Words for Hire blog's Karen Swim tells the story of Jane, a freelance editor hired by Miranda to proofread an e-book. To Jane, this request entailed an exhaustive review of Miranda's copy to ensure proper spelling, grammar and punctuation. Accordingly, Jane scoured every word of the book. "When it was time to deliver," says Swim, "she did her fourth and final check" [and] "emailed the client a marked up version and a 'clean' version."
Unfortunately, Miranda wasn't happy with the results. "I wanted you to get this ready for publication," she told Jane. "You made no enhancements." This confused Jane, who clarified that Miranda hadn't asked her to edit the manuscript. Miranda's baffled reply: "Aren't they [editing and proofreading] the same thing?"
The answer is no, and the semantic confusion meant Jane had delivered a product Miranda didn't expect. "[T]here had been a complete breakdown in communications," notes Swim. "Miranda thought she understood proofreading and editing, but to a writer they are vastly different."
The Po!nt: Make sure you're on the same page with freelance contractors. "In our effort to be understood, we may try to speak the language but if we incorrectly apply a term we may not get our hoped for results," says Swim. "When providing someone with instructions, it is important to be clear and give detail. When receiving instructions, it is equally important to ask questions, and confirm mutual understanding."
Source: Words for Hire. Click here for the full post.
by Christina "CK" Kerley
Comments
by Rick Morris Tue May 26, 2009
I'm sorry, but this example defies belief. An "author" does not understand the difference between editing and proofreading? Does Miranda understand the difference between words and pictures? Should Jane have asked this before taking the contract?
Of course not: Miranda got what she asked for and the shortcoming is hers for not understanding the English language, let alone the terminology of the field in which she is participating. Had Miranda asked me for the same task, I would have done the same as Jane.
Yes, it is important in any contract to make sure there is mutual understanding, but is also reasonable that a contract between parties in the same profession is built upon the common understanding and acceptance of the terminology of that profession. Otherwise we would
be permanently engaged in die diligence rather than doing any work.