10 DecWhy copyediting your site matters.

Since the advent of the internet content has been created at a breakneck speed. Starting first with the people who had means to not only access the internet but to create trustworthy looking news sources such as CNN.

Lets face it geocities just wasn't the most credible news venue. So it's not surprising that blogs are just now catching on.

A lot has changed though. Blogs, twitter, Facebook, and many other technologies have enabled anyone with a pulse and an internet connection to draw an audience and that audience will be distinctly their's. Two and a half years ago I started a blog called something from my room. Guess what I did. I sent people random stuff from my room. All they had to was convince me to send it to them. The project only lasted a few months, I started to run low on things to send and finishing college drew me away.

Did I have a copy editor? Not a paid one. It's simply too easy to make and publish content. So I hit send and it's done. My failure to properly grasp commas is displayed for the world to see. But the content is editable by you using gooseGrade. This is unique because you actually have the ability to make someone else looks smarter than they are. Not only do I look smarter fixing my errors but I learn and you get my deepest gratitude.

It's not easy to admit to making mistakes but it should be easy to fix then. If you are at dinner chowing down on a Cesar salad wouldn't you want to be told you have a piece of lettuce the size of Texas in your teeth? As the amount of posts increases so do the niches and at some point it just isn't feasible to have a copyediting team for a blog about go-cart racing.

Harness the power of your niche audience and get them to copyedit articles!

27 OctHow to get your users to be your editors.

So you've decided to take the plunge and use gooseGrade to edit your site.  Great! Here are some tips to make sure you use it effectively.

1) Location. Location. Location.
Place copy edit button in an easy to find location.  At the bottom or top of your blog post or body content is recommended.  Sidebar buttons don't usually get as much action.  If your readers can't find the button then you are less likely to receive edits.

Here is a properly placed gooseGrade copy edit button on Eaves.ca

Eaves.ca placement of gooseGrade Widget

Eaves.ca placement of gooseGrade Widget

2) Accept edits in a timely manner.

No one likes a moocher.  So please accept your edits in a timely manner.  You are more likely to receive repeat edits and it is just the polite thing to do.  Your readers will get better stats and you'll get more edits.

3)  Tell your friends.

We recommend using Facebook connect when using gooseGrade.  This will turn your social network into a staff of editors!  When you add your site we will send a request to your friends to come and edit your blog.

4) Test the widget.

Test the widget on your site.  We are technically still in beta.  If you find any errors send them to us.

26 AuggooseGrade updates

We've launched our bookmarklet.  This allows you to take gooseGrade with you anywhere you go.  Find a grammar error on your favorite news site?  Click the bookmarklet and post it to gooseGrade.  The site owner can come back and claim it afterward.

14 AuggooseGrade will be going for a planned maintenance.

gooseGrade will be going off-line for planned maintenance today. We apologize for any inconvenience. Be on the look out for a big feature announcement on Monday.

13 AugTwitter Updates for 2009-08-13

  • UC Berkeley School of Journalism Server Hacked: http://bit.ly/dmuJt #
  • Found some good new grammar tip sources. #
  • @fanihiman95376 Keep checking twitter to find out! :D in reply to fanihiman95376 #
  • Noun: A noun is a person, place, thing, quality, or act.
    Examples: pencil, girl, supermarket, happiness #
  • @fanihiman95376 Gold star for you! in reply to fanihiman95376 #
  • Verb: Verbs are action or existence words that tell what nouns do.
    Examples: to fly, to run, to be, jump, lived #
  • Adjective: An adjective describes a noun.
    Examples: hairy, crazy, wonderful #
  • Adverb: An adverb describes a verb, adjective, or adverb. It often ends in "ly".
    Examples: carefully, easily, barely #
  • RT @bookglutton: Someone opened The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle http://bookglutton.com/go/7 #
  • Do you feel compelled to correct other peoples grammar or spelling? #
  • Do you feel compelled to correct other people's grammar and spelling? #
  • Interjection: An outcry or sudden utterance. Usually starts a sentence.
    Examples: Wow, Gosh, Darn #
  • Preposition: A preposition describes the relationship between a noun and another noun (or verb or adverb).
    Examples: to, under, for, at, by #
  • Conjunction: A conjunction joins together words, phrases, or clauses.
    Examples: and, or, but #
  • Pronoun: A pronoun replaces a noun or noun phrase that is understood from context.
    Examples: he, it, they #

12 AugTwitter Updates for 2009-08-12

11 AugTwitter Updates for 2009-08-11

09 AugTwitter Updates for 2009-08-09

  • RT @Starmongoose: I am Anti- "txt tlk". I am part of the "Save the Vowels" movement and support good grammar. Type out your DAMN words. Thx #
  • RT @lukemorris: Gee. These AP writers are sure good at mentioning their company's name in their stories. Now if they could work on grammar. #
  • @Mayoress appology accepted. :D in reply to Mayoress #
  • @runkatie Where can we read the article? in reply to runkatie #

08 AugTwitter Updates for 2009-08-08

07 AugTwitter Updates for 2009-08-07