I get so frustrated when reading over assignment guidelines I find typographical, spelling and grammatical errors all throughout the instructions. Usually prefaced with strong threats that if my report is not free of these same type of errors I risk my report being rejected and my not being paid. Should not the MSP be setting the example of the quality of work they expect from the contractors? I have had to contact a scheduler from time to time for clarification of the guidelines that were so badly butchered thay were incomprehensible! Major pet peave!

Hi Janis,

Personally, I haven't encountered any "terrible" cases of this, but an occasional spelling error in the questions and/or offered answers does poke my eye from time to time, although I mostly write that off as a "professional deformation" as I majored in Linguistics.

As for instructions asking for error-free reports, there's probably a good reason for that - imagine being an editor and having to make the choice between declining a report (which they all avoid doing if they can) and spending up to an hour correcting and rewriting someone's report instead of reviewing and approving 5 others.

If you do notice errors like those happening in the instructions/guidelines/questions/offered answers, don't hesitate for a second to let the MSP know - feedback like that will help them improve their guidelines, shop reports, etc, so I'm sure they'll appreciate it.

Thanks!

Keep in mind the MSC is your client, not the other way around.

Yes, I hear you? I was just wondering about it the other day ups J I’ll make that a small J please. LOL !

I have been an editor. Trust me, that is most likely there because people need the reminders.

I have seen some reports come in that were so horribly written, I could barely understand what they meant. I am talking things like this: “the costumer service persen did a job and I liked how dey dun their job.”

I WISH I was exaggerating. And then I could always tell when someone used voice recognition rather than type it out.

Oh dear, that sounds horrible! Here I am agonizing over sentences with 2 clauses or ending a sentence with a preposition... I don't think I could handle being an editor haha

Janis_15062390042098 @ Nov 20, 2017 9:34:52 AM

I get so frustrated when reading over assignment guidelines I find typographical, spelling and grammatical errors all throughout the instructions. Usually prefaced with strong threats that if my report is not free of these same type of errors I risk my report being rejected and my not being paid. Should not the MSP be setting the example of the quality of work they expect from the contractors? I have had to contact a scheduler from time to time for clarification of the guidelines that were so badly butchered thay were incomprehensible! Major pet peave!

You spelled "peeve" wrong

I'd be more concerned if the same person reviewed my report(s). I regularly drop off circled errors to my local newspaper, I also write for them, so with one hand I'm complaining and with the other: picking up my cheque. Awe, look at that, this site is using a USA dictionary. Cheque is correct for Canadians.

Some assignment guidelines have been butchered - I anticipate the first ones of the summer - due to so many revisions and the number of people who work on them. So, I pick one error and complain, just to give my feedback.

When I edited, the edits also went before someone else before being sent to the client. So, if I missed something, she would send it back to me with the corrections needed.

I was so glad for that.

I have only been with ISS for a month now, but in the few shops I have completed I have not seen any grammatical problems. As long as the instructions can be understood, there should be no problem. We can only be responsible for our own work product and should strive to do the best we can. As long as I can understand what is being asked of me, the assignment will be completed.