Why do editors make so many mistakes?
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- Claudia Angelucci
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Why do editors make so many mistakes?
It's acceptable for editors to be thorough, and I appreciate criticism. However, isn't it a bit unfair when editors discover errors and violations that don't exist in the first place?
I am curious as to why my review was given a second score without my request for it. Initially, it received a perfect score of 100% as there were no errors or violations of guidelines in my content. However, upon another evaluation, a second editor found some errors and violations that were not there. In the end, I received a score of 97%.
I do not understand why 3% was deducted from my score since the first editor was indeed correct.
This has now happened again with a recent review. A second editor deducted points for errors that do not exist.
Why do editors make so many mistakes?
The first three reviews I completed were wrongly scored and sent back. On all three occasions, I had my points reinstated.
Only one of the editors was gracious enough to apologize.
Is it just me, or does anyone else experience the same thing?
Thank you for taking the time to read this!
- Shirley Ann Riddern Labzentis
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- Claudia Angelucci
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I had the same thought. Perhaps the editors lack experience.
To be honest, I got a high score on only one review, while the rest were considerably lower! However, the feedback mostly pointed out minor issues like capitalizing specific words, or my misunderstanding of the guidelines, such as not writing the entire sentence when finding an error! This is perfectly understandable… and I also make lots of mistakes, so I don't want to be too harsh!
It's just annoying when reviews are corrected and have to be sent back for rescoring. It feels like a pointless waste of time for everyone.
One option would be to introduce a training course specifically for individuals who aspire to become editors.
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I mean, I clearly stated that I like the book and found the content exceptional. And I also explained why I deducted one point.
- Shirley Ann Riddern Labzentis
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- Shirley Ann Riddern Labzentis
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I am fairly new to reviewing and also go back to reread my reviews based on the reviewer’s comments. I know I am not perfect and want to learn from my mistakes, but it is frustrating when the “mistakes” are not mistakes I have made, but mistakes of the reviewer.
- Claudia Angelucci
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I recognize the difficulty of the job, and personally, I couldn't handle it as Sherrie did. Yet, at times, it becomes frustrating, just as you said, especially when what's considered a mistake is more of a subjective opinion than an actual grammatical error. I also wonder if the editor has read the book that has been reviewed.Amy Saunders 2 wrote: ↑26 Dec 2023, 11:00 I have had the same issues with my book reviews. I also use grammar apps to double check my reviews and am an English teacher. I do understand that I make mistakes just like everyone else, however the reviews tend to find errors and guideline violations that are there. I have had the same issues with comma placement errors and have been sighted for capitalization errors stating that words used as proper nouns in the book are not proper nouns. I have often wondered if the reviewers read the books as well. My most recent “violation” was not stating what I did not like or why I deducted a star from the review. Both of these were addressed at the end of my review. I have also had my reviews critiqued for my opinions.
I am fairly new to reviewing and also go back to reread my reviews based on the reviewer’s comments. I know I am not perfect and want to learn from my mistakes, but it is frustrating when the “mistakes” are not mistakes I have made, but mistakes of the reviewer.
- Claudia Angelucci
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Exactly! Who can say who is wrong— is it the editor or the app? I think most of the time, no one is wrong, and it is just a question of style and preference. That's the problem; many grammatical rules are not unbreakable after all. I ask for reconsideration all the time if I think the editor is wrong. I have also asked the administrators too, more than once.Shirley Ann Riddern Labzentis wrote: ↑26 Dec 2023, 10:06 I have three grammar apps that I run my reviews through before I submit them. They will tell me if I forgot a comma or if I need to remove a comma that didn't belong there. Usually, they all agree on the same punctuation. However, when I submit my review, almost every time, an editor will say that I needed to place a comma here and there and I get deducted points. Who is to say that the editor is correct and the apps, Grammarly, Scribbens, etc. are wrong? If you are in this for the long haul, which I am, you can't protest every review, I have done close to 50 reviews, since you are given only so many chances to challenge the editors in a lifetime! I don't think that this is fair, but I understand that the staff is overwhelmed and some reviewers will submit every review for re-consideration. Yet, when you are an editor, you are asked to overlook the commas that an author might miss, as commas are subjective and therefore, the commas are uncounted errors. Shouldn't the same guidelines be applied to the reviewers? Just wanted to vent this morning as another review got a lower score than I anticipated.
- Claudia Angelucci
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Yes, I've had that happen to me too! I didn't justify my rating strongly enough, even though the review is practically the rating justification . And I'm always left a bit confused.Tommy Mayengbam wrote: ↑26 Dec 2023, 03:34 In one of my reviews, I wrote that the content is exceptional. But I gave the book a 4-star rating because there were too many typos. The editor commented that I violated the guideline because I did not strongly state that I dislike the book.
I mean, I clearly stated that I like the book and found the content exceptional. And I also explained why I deducted one point.
- Alissa Nesson
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The problem with the system, in my opinion, is that a whole ten points is taken off for a disagreement over a comma. It has made me extremely anxious about turning in my reviews and I end up agonizing over them for too long. I’ve only asked for a recheck once so far, when I was absolutely sure the editor was wrong, and my score was fixed. They were very kind. I’ve learned a lot since being here. It is true, however, that different grammar apps and AI will disagree over certain things. That makes it confusing.
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