h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I'm now a Sub!

A submarine???

Seems appropriate for a

But be careful when you put up your periscope



F/b

Welcome to Subbing ZSF

Enjoy it - it's great fun. I find it really theraputic and relaxing.

Jims was really complimentary on my test! He said it was exquisite!

I hope it's going to be fun.

Hmmm, Subs.

Ham & Cheese?



Congratulations! I know you'll do great stuff, and I hope you find it fun, fun, fun!

Hoopla.

You'll bear the brunt of my "The sub can sort that out" retorts in PR then.

T.

Yes!

Ahem. http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/brunel/F48874?thread=365409&latest=1

Traveller in Time on his head
"Congratulations, does this mean you now will just only have to pay half price in the undergound?"

DMT,

I've seen that said by a sub as well!

TiT,

If only ... !

I think if I have anything to worry about, it might be technical entries or stuff with tables or ASCII type diagrammes in them. Hopefully they won't bung stuff like that at me in the first instance.

Nephew Who browsing in his handbooks
"Keep in mind use Capitals to beable to see the tags for yourself, use indentation to open and close in time, and you will not encounter any of mine, I am sure!"

Dict Code Hacking swimming to the pacific ocean
"
Subterrain editor (going underground to edit the foundations)
Subspace editor (edit the writing between the spaces)
Subscripting editor (keep an eye on entries)
Substantial editor (you can and will not edit nothing)
Submittive editor (give it a go!)
"

Tit

This sounds like lines from the I Ching - or the explanation of mutative lines!

Congratulations! I'm sure you'll do a great job!

Hmph. Jims didn't say mine was exquisite...

Anyway,

From one newbie sub to another newbie sub, welcome!

Thanks, Mina!

Jodan, I had fun with the test and found some lovely links to the attractions of the northern place and some explanations of the names. I did have difficulty finding two h2g2 links. My first was easy, but the second, I had to scratch about for. I'll be interested to find out if you managed two h2g2 links, and what the second was (my first was another northern city).

Congrats to you too!

Well done, Zarq! I hope I can produce enough entries to keep you busy!

I... er forgot the links. Probably what kept mine from being exquisite. But I've added quite a few links to the one I'm currently subbing

Ask me about almost anything besides links though.

Congratulation Zarquon on becoming a sub

Jick sends her good wishes too.


Kat

With my passion for lists, I had a check list when I was a sub. This was indispensible especially as I never had the time to do it all in one go.

I would copy the entry into a scratchpad file - NOT WORD!! - and paste this list at the top. As I finished each stage I deleted the item from the list so I always knew what stage I was at.

My list looked something like this.

1. Read entry. Jot down all key words which might have a related H2G2 entry. (usually about 10-20 words)

2. Do a search for all key words, copying the numbers of edited entries on relevant subjects as a link directly at the relevant point in the text.

3. This is the longest bit: do a check of conversations for likely words (not all the key words - use your discretion) See if anyone else, anywhere else, ever, has had something to say on the subject. Also, of course, read the threads already attached to the unedited version of the entry and particularly the peer review thread.

4. Incorporate any suitable comments and re-write* the relevant passages. Don't forget to include the researchers' u-numbers in the box. I had entries which were quite pathetic compared to comments thrown in at odd places all over the site by people far better qualified to write about the subject. Had to practically double the size to get it all in.

5. Check spelling, grammar, clarity of style and parsing.

6. Does it look neat? Are paragraphs too long, or too short? Is there the same amount of space between sections of similar character? (for example, some people itemise lists with , others just with . The result on the screen is different in each case. Parse in all skins.

7. Would someone understand the entry who has absolutely no idea about the subject? Would a Brit, an American and an Australian understand it in the same way? Does the title really indicate what the entry is about?

8. Whether you contact the author and, if so, at what point you do this, is a subject of ongoing discussion. I consider it polite to do so and always did it. Not everyone replied, though. With technical entries it is sometimes unavoidable, if you think that the average reader might have problems grasping the basics of what is said. (The only guide line you have here is yourself, then set the standard a little lower to cover any knowledge gaps arising from cultural or age differences).

So, subediting is not just No. 5 above, if you ask me.

I regard H2G2 as a database, and the links to related information are absolutely vital. As a Scorpio (and to a great degree, a control freak, as well, I suspect) it gives me the willies to think that someone may come along at a later date and write something related to an entry I've written or edited and not link up.

Three cheers to Jimi X for his efforts on updating.

*re-write: do not re-formulate, unless the sentence is totally incomprehensible. This offends the original author and the idea of editing is not to re-write the whole thing in your own style. The author has a right to his own style within the guidelines.



Many subeditors will disagree with what I have said. Let them. Enjoy yourself and join in the fun in the Yahoo group (or whatever it is they have these days). Subscribe to the Subeditors' Help Page. And always subscribe to the entries you edit, once they are up.

Announcement voice echoing over the thread
"New edition of 'The Guide' to be published.
The American, Brittish and Australian Edition."

Traveller in Time on top
"I have some comments on point 7 in your list. Not about language, it has to be written in english. However any english _reader_ should be able to comprehend the entry.

Rare expressions can be as hard for native english as well, just keep it in mind. I also encountered Gnomon writing about the international dubious expression 'billion'. There will be more things common to some countries but different in other, probably noted in postings, but perhaps not comprehended by the writer."