[WikiEN-l] What to do about our writing quality?

[Relata Refero]

On Sun, May 25, 2008 at 3:00 AM, <WJhonson at aol.com> wrote:

> In a message dated 5/24/2008 2:21:28 P.M. Pacific Daylight Time,
> refero.relata at gmail.com writes:
>
> Sorry,  this is getting ridiculous. As several people have said "properly"
>  is
> subjective - and as I say above (irrelevant!?) - we don't enjoin people  to
> write "properly" in the manner you suggest in the first  place...>>
> --------------------------------------------------
> I am not suggesting that people write "properly" in any manner.  You  are.
> I'm responding to your assertion that copy-editors must reference the
> underlying sources.
> --------------------------------------------------
>

Sorry, no, you must have misunderstood me. I have never said that all
additions must be "proper".


>
>
>
> My whole point is "re-writing" is quite capable of changing  emphasis,
> wording, tone and context in such a manner that WP:V is relevant.  These
> are
> familiar issues, for example, to anyone who's ever had to  copy-edit
> translations.>>
> --------------------------
> Sure and the burden to show that, is on those people with reference to the
> sources.  And they way they show it, is to quote those sources, not just
>  wave
> their hands around in mock disapproval of the copy editors job.  Not  that
> you're doing that.
> ---------------------------
>

The burden is on those making a change or adding material. That is always
how we have operated.


>
>
> And above all, we do not want to place the burden on writers to  come back
> and check every contribution they've  made...>>
> --------------------
> But you're quite happy to burden copyeditors with the requirement to live
> inside university library stacks.  Hardly a fair situation is it.
>

No. But necessary as long as we prize accuracy above beauty.

RR