Nitpickin'

So, I get to update the Tri-Cities Calendar Web site this morning. As I go through the lovely task of editing these entries, I devised a list of what I’d love to say to these people who submit stuff if I ever get the chance...

PLEASE KNOW PROPER GRAMMAR. This is the grammar you were taught in school, people! Even I was taught it and I’m from Alabama!

The newspaper is in an area that spans two different area codes, not to mention two different states. Please mention the city your event takes place in plus give the area code of the contact information number so the reporter updating the site doesn’t spend most of her morning calling folks just trying to find out what city an event takes in.

Does your event take place in the morning or in the evening? Please indicate what time of day your event takes place! Believe me, there are people who will show up at 5:30 a.m. for an event scheduled to take place at 5:30 p.m.

There is no need to give the date of the event in every other sentence. Once is sufficent.

Please captalize proper nouns. This does not mean the word “church,” “school” or “library” when it is used on its own. Sentences such as “The event will take place at the Church sanctuary” indicates an improper use of proper nouns. “The event will take place at First Christian Church” is the proper use of a proper noun.

It is not necessary to begin plugging an event that takes place on May 2nd at the beginning of November unless you need vendors. Otherwise, it clutters up the calendar.

There is no need to put the time as 3:00 p.m. Just 3 p.m. will do.

Complete your sentences please, people! Remember, all sentences should contain a subject AND a verb.

As long as the event takes place in the year 2003, it’s not necessary to give a year. If you say, “So and so will take place Dec. 18,” I will assume you mean 2003, not 2004 or 2001.

This is a calendar, not a venue for you to publish your own newspaper article. We have three sections specifically for this type of news. We’ll be happy to publish it!

And in accordance with the above suggestion, you don’t have to come up with a fancy headline either.

There is no need to put the exact same announcement in FIVE different categories! It will get seen, trust me!

Out of all of the entries, I only had one decent one that managed to get everything right. I love my job! Editing stuff gives me such satisfaction at times.