Hosting the Discussion

Just the other day I was discussing our Inbox letters with a proofreader who’s spent many closing days putting the finishing touches on those pages.

“I work really hard on those,” she told me. “Some of them are really good! But sometimes the grammar isn’t so great.”

“I work on them before you do,” I answered. “And if you want to know the truth, I don’t need the writing to be perfect. I want to retain the voices of the readers — the ‘everyman’ flavor.”

I have an editor’s instinct to polish every sentence perfectly. When I edit Inbox letters, though, I hold it in check. The Inbox is the place for readers’ voices and opinions, and we try as much as possible to give everyone their say — as long as the discussion remains respectful and purposeful. While it shouldn’t be a jarring aberration to the rest of the pages, I don’t think the Inbox should sound the same tone as the rest of the magazine. I’d want a proofreader to fix spelling, basic grammar, and check sources — but to otherwise proceed lightly.