How Much Should Grammar And Spelling Weight With A Review?

[Widget]

How willing are you to overlook grammar and spelling errors if the basic plot is good and the story is otherwise engaging?

I am just curious. Personally I read very fast so I can grasp the meaning and context of a paragraph without letting minor errors ruin the enjoyment of a story for me. Bigger more glaring errors though are more difficult for me to over look though as it ruins the flow of the story.

[chattel69]

The minor stuff is easy to over look but when it comes to trying to read through the story it loses it's appeal. Formating of the story is another problem I have, font size, color, it all leads to ease in reading.

I'm not the best at grammar so I try and give people a break but if you know you have an issue, ask for help. There a lot of friendly and helpful people here who I am sure wouldn't give it a second thought to proof a story.

[Timberwolf]

Small grammar errors, like for example confusing their there and they're, I don't mind that. I make my fair share myself. Just the other day on another forum I used the word "paordy" when I meant to use "parity" just because they are spelled similarly. If it's kept under check that's not a problem, everyone makes an error now and again. The one that trips me up a lot personally is when to use "its" or "it's".

If the sentence structure is genuinely bad (meaning it looks like a seventh grade english class project), or if there are a lot of spelling errors all over, I won't read it.

[maddie]

Poor formatting drives me bonkers. Spelling and grammar errors tend to jump out at me, so if there's a lot of them, I often won't finish a story, because they bug me too much. Even the best of writers miss things now and then, though, and I try to focus more on the story than the grammar and spelling.

I won't even bother reading a poorly formatted story.

[pttwyn]

I have to agree with Maddie, I can't finish a really poorly done story.
It drives me off the deep end too. I use MSWord with spell and grammar check. So it's not hard to do.
Lately I've started to like these little smiley face things and probably really overuse them.
Sorry I couldn't resist.
Pttwyn

[Widget]

Oh lord don't get me started on formatting. I won't finish a story that is done badly either. Someone submitted one with the text on a green back ground. It was brutal. I won't even read a web page with bad formatting nevermind a story.

[Tojo]

I would have to admit poor spelling & grammar is one of my pet hayts.

Having left school at 15, I'm hardly well educated, yet I keep a dictionary next to me & a Thesauras. I also use Word to write anything more than half a page. Actually that was the reason I bought a PC- even more so than porn.

To me it's sheer laziness to not check your spelling. I won't stand for it with my girls, that's for sure.

A WP is a wonderful wonderful thing.

If someone is from a non English speaking country, yes I can overlook it. Otherwise it usually detracts from anything I read, even posts on a forum.

Too many mistakes & I stop reading. As for formatting- a page of solid text with no paragraph breaks & I have to copy & format to read it!

Even a post that goes on without spaces or paragraphs I usually get lost half way through or just don't bother.

Spelling, grammar & formatting? Don't get me started!!

[Rabbit1]

Well here is my two cents worth again ----Grammer and formatting is important---but if you read the in the authors forum how stories are published here you will see that some of the formatting is beyond the authors control ---especially a new author ----so it is like this before I really come down on a author ---I look at how many stories he or she has writen---

Hey guys cut a new author a break ---I have seen some review just come down so hard on new authors ---if you do constructive critism that is fine like hey your story was good but the spelling errors distracted from it ----then the author learns from it and is not put off or gives up ---

Next I have seen where english was not the authors first language ---and they were jumped on for grammar errors---spelling----and if they wrote the story in their language they get it for not posting in english ---those authors can not win---


I try first to look at the story ---does it flow ---am I intrerested it the subject and does it hold my intrest----That is the most important part of any story ----Grammar and formatting can be fixed ---a poor story can not

now lets take it like it really is ---this is a free site ---the stories are free ---the authors work for free----if you really want literary masterpieces go to your local library or to one of the pay sites where authors get paid for their work ---if you pay for a story and it is full of grammar and format errors ---Then Bitch you head off ---other wise you should give the poor author a break ---not all of us are english teachers --and most people read the stories to get off anyway ----so grammar and format is not that important ---lol

Yes we have some super authors ---their grammar is perfect and so is their formatting ---but if you look most have posted a few stories too---People are not born to write they have to learn ----I see a lot of story updates come thru correcting spelling and grammar errors ----and I see alot of new authors that never submit another story ---they got put off by such harsh reviewes

Can you read the story ---do you understand what the author is trying to say ---is it interesting ---those are the main points in my reviews of a new author ---and experienced author ---I do look at a little harder ---I do expect more from them

I have read some of the great litary Authors early works ----I am talking about well known authors ---and quite frankly some of it does not look any better than the new authors we have here

and to be truthful some of the good authors today would be lost without spellcheck and a good proof reader --- My publisher sends my work back to me sometimes with big red circles ---and suggestions in the margins ---in the novels I have submitted for publishing ----sometime it take two or three submissions before I get one published ---but by the time the readers see it --it is damn near perfect ---what you are seeing here is authors work in the raw

[Aussiegirl1]

I have to say that I don't mind a few errors and if the story holds my interest, I can overlook them. I know as an author I try hard to find any errors in my work, but even with spellcheck, there are some you just don't see.

I agree with Rabbit about new authors. I will check how many stories someone has done before I decide how to review a story. I was lucky that though my early stories had errors that I hate to think about now, I still got positive and helpful reviews, with some suggestions on how to improve. This certainly gave me the encouragement to go on.

[H Dean]

I tend to agree with Aussiegirl, over all. A few mistakes are bound to be part of a story. So long as they aren't overly common and don't hinder the flow of a story it will barely register with my rating score. It will, however, be mentioned in my review so as to make the author aware of their mistakes.

On the other hand, if the mistakes cause the story to flow poorly it can severely hamper my rating and review of a story. Presentation is as important as the ideas being expressed. A great story can be ruined by poor flow due to grammatical and spelling miscues.

What really gets me is when a story has been gone over with a spell check routine, while not being edited. This is usually pretty obvious since it means incorrect words will be used with a fair frequency. This is something I have no tolerance for. It stinks of laziness and a complete lack of respect for the art of writing, their own story and the reader. If the author does not respect these things enough to edit their story properly then they get no respect from me and I will review their story appropriately.

But then, I am sort of a prick.

[Rabbit1]

I tend to agree with Aussiegirl, over all. A few mistakes are bound to be part of a story. So long as they aren't overly common and don't hinder the flow of a story it will barely register with my rating score. It will, however, be mentioned in my review so as to make the author aware of their mistakes.

On the other hand, if the mistakes cause the story to flow poorly it can severely hamper my rating and review of a story. Presentation is as important as the ideas being expressed. A great story can be ruined by poor flow due to grammatical and spelling miscues.

What really gets me is when a story has been gone over with a spell check routine, while not being edited. This is usually pretty obvious since it means incorrect words will be used with a fair frequency. This is something I have no tolerance for. It stinks of laziness and a complete lack of respect for the art of writing, their own story and the reader. If the author does not respect these things enough to edit their story properly then they get no respect from me and I will review their story appropriately.

But then, I am sort of a prick.

lol that is one of my nick names too ---but I tend to point out the errors and try to encourage the author to fix them instead of discourage him ----Of course that is why I took the time to start a little training course for new writers ----and any of our older authors who can spare some time are welcome to help out ----there ---there is plenty of intrest in learning --but so far not much intrest in instructing

[Eryn]

Greetings. Though I'm relatively new to the forum I hope y'all won't mind if I put in a cent or two. I do a bit of editing and ghost writing on the side and can say from sharp lessons learned that mispellings and poor grammer are *never* acceptable in a finished product. If a story is put up for review then the author is essentially saying, "Okay, I'm done. This is the best it can be."

I've found that all too often there's a rush to post/publish/present and that adequate editing and revision have not taken place. The best advice I can offer is to cool your jets and read over your work another hundred times. Read it aloud, read it backwards, have someone else read it to you ... do whatever it takes to at least make sure your copy is functionally correct. Content may be subjective but proper spelling and grammer are not.

That being said, it should also be noted that we all make mistakes, typos and use the wrong word in the wrong place at times. All you can do is take the hit and try harder next time.

[aree]

Another set of eyes can be very valuable. I do a fair bit of writing when the mood strikes me and I know there have been times that I have passed over a mistake because my eyes just don't see it. Eryn will catch it quickly and point it out, which sometimes makes me grumpy, but he knows his stuff.

[StillBehindBlueEyes]

Rabbit1 quote
now lets take it like it really is ---this is a free site ---the stories are free ---the authors work for free----if you really want literary masterpieces go to your local library or to one of the pay sites where authors get paid for their work ---if you pay for a story and it is full of grammar and format errors ---Then Bitch you head off ---other wise you should give the poor author a break ---not all of us are english teachers --and most people read the stories to get off anyway ----so grammar and format is not that important ---lol

Eryn Quote
I've found that all too often there's a rush to post/publish/present and that adequate editing and revision have not taken place.

Let’s be realistic here, these are free stories. I keep wondering just how much some people expect for free… My vanilla work is edited, and edited but like I’ve said before, isn’t it expecting a bit much to have a perfect work submitted for free?
Wouldn’t that be sent to a publisher of erotica or porn for money?

I have to say I agree with Rabbit1 if I worried so much about grammar here I wouldn’t have published. I’m very glad I published before I realized grammar was going to be an issue. I use my spellchecker, but not my editor. No way am I handing this stuff to someone and saying, “Ummhumm could you ignore the content and go over this one so I can post it for free on a porn site?” LOL

I think if it’s bad, don’t read it, if you like it, tell the author, if the grammar drives you nuts just move on.

(Thanks Maddie for volunteering to edit my big one.) If it just drives you nuts edit it and send it to the author. They will probably kiss your feet in gratitude.

Ok stepping off my soap box and getting back on my knees where I prefer to be.

[aree]

In Eryn's defense, he does editing for a living and it's his nature to find mistakes. We've also done collaborative writing together for years, as well as with other people, so grammar and spelling errors kinda jump out at us after working with anal, type A perfectionists!
I don't think anyone here said there was an "issue" about grammar and spelling, but more what their preferences were. This doesn't seem like a judgemental group but we *are* having a discussion and opinions are bound to vary. I can look past the mistakes and get to the meat of a story, but as some mentioned, it can be difficult to read and sometimes interests wane.
From a different perspective, maybe some of the Dom/mes here would like their subbie's writing to be the best it can be and will point out the errors as a learning experience for their little one.
Also, I am not one of those that read the stories to "get off." LOL. I really am looking for a bit of literary substance since my home library is full and has been read several times already!

[Tojo]

Well OK- let's look at it from my point of view, as an occasional writer.

I write a story & post it for the world to see- I don't wish to hear a lot of flowery crap about how wonderful the story is, if it just isn't.

If it sucks, I want to know. If I have poor grammar or spelling I also want to know- otherwise why have reviews?

Yes I can see the logic in encouraging new authors & do my damndest to say encouraging things- but ultimately what am I to do if a story is total rubbish IMO? I don't want a story to be perfect, but there are limits.

I guess I'm a bit of a prick too...

Tojo

[aree]

I guess I'm a bit of a prick too...

No, you're not.

[StillBehindBlueEyes]

I don't think anyone here said there was an "issue" about grammar and spelling, but more what their preferences were.

Smiles didn't mean issues in this thread. I meant that I didn't realize grammer would be such an issue in submitting a novel length story.

If my work is crap, sure I Don't want to know. If I was a new author and someone told me my work was crap I'd never submit again.

Your work is like your baby and who wants to be told that that they have an ugly baby. If you like a story tell them if not just move on.

I can't speak for everyone but I'm not submitting to have brutal words thrust on me. I'm submitting to get a thrill and to give a thrill.

My word I must be getting comfortable here to speak this way Kisses to you all as I jump off my soapbox again.

[aree]

Your work is like your baby and who wants to be told that that they have an ugly baby.

I sure hear that! I have a really hard time taking any criticism about my writing, even if I know it's for the better. Sometimes I won't share with Eryn because of it.

[Widget]

Personally I would want constructive feedback for my writing as I want to be able to do the best job I can and develop as far as I can. Even if all I ever did was publish to a free site such as this I would still want to improve on each and every story I submitted and feedback is what I would need to do it.

I see some reviewers do some very harsh reviews on authors and sometimes it seems to me that while they are using the grammar and spelling as the reason for a bad review it is really the content of the story they hate. When I think about a review I try to be objective and give the kind of feedback I would want to receive to become better.

I have seen some authors ask for the type of reviews they wish to receive, critical, all comments welcome or please be gentle with my baby. Haha perhaps this is something that can be incorporated into the submission process so that reviewers have a direction in which to go when they are doing one for a story.

[Eryn]

"I have seen some authors ask for the type of reviews they wish to receive, critical, all comments welcome or please be gentle with my baby. Haha perhaps this is something that can be incorporated into the submission process so that reviewers have a direction in which to go when they are doing one for a story."

I think that's actually a very good idea -- if one wants to be reviewed then ask for the type of feedback that one would like to receive. One has to bear in mind though that different people (potential reviewers) like different things much as different authors write in different styles. Thus any review or critique is going to be colored by the reviewers' preferences ... with the possible exception being grammar, spelling and formatting, lol. (This is one reason formatting should be standardized and that spelling and grammar be eliminated as any possible issue so that only the content is subject to comment.)

A few years back I wrote a 19 part story (serial I guess it was/is) which combined the elements of witchcraft and bdsm. I've never posted the whole story for various reasons but what I did do with those I've shared it with was to let them read a part at a time and then ask what they thought of certain things about it. Things like: What did you think of this character? How did you like that scene? How did you feel when you read such and such? Basically what I was trying to do was to find out how closely they saw or felt what it was that I'd intended to be seen or felt from what and/or how I'd written said part.

What I discovered is that the more specific you are in your questions the better the feedback. Superlatives tell you nothing substantial. "It was wonderful, great. Loved it." Nor do negatives. "I hated it, it sucked." However, when you get something like, "Yeah, I really got a charge when the twins changed clothes in the kitchen without him knowing. " Or, "What exactly was it he did with the midget chick?" It's then you've got something to work with.

Critiques and reviews can be wonderful things if it helps you improve something you want to improve but not all stories are written and presented with that in mind. Perhaps there should be a category of, "This story is for fun -- no review necessary."

[H Dean]

I guess I'm a bit of a prick too...

No, you're not.

You know you are screwed when they start thinking of you as a nice guy.

[katie_21]

I guess I'm a bit of a prick too...

Tojo

Yes you are lol

Honestly I don't really pay attention to grammar and spelling.

[Tojo]

I guess I'm a bit of a prick too...

No, you're not.

Oh now that's sweet.

Thanks aree.

Yes you are lol

Thanks to you too missy.

Sorry SBBE....My post came across a bit harsher than intended.
This reviewing thing is very tricky- Ruby's post helped clarify it a little for me.
I'm a bit cheesed off, as I haven't been inspired to write for a while now. There's a beautiful girl lying on a leather covered bench in a story right now. She's been there for months, going crazy with lust waiting for me to get back there....


Tojo

[Tojo]

You know you are screwed when they start thinking of you as a nice guy.

Oh I was screwed a long time ago.


Tojo

[katie_21]

Oh now that's sweet.

Thanks aree.



Thanks to you too missy.

Sorry SBBE....My post came across a bit harsher than intended.
This reviewing thing is very tricky- Ruby's post helped clarify it a little for me.
I'm a bit cheesed off, as I haven't been inspired to write for a while now. There's a beautiful girl lying on a leather covered bench in a story right now. She's been there for months, going crazy with lust waiting for me to get back there....


Tojo

Oh now I'm depressed, thanks a lot

[StillBehindBlueEyes]

Giggle, no offense taken. I just love the way every topic here is treated fairly and everyone is allowed to say what they feel. Even if that means H Dean has to be allowed to post too.

[H Dean]

Giggle, no offense taken. I just love the way every topic here is treated fairly and everyone is allowed to say what they feel. Even if that means H Dean has to be allowed to post too.

You better be nice to me or I will be really mean and stuff!

[Rabbit1]

Not long after I took over the publishing of stories here I was contacted by email by a long time author ----who complained about the quality of the stories now being published ---covering up his fine work ---

He also complained that I was publishing stories too often ---so his work did not get the number of hits that it used to when publishing was done on a hit or miss basis

It then occurred to me that maybe his stories were not so great ---maybe they got a lot of hits because there was little choice of new things to read ---that if his work was truely great that it would be a shinning expample of how to write for the other new authors.

Then I came up with the Idea for the Writer's Block forum ---instead of complaining about the new authors and their stories why not try to guide them in the right direction ---Now I am going to tell you I read some of this authors stories and they are good ----so I offered this author a chance to change the way new stories are writen by giving me a hand in this new instructional forum----guess what ---this author does not have time for that --only has time to complain ----Like a lot of our "experienced" authors they would rather give a flaming bad review then take the time to offer guidance to the newbies----

So I have challenged our great authors ---to give alittle back ---to volunteer a little of their time to help guide new authors ---if you are interested contact me ---My little instructional program is not perfect ---and I could use some imput from others ---but it is better than nothing

[MsUther]

I found that authours spoiled reaction to be hilarious!