Forum:Proofreading Service

Forums: Index > Village Dump > Proofreading Service

Note: This topic has been unedited for 6135 days. It is considered archived - the discussion is over. Do not add to unless it really needs a response.

I hate to double post, but it seems that not everyone checks Forum:Help and I want to promote this as much as possible. The number of error-ridden articles on VFH causes me much distress! So please excuse the cross-post in this instance! Its a matter of great urgency!

I hereby offer my services as a proofreader for spelling, grammar and punctuation.

As I've been reading and voting on a lot of VFD & VFH articles recently, and I have been absolutely astounded at the number of articles nommed for VFH that are riddled with spelling, grammar or punctuation errors. I know not everyone places great importance on these things, but I'm the anal type of person who despises such things. In an effort to help, I've created User:Ceridwyn/Proofreading_Service.

If spelling, grammar or punctuation aren't your strong points, feel free to leave a link to your article there and I'll be more than happy to do what I can to clean it up. Seriously, I love this stuff, so the more the merrier! Please abuse this service, I don't have enough to do!

Even if you don't think your article has much wrong with it, it never hurts to get another set of eyes to skim it to give it the final polish before sending it out into the world.

If something along these lines already exists, please (politely) point it out to me, but as of yet I haven't stumbled across it.

I've also considered expanding it to a template which like others, adds the page to a category so that users could slap the template on their page and I could come along and clean it up that way, rather than them having to visit an obscure user page? Thoughts? Suggestions? ~ Dame Ceridwyn ~ talk DUN VoNSE arc2.0 07:24, 07 May 2007

Hey - nice sig. Sir Famine, Gun ♣ Petition » 05/7 21:48

Hey :) Thanks! Sure it isn't a bit long? ~ Dame Ceridwyn ~ talk DUN VoNSE arc2.0 10:00, 07 May 2007

Pssst. He's hitting on you. -- » Sir Savethemooses Grand Commanding Officer ... holla atcha boy» 22:08, 7 May 2007 (UTC)

Naaw....I'm playing both good cop and bad cop here. Now, anyone want to run with the "it's better long than wide" innuendo? Sir Famine, Gun ♣ Petition » 05/7 22:28

It's better long than wide, Ceridwyn. —Braydie 22:33, 7 May 2007 (UTC)

/me prints joke off and runs somewhere. Also: again yay for proofreading! -- (but) Untrue  Whhhy?Whut?How? *Back from the dead* 22:45, 7 May 2007 (UTC)

Now I'm confused, good cop AND bad cop? O_o Thanks for your continued support Strange! :) ~ Dame Ceridwyn ~ talk DUN VoNSE arc2.0 11:11, 07 May 2007

She'll do a little more than just proof-reading if you pony up "a little something extra" -- Prof. Olipro KUN (W)Anchor Op Bur. (Harass) 17:40, 13 May 2007 (UTC)

As an obsessive English geek and the editor of my school's newspaper, I am a stickler for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and the like. I'd be more than willing to assist, as long as you don't mind American English and the Oxford Comma. -- Contestant CUN -- VFH NotM Buzz Ctrbs 22:55, 7 May 2007 (UTC)

You had me at obsessive! Although I can't say I'm a big fan of American "English." I prefer the original kind but I'm willing to try and get along. :P But I would love to increase the ranks of the Anal Brigade, (pun intended, just for Braydie.) ^_~ ~ Dame Ceridwyn ~ talk DUN VoNSE arc2.0 11:11, 07 May 2007

(If he offers you an Oxford Comma, say "No!". It's got four ounces of tequilla in it. Also GHB.) --Sir Modusoperandi ^Boinc! 23:30, 7 May 2007 (UTC)

How many millilitres are in a liquid ounce? O_o ~ Dame Ceridwyn ~ talk DUN VoNSE arc2.0 11:34, 07 May 2007

I only know "ounce" because that's how big a shot of liquor is. That's actually how they figured out how big to make an ounce. "How much booze does it take to give an average-size man a slight buzz?". It's true. Look it up. --Sir Modusoperandi ^Boinc! 00:00, 8 May 2007 (UTC)

Ah I see, so it has 4 shots. Hmm yeah ok I'll definately pass! Don't you have metric in Canada? ~ Dame Ceridwyn ~ talk DUN VoNSE arc2.0 03:22, 08 May 2007

Well...I take it that your country doesn't share a border with a distinctly not-metric superpower? --Sir Modusoperandi ^Boinc! 04:20, 8 May 2007 (UTC)

Fixed ^_^ ~ Dame Ceridwyn ~ talk DUN VoNSE arc2.0 04:49, 08 May 2007

Thanks, but now where am I going to get 90% of my tv shows? --Sir Modusoperandi ^Boinc! 05:05, 8 May 2007 (UTC)

I meant MY country :P ~ Dame Ceridwyn ~ talk DUN VoNSE arc2.0 06:09, 08 May 2007

Oh. My bad. --Sir Modusoperandi ^Boinc! 08:16, 8 May 2007 (UTC)

Not to get the topic back on track or anything, but if there's to be a grammar brigade, I want in. I've corrected so many errors that now I just lump them all into the generic word "gramspelpunct" in edit summaries. --Wehpudicontok--Welcome to Vaporstory! 05:42, 8 May 2007 (UTC)

Welcome aboard!!! :) ~ Dame Ceridwyn ~ talk DUN VoNSE arc2.0 06:09, 08 May 2007

I always call it SPAG (Sp., punct. and Grammar) - they used to have dedicated marks for SPAG in GCSE exams and the like. -- (but) Untrue  Whhhy?Whut?How? *Back from the dead* 07:27, 8 May 2007 (UTC)

I write "CPS" or "Ceridwyn's Proofreading Service - <comment>" recently if I can be bothered. ~ Dame Ceridwyn ~ talk DUN VoNSE arc2.0 07:54, 08 May 2007

Urgh... too much pink. Again. Since I suck at finding inspiration for articles, or even writing good articles, I may as well help with correcting spelling and English-fying everything instead. If I could be bothered. Your futile pink "colors" will submit to the power of non-colours...

Plus, I have nothing better to do. I could always eviscerate a chav but that gets boring after slaughtering a hundred or so. I browse Uncyclopedia a ton - for a good six months or so now - but I don't ever edit, mainly due to the lack of afore-mentioned inspiration and an actual account until very recently. *sigh* -- Pigeon 09:24, 8 May 2007 (UTC)

Off topic I know but...inspiration is everywhere. The chances are pretty good that you know enough about something to make a page about it. If you aren't ready for that yet, search out an existing but mediocre page on a subject that interests you, then try to improve it. Baby steps, as it were.

The worst thing that will happen is you'll make a complete and utter fool of yourself. That sounds bad, but it's not. We learn more from failure than we do from success. Eventually, you'll get out a couple of good lines, then later you'll make a page that just clicks. Again, baby steps. --Sir Modusoperandi ^Boinc! 09:51, 8 May 2007 (UTC)

Yeah, I tried that, I came here with a riproaring idea for an article, shaped it into a masterpiece IMHO but given that it was to do with World of Warcraft I gave up trying to promote it. I got nice wellmeaning comments but noone else seemed to find it as hilarious as I did, so I published it elsewhere. And thats it, no more ideas. So I tidy up other peoples ideas instead. Don't put people off a life of editing, we need people who polish as much as we need those who publish! ^_^ Welcome aboard Pigeon! ~ Dame Ceridwyn ~ talk DUN VoNSE arc2.0 09:41, 08 May 2007

Sort of on topic, a comment to all these people volunteering to do this... Please don't americanise (or indeed britishise) anything, because you will have wasted your time when somebody equally well-meaning comes along and moves everything back the other way. At very most, only do this if things are very inconsistent within a section of an article. And even then, why not pick the other person's language for a bit of humorous fun? -- (but) Untrue  Whhhy?Whut?How? *Back from the dead* 15:36, 8 May 2007 (UTC)

sp. humorous humourous • Spang • ☃ • talk • 08:36, 08 May 2007

I follow the consistency rule. If its clearly all American English, then I don't change the spellings, just make them consistent, but if its a very British article, then I enforce REAL english :P ~ Dame Ceridwyn ~ talk DUN VoNSE arc2.0 09:41, 08 May 2007

Agreed. Go with the native spellings of the subject matter, or just keep it consistent if it doesn't have one. I think Wikipedia has a similar policy. --Wehpudicontok--Welcome to Vaporstory! 00:44, 9 May 2007 (UTC)

Joining the ranks

If you wish to help out and be a part of the Proofreading Service, please add your sig to this section on my User Page: User:Ceridwyn/Proofreading Service#The Comma Brigade

Thanks! ~ Dame Ceridwyn ~ talk DUN VoNSE arc2.0 01:10, 09 May 2007

Just like to add...

The article need not be your own to put it on the Proof Reading Service btw, any article you think needs a bit of a look over is fine. There should be many more articles flowing in than there have been if the quality of spelling on VFH is anything to go by... ^_^ ~ Dame Ceridwyn ~ talk DUN VoNSE arc2.0 11:26, 09 May 2007

How will you honor and honour your commitment to fairly handle both humorous and humourous proofreading? Sir Famine, Gun ♣ Petition » 05/10 00:42

I'm confused, what was the question again? ~ Dame Ceridwyn ~ talk DUN VoNSE arc2.0 01:13, 10 May 2007

English proofreading or American proofreading? Will you be able to offer both to appease the linguistically corrupted heathens on the other side of the pond? Sir Famine, Gun ♣ Petition » 05/10 01:19

The brits? Sir Modusoperandi ^Boinc! 01:27, 10 May 2007 (UTC)

Of course! As I mentioned above: *ahem*

“I follow the consistency rule. If its clearly all American English, then I don't change the spellings, just make them consistent, but if its a very British article, then I enforce REAL english :P”

~ Me on the linguistically corrupt.

Ohhhh..I was supposed to read that stuff? Sorry. Sir Famine, Gun ♣ Petition » 05/10 01:52

So in summation, regardless of whether it's American spelling or English ( :P ) I will enforce consistency wherever possible! ~ Dame Ceridwyn ~ talk DUN VoNSE arc2.0 01:47, 10 May 2007

Even if it's inconsistent? Sir Famine, Gun ♣ Petition » 05/10 01:52

If its an article written by an American, about an American thing and the spelling is inconsistent, I'd enforce American spelling. And so on. Why do I feel like I'm being baited? ~ Dame Ceridwyn ~ talk DUN VoNSE arc2.0 02:02, 10 May 2007

What aboot Canadian grammar, eh? Sir Modusoperandi ^Boinc! 02:04, 10 May 2007 (UTC)

You guys have grammar? ~ Dame Ceridwyn ~ talk DUN VoNSE arc2.0 02:08, 10 May 2007

Well, they got the leftovers after all the other languages chose theirs. And I believe it's pronounced "a large shoe". If you don't already know Three Dead Trolls in a Baggie, best get to know them. They are a bastion of Canadian grammar and culture, fighting against the rest of the world. The War of 1812 is particularly well done, I must say. Unlike their website, which I find sucks major ass. And I never, EVER bait anyone. Speaking of which, anyone here from the Toronto area? Cause the Trolls have a great song about that town... Sir Famine, Gun ♣ Petition » 05/10 02:25

Heh, I love Three Dead Trolls... that stuff they did with Atomic Improv was great too -- Prof. Olipro KUN (W)Anchor Op Bur. (Harass) 17:42, 13 May 2007 (UTC)

I think I'll have to reread all that when I get home from class because right now my brain is full of code and I can't think.

So it was a genuine question then? Hmmm.

Took me a minute to get the large shoe joke :P ~ Dame Ceridwyn ~ talk DUN VoNSE arc2.0 02:29, 10 May 2007

Bump...er I mean...very relevant new things about the Proofreading Service

Business has slowed in the last few days, so just a reminder. We have a large team standing by ready to help make your article the very best it can be!

User:Ceridwyn/Proofreading Service ~ Dame Ceridwyn ~ talk DUN VoNSE arc2.0 05:49, 13 May 2007

Also of course, if anyone happens to find a rather grammatically dodgy article, and they can't be arsed to clean it up themselves, they can choose the much quicker option of putting it on this page and letting someone else do the donkey work. -- (but) Untrue  Whhhy?Whut?How? *Back from the dead* 08:41, 13 May 2007 (UTC)

Precisely! By no means should people feel they can only put their own articles on here. Any article you find that needs a bit of a once-over just slap its link on the page above! One day I'll get around to creating a template which you can slap on the page and it will automatically add it to a category for us to come along and check, which will be even EASIER for you. ~ Dame Ceridwyn ~ talk DUN VoNSE arc2.0 10:45, 13 May 2007

New!!! Spanky awesome Template goodtimes!

Ok, all you need to do now is slap {{Proofread}} on a page and it will automagically add it to the Proofreading category, which I can't seem to link, for the Comma Brigade to come along and work their mojo on it. Any page you think could use a once over can be added, they do not have to be your article. Use it much like you would use Rewrite or ICU or any of those other nifty tags. Here is the template for those who like to see these things:

This article needs a proofreading.

The wordage of this article appears to suffer from grammars, speeling, and\or punctuation issues. HALP! If this page is not fixed in 30 days, it may become a candidate for deletion.

---

Yay! ~ Dame Ceridwyn ~ talk DUN VoNSE arc2.0 08:14, 14 May 2007

You're not advertising your abilities very well with that thing. ;-) -- (but) Untrue  Whhhy?Whut?How? *Back from the dead* 09:19, 14 May 2007 (UTC)

Hehe, well its the template, not the advertisement. :P So I figured I'd make it in keeping with the tone of other templates... ~ Dame Ceridwyn ~ talk DUN VoNSE arc2.0 09:27, 14 May 2007

Reminder

Sorry for bumping this, surely its better to only have one forum post about the same topic? Anyway, it was only 17 days old and on page 2 so I felt it was fine.

So, the point of this bump, I'd like to remind all users that they can easily contribute to the general proofreading of Uncyc's myriad of articles by adding {{Proofread}} to any article they see that could use a proofread. This will automagically add it to where it can be picked up by my hardworking team The Comma Brigade! Great for lazy folk who read a lot of articles!

Thanks! :) ~ Dame Ceridwyn ~ talk DUN VoNSE arc2.0 10:11, 30 May 2007

I think this topic is (or should be) exempt from the bump rule, so as to keep reminding people to watch their SPAG like the naggy schoolteachers we are. -- (but) Untrue  Whhhy?Whut?How? *Back from the dead* 00:58, 3 June 2007 (UTC)

I agree! Still not nearly enough usage of the template, just slap that baby on all and any articles you see with typos folks! Anything worth keeping that is... :) ~ Dame Ceridwyn ~ talk DUN VoNSE arc2.0 05:02, 03 June 2007

As a test of your proofreading

Correctly punctuate the following sentence:

Buffalo, buffalo. Buffalo, buffalo. Buffalo, buffalo, buffalo, buffalo.

I have used correct capitalization to make it easier. --Sir gwax (talk) 20:50, 7 June 2007 (UTC)

Erm, this "Let's test her proofreading" thing kinda irks me. I never professed to be the worlds best proofreader nor completely infallible. All I'm offering is my interest in fixing up spelling, grammar and punctuation when I see it, in order to help the site out where I can. Therefore I respectfully decline your test. ~ Dame Ceridwyn ~ talk DUN VoNSE arc2.0 09:13, 07 June 2007

Perhaps you should work on your own grammar first, Gwax :) -Sir Ljlego, GUN VFH FIYC WotM SG WHotM PWotM AotM EGAEDM ANotM + (Talk) 21:20, 7 June 2007 (UTC)

Also, technically (or at least grammatically, since that's how we're doing it), none of those are sentences anyway, unless there's a verb "to buffalo" of which I am unaware. --Sir Jam 21:40, 7 June 2007 (UTC)

"Excuse me, are you planning to finish those fries? I dropped mine on the floor and now they are all buffaloed." Sir Modusoperandi ^Boinc! 22:03, 7 June 2007 (UTC)

Heh sorry MO, I'm not buying it. ~ Dame Ceridwyn ~ talk DUN VoNSE arc2.0 10:27, 07 June 2007

/me snaps fingers. Aw, nuts. I was totally sure that I had you buffaloed... Sir Modusoperandi ^Boinc! 22:35, 7 June 2007 (UTC)

The verb "buffalo" actually means roughly the same thing that "bradaphrase" does. --L 03:38, 8 June 2007 (UTC)

The correct answer is in fact:

Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo; Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo.

with Buffalo being a verb, a noun and a proper noun within this sentence. --Sir gwax (talk) 12:44, 8 June 2007 (UTC)