the NWN absolutely awful?
Posted by: JeffG May 11 2012, 07:47 AM
Posted by: Roger T May 11 2012, 08:15 AM
Ha,ha, I see the reference above.
Frist sentance good, second sentance dribble.
Sorry, I read yesterday evening, to post how I like. So I shall indeed. Why do you seem to complain at everything I post?
If you don't like it, an option to reply to only the parts you find good, is available. I do not care for your judgement.
Are you a writing critic, I doubt, so. All I have to say on that one.
Posted by: Timbo May 11 2012, 08:17 AM
Frist sentance good, second sentance dribble.
Oh leave the guy alone.
All you do is pick on other people and then complain (they) are the ones with the lack of ability to see other opinions. As for spelling well, most of what you say is dribble as the Year 8's I taught English to had better spelling abilities than you. Out of 6 words you spelt 3 of them incorrectly. Very well done.
Posted by: JeffG May 11 2012, 08:32 AM
(deleted)
Posted by: Grumpy May 11 2012, 08:48 AM
I suppose at the end of the day, it boils down to NWN using a system that doesn't provide an efficient spell-check. If I put soptlight into my version of Word 2007, it is automatically converted to spotlight.
Posted by: Baffers100 May 11 2012, 11:12 AM
It's all very well critising eachother's spellings, but none of us (I presume) are paid journalists. There is a distincton between people casually using a forum, with various degree's of English ability and anal tendencies, to people who form a career using the written word.
In my eyes, everyone can post on a forum whether or not your English is letter perfect. (Commas at every, other, word are actually my, bugbear!) but when looking at journalists and anybody else who gets paid on their written communication, should high quality English and a eye for detail not be a fundamental requirement for the job?
Going back to the OP, the quality in the NWN lately does not reflect either high quality English, or an eye for detail.
Posted by: Brewmaster May 11 2012, 02:48 PM
Last year they printed a report concerning activities on 23rd April and headed it 'St. George's Gay ...'
I sent the cutting to Private Eye and got a tenner.
Keep up the good work, NWN!
Posted by: Andy Capp May 11 2012, 03:00 PM
I sent the cutting to Private Eye and got a tenner.
Keep up the good work, NWN!
Excellent.
Posted by: Roger T May 11 2012, 03:02 PM
I sent the cutting to Private Eye and got a tenner.
Keep up the good work, NWN!
A good return on investment. I believe stamps were cheaper then, so even more money for you. I think in Middle England, you'd be beheaded for saying that. When St George was actually alive. History may not be my strongest subject.
Posted by: Baffers100 May 11 2012, 03:07 PM
I sent the cutting to Private Eye and got a tenner.
Keep up the good work, NWN!
Ha ha! It may be worth buying it just for that reason!
Posted by: Nothing Much May 11 2012, 05:15 PM
Well done Brewmaster. I have hopes that you have the copy framed for the future,
not the cheque that is. I expect that went soon after receipt.
Your good luck was an appalling error for quite a widespread paper.
I have a tiny local free paper run by 2 journos and a team of advertising people.
Most of the stories are up to date, the adverts for local events are useful.
I have not come across a typo in the 10 or so years it has been around.
My favourite was for a pub in Anglia that had 3 events in February each one with a different spelling.
1 out of 3 was correct....D+ for effort?
ce
Posted by: Darren May 22 2012, 10:32 AM
and a gem today that really need rewriting, or there's breakthrough in medical science...
Somewhat poor grammar...
Posted by: James_Trinder May 22 2012, 11:36 AM
I read the NWN online exclusively now so think that I am getting quite good value for money for my total investment of nothing. However, the NWN still owe me a few quid from when there was a paid online subscription for a while.
Posted by: Baffers100 May 22 2012, 01:21 PM
Somewhat poor grammar...
Ha ha, I had to read that twice!
Posted by: Darren May 22 2012, 05:24 PM
and corrected (well, nearly)
Now awaiting my consultancy fee.
Posted by: Andy Capp May 22 2012, 07:43 PM
That looks like three people.
I'm no expert, but I would have written:
RENOWNED actor, Nigel Havers; mother to the Duchess of Cambridge, Carole Middleton; and TV presenter, Claire Balding; were amongst the thousands who witnessed the world’s number one racehorse, Frankel, make a triumphant return at Newbury Racecourse on Saturday.
Posted by: lordtup May 22 2012, 07:46 PM
Couple of points on this one.
Firstly remember the halcyon days of the old "Grauniad" (sic).Guardian to our younger readers.It was an excepted mark of a left wing journalist to dispense with the niceties of grammar in order to meet deadlines and the printers did nothing to overrule this philosophy.
Secondly ,surely in this modern age of computer generated submissions the spell checker rules supreme. 
Posted by: Biker1 May 23 2012, 07:43 AM
Not always.
For example there is a report on the NWN home page where meters has been used for the unit of measurement.
Now I thought in the UK that a metre is a measure (just over three feet) and a meter a measuring device: (e.g. The gas meter is about a metre from the back door.)?
This would not have been detected by spell check.
Posted by: Simon Kirby May 23 2012, 08:21 AM
For example there is a report on the NWN home page where meters has been used for the unit of measurement.
Now I thought in the UK that a metre is a measure (just over three feet) and a meter a measuring device: (e.g. The gas meter is about a metre from the back door.)?
This would not have been detected by spell check.
Very good. I'm pretty sure I'd have spelled metre "meter", but you're quite right.
Posted by: JeffG May 23 2012, 10:14 AM
Everybody knows this one, right?
Eye halve a spelling chequer
It came with my pea sea
It plainly marques four my revue
Miss steaks eye kin knot sea.
Eye strike a key and type a word
And weight four it two say
Weather eye am wrong oar write
It shows me strait a weigh.
As soon as a mist ache is maid
It nose bee fore two long
And eye can put the error rite
Its rare lea ever wrong.
Eye have run this poem threw it
I am shore your pleased two no
Its letter perfect awl the weigh
My chequer tolled me sew.
Posted by: Mark NWN May 23 2012, 11:40 AM
Breaking news often contains mistakes due to the speed in which we try and get it online, also we rely on the emergency services for a lot of information and if their details contain errors, which they sometimes do simply because a lot of it is taken down by people at the scene of incidents, we report what they tell us. I apologise for any mistake which may have appeared in my copy, I am human and it does creep in occasionally, as with every other newspaper or publication out there from time to time.
If anyone ever has an issue with what I have written, or thinks I should be looking at a matter more closely, please call me on 01635 564532 or email mark.taylor@newburynews.co.uk. Always willing to listen.
Posted by: On the edge May 23 2012, 12:22 PM
If anyone ever has an issue with what I have written, or thinks I should be looking at a matter more closely, please call me on 01635 564532 or email mark.taylor@newburynews.co.uk. Always willing to listen.
Don't worry! The responses you get to these slips is says more about the life some people have to lead. Mark Twain understood.
Posted by: Biker1 May 23 2012, 09:30 PM
I disagree.
I think it is important that publications get the copy right with correct spelling & grammar.
I appreciate that sometimes errors creep through but this seems to be more prevalent in some publications than others.
Say, for example, you submitted a death announcement to a paper and they got the spelling wrong. Would you be OK with this?
Would you be happy if you bought a book and found it to have grammatical and spelling errors?
Posted by: JeffG May 24 2012, 10:11 AM
Funny you should say that. I downloaded a book to my Kindle which had the sentence
Still, it was on the Kindle free list, so I guess I shouldn't complain
Posted by: Nothing Much May 24 2012, 10:32 AM
It is hard to say really about the written text. I bought a book which I have never read from a stall on Victoria Station.
Almost 40 years ago now, for a shilling. eecummings letters .It seems to be worth a bob or two on ebay now.
He was like Jackson Pollack , a bit averse to normal.
ce
Posted by: Berkshirelad May 24 2012, 07:37 PM
is paid journalists.
just a bit of tit-for-tat
Posted by: Andy Capp May 24 2012, 07:40 PM
just a bit of tit-for-tat
Posted by: JeffG May 24 2012, 07:44 PM
just a bit of tit-for-tat
Oh dear, McKean's Law strikes again: "is a paid journalist" is probably what you meant.
Posted by: On the edge May 24 2012, 07:54 PM
I think it is important that publications get the copy right with correct spelling & grammar.
I appreciate that sometimes errors creep through but this seems to be more prevalent in some publications than others.
Say, for example, you submitted a death announcement to a paper and they got the spelling wrong. Would you be OK with this?
Would you be happy if you bought a book and found it to have grammatical and spelling errors?
To some extent, but very much depends on the context. English isn't particularly well taught. For instance I was always told never to start sentences with and, or to split infinitives.
Posted by: Berkshirelad May 24 2012, 08:16 PM
No, I know exactly what I meant.
I was correcting the sentence posted.
To put it in full, "It's all very well critising eachother's spellings, but none of us (I presume) are paid journalists.", should be "It's all very well critising eachother's spellings, but none of us (I presume) is paid journalists."
I accept that your further correction is valid; I was pointing out that 'none' takes a singular verb.
Posted by: JeffG May 24 2012, 08:24 PM
2/10 for effort.
Posted by: Baffers100 May 24 2012, 08:45 PM
I was correcting the sentence posted.
To put it in full, "It's all very well critising eachother's spellings, but none of us (I presume) are paid journalists.", should be "It's all very well critising eachother's spellings, but none of us (I presume) is paid journalists."
I accept that your further correction is valid; I was pointing out that 'none' takes a singular verb.
Ah I stand corrected. Maybe I can get a journo job on here!
Posted by: Andy Capp May 24 2012, 10:11 PM
I was correcting the sentence posted.
To put it in full, "It's all very well critising eachother's spellings, but none of us (I presume) are paid journalists.", should be "It's all very well critising eachother's spellings, but none of us (I presume) is paid journalists."
I accept that your further correction is valid; I was pointing out that 'none' takes a singular verb.
" ... is paid journalists" sounds wrong.
Posted by: blackdog May 25 2012, 08:16 AM
It does indeed - and surely it is wrong.
"none of us is paid journalists"
if you go for the idea that none is singular (a contraction of not one) then this phrase is akin to saying "Fred is paid journalists" - yuck.
So, if none is to be singular "none of us is a paid journalist" is correct.
Posted by: JeffG May 25 2012, 10:05 AM
http://www.eclecticenglish.com/grammar/PresentSimpleToBe1A.html
Enjoy!
Posted by: massifheed May 28 2012, 05:09 PM
http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/2012/businesses-promoting-healthy-eating-to-receive-awards
Outstanding first line! Read it before they correct it.
Posted by: Penelope May 28 2012, 05:20 PM
Outstanding first line! Read it before they correct it.
Journo with a stutter perhaps?
Posted by: massifheed May 28 2012, 05:53 PM
Reminds me of Arkwright: "Geh-geh-Granville, Feh-feh-fetch a cloth".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3OEvw4g4ys&feature=player_detailpage#t=63s
Posted by: Exhausted May 28 2012, 06:00 PM
Enjoy!
Doesn't cater for Berkshire
It are cold today
I are at home now
They be Korean
There be a pen on the desk
My name are Nikita
We be from 'ungerford
That's bluddy right it are
I be fine thanks
Lara and Steve bain't married, they be living in sin
She baint a teacher as long as my hole looks downwards.
...and so on.
By the way isn't 'us' plural therefore are is right aren't it.
Us are off to the fair tonight do ee wanna come.
Posted by: JeffG May 28 2012, 06:11 PM
You'm right of course.
Posted by: Nothing Much May 28 2012, 06:23 PM
Sometimes things seem right. For example..
Pidgin from papua for a condom. is gummi bilong kok.
I went to school there.
ce
Posted by: Simon Kirby May 28 2012, 07:50 PM
It depends on whether you're emphasising the singlular or plural aspect - "none of is" emphasises the thing that none of us is, whereas "none of us are" emphasises that all of us aren't that thing.
eecummings was a poet, and he understood his art well enough to transcend the rules.
While it's helpful to have a good command of grammar and spelling, I think it's generally unkind to pick fault in a general forum.
Posted by: Biker1 Jun 1 2012, 09:07 AM
Not sure where http://www.newburytoday.co.uk/2012/37283 is (I think there is one in Australia) , but Bridgwater is a town in Somerset!! 
Posted by: NWNREADER Jun 1 2012, 09:25 AM
Having been to the Zummerzet version a few times I still confess to surprise I didn't know the correct spelling......
Posted by: Nothing Much Jun 1 2012, 09:31 AM
Thanks for the Arkwright link. I forget how much is available these days.
Being a chap who worked at night, I missed all the old favourites.
On my night off I went to the "darn theatre again". Then someone came up with VHS!
ce
Posted by: JeffG Jun 1 2012, 11:21 AM
That's what comes of not being a local. I come from that part of the world originally. However, I can never remember which Gillingham is pronounced Gillingham, and which one is pronounced Gillingham.
Posted by: Biker1 Jun 1 2012, 11:23 AM
Well the one in Kent is pronounced "Gillingham" and the one in Dorset is pronounced "Gillingham".
See, easy.
(Very important if you are buying a railway ticket to one of them!)
Posted by: JeffG Jun 1 2012, 11:27 AM
Ah thanks. That clears that up then.
Re train tickets - I think my son once asked for a ticket to Hatfield and they tried to sell him one to Hadfield. Being a bright lad, he spotted the price difference.
Posted by: Biker1 Jun 1 2012, 11:38 AM
I was once on Whitchurch (just down the road) station to see a steam train pass and an elderly woman got off a service train at the station.
After wandering around for a while she came up to me and said "this is Whitchurch isn't it"? to which I replied "yes".
After wandering a short while again she came up to me and said "this is Whitchurch in Shropshire"? to which I replied "oh!"
This was 8 o'clock at night - I helped her out the best I could.
Posted by: Nothing Much Jun 1 2012, 12:37 PM
"Oh Mr Porter" springs to mind.Biker1
You can't beat the football fans from Spain who chartered a plane for an event.
Either Bucharest or Budapest. They ended up at the wrong one.
They sounded to have had a good time anyway!
Whitchurch in Hampshire was used by soap advertising. "The shining Parish of W".
Anyway for 8pm it is a long way to the other. I am sure you did the gentlemanly bit.
Got her leg over the Harley and sped her off to Shropshire, or maybe I am disruptive again.
ce
Posted by: On the edge Jun 1 2012, 12:55 PM
You can't beat the football fans from Spain who chartereded a plane for an event.
Either Bucharest or Budapest. They ended up at the wrong one.
They sounded to have had a good time anyway!
Whitchurch in Hampshire was used by soap advertising. "The shining Parish of W".
Anyway for 8pm it is a long way to the other. I am sure you did the gentlemanly bit.
Got her leg over the Harley and sped her off to Shropshire, or maybe I am disruptive again.
ce
Keep going! If you could convince Biker to write it up and embelish it a bit - he has the making of a TV show at least.
Posted by: NWNREADER Jun 1 2012, 01:41 PM
See, easy.
(Very important if you are buying a railway ticket to one of them!)
What about if you are in Gillingham and want a ticket to Gillingham?
Posted by: Nothing Much Jun 1 2012, 02:27 PM
Ahhh that is the olden days, when the Titchfield Thunderbolt went to Parvor and Minor.
Or Chipping even.
Not to mention Woodhay or Norries.
Posted by: Biker1 Jun 1 2012, 03:49 PM
You will probably end up back where you came from!
Posted by: Biker1 Jun 1 2012, 03:58 PM
ce
Wouldn't be seen dead on a Harley!
Posted by: blackdog Jun 1 2012, 09:05 PM
Or Chipping even.
Not to mention Woodhay or Norries.
Chipping Lambourn or Chipping Ilsley?
Posted by: Penelope Jun 1 2012, 09:27 PM
What!!
Posted by: Timbo Jun 1 2012, 10:59 PM
I hear Vtwins are quite pleasurable for ladies.
Posted by: Andy Capp Jun 1 2012, 11:05 PM
You mean you'd ride one?
I like Harleys. Crap bikes but they have class: we are crap and we don't care. But I'm a Kawasaki 900 fan.
Posted by: Nothing Much Jun 2 2012, 11:11 AM
Chipping Lambourn or Chipping Ilsley? Blackdog.
That was another endearing thing about Russel Grant.
He bought the whole OS maps from various sources. 1972 I think.
Pre- boundary changes and some name changes just to preserve the old days.
I think it would have cost quite a lot. Pay was a pittance.
ce
Posted by: Nothing Much Jun 2 2012, 11:54 AM
Sorry about the Harley insult Biker1. They make a fine noise at 2.30pm.
On a Saturday afternoon.
But at 6.30am past my bedroom window it rattles the house.
Speaking of House. It is probably a Consultant at UCLH on Euston Road.
ce.
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