Things that, people who

Thank you for the comments. I am a not working with any company, but self-employed; work at home. lol

Sounds to me as if you can write in English. As a matter of fact, the language you just used is better than some of the freelance writers I've dealt with. And, if no one at your workplace has said this, thank you for correcting the errors you see. Editors can't catch them all, and in many cases we get real numb once we're brow beaten to the point of submission...so a fresh outlook is always welcome, even if we're not often considerate enough to say it. I don't know what magazine you work on, or for whom, but thank you.

No, editors wouldn't be out of a job. In fact, in the next generation, I envision an all-new breed of editor. Spell checkers are great, but most don't do anything to take care of to, too or two, its or it's, possessives, active passive, complete rambling, schizoid passages, tense....well, the list is endless as you know. Will software ever catch up? Nope. English is an art, and as such is fluid, changing. By the time the program comes out, things have moved. My degree is in engineering, so I won't be insulted if you take my comment to task. But there's so much that can be done in writing, including harnessing meter (and do I grind on my staff on that very subject). There's an art to good writing, even A.P.-style reporting, but the writers capable of understanding that fact and exploring the inner reaches of their creativity are too rare of a breed.

Holy cow, do you have eight grandkids???? If you do, that's wonderful. I have five. Actually, my note was a comment on allegely "professional" writers getting paid by magazines. They're supposed to know better (the writers, not the magazines). And you're exactly right--the only thing that matters is that you can understand what the person is trying to say. I may not be able to convince you of my firm belief, but I know for a fact that a person's intelligence isn't defined by their job, stature or education. I had the honor of talking to a grade school in Texas a year ago, and I told them something I was taught long before. The nuns in the Catholic school I was at, believe it or not, actually asked permission that they spread my little parable, which isn't even mine. I asked how many of their parents were doctors, and a lone girl held up her hand. Then I asked how many of their parents worked in a garage. Four hands came up. I then asked if, God forbid, your father had a heart attack which parent in the room was the "smartest" at that instant. All the kids agreed it was the doctor. Then I asked if the car stalled, engine went, or motor stalled, at that instant who was the most intelligent parent at that moment in time? All agreed, the mechanics. We're all equal in regard to smarts, at different points in time. You came across perfectly clear, and pointed out the deficiencies in my statements. So who's more educated/smarter between the two of us? Seems pretty obvious to me. If you have eight grandkids I'm jealous and I sure do hope you know how sincere this response is. My original note was a complaint about "professional" writers who can't come to grips with English, yet expect a lofty check for incorrect prose and the privilege of subjecting an unknowing public to the travesty. But you're right, I didn't couch things properly.