That makes my brain hurt, megan. It hurts enough without added backwardsness.
When either kid hands me one of their papers to show me their work, I will start reading it out loud until I hit the first error. About then it gets ripped out of my hands and I can hear them reading it to his or herself before I see it again. It can get humorous sometimes.
I also love how candid kids can be (note sarcasm font here). One of CJ's assignments was to write about what he would do if he won a million dollars. "I would pay off my parents bills cause they are a bit behind." Gee, thanks for sharing hon.
"I would pay off my parents bills cause they are a bit behind." Gee, thanks for sharing hon.
snorfle
t clears throat
giggle
Um, I gotta go... over... there. now.
It's weird but I know that some people feel that writing has to be "proper" and that ends up with weird stilted language.
I was that way in school. I thought I had to be Formal and didn't realize I'd crossed the line to Stuffy.
That makes my brain hurt, megan.
Actually the trick is to read each sentence whole (forwards), but starting at the end of a paper. It pulls each sentence out of context, thus making it easier to spot a variety of problems. But, you can also read each word in a sentence backwards to check specifically for spelling errors.
We were asked last night (during the "getting-to-know-you" activity, which included thumb wrestling) what we would do if we got a million dollars. Neither I nor my partner could come up with a pithy answer, other than "not be here."
I abstained from the thumb wrestling, I have to say.
.useful be also can backwards Reading
yes. this. one of the best proofing techniques around - if it doesn't make your brain cave in.
3 days without my passwords. Happy birthdays and Happy Holiday to those celebrating, and, um - let's see (I jumped a lot because I am having one of those days that makes me want to take up proofreading full time again. Or a sharp pointy stick. Any istas want to give career counseling to a mid-level, mid-life dork?):
- you go: Raq, MM, JZ, Teppy, Vortex & istas in general
Sometimes people who are great speakers in person don't write well
And a few of us are great writers but poor speakers. I tend to sort of stumble over my sentences, like I'll start them, get lost in them, and have to go back and restart. Obviously when I write I can quickly edit, but I swear I don't stumble as much when I'm writing to begin with. My brain just deals better with text than spoken word.
Every once in awhile, under pressure, I turn into a good speaker. It's like I'm possessed by someone more articulate than me--I go from Shy Geek to Bill Clinton or Barack Obama at the '04 DNC--and then I turn into Stumbling Socially Awkward Girl again once the moment is passed.
And a few of us are great writers but poor speakers.
raises hand
Well, I'm a good writer, at least.
