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

I see you got stuck with my Amelia Earhart crackpot theory (number 675) .

What does an editor do?

Try to make sure that all is in good form? Change bad wording? Cut extraneous materials?

I see you have already made some minor editing changes.

I've discovered several interesting telegrams that Clarence L. "Kelly" Johnson sent to Amelia from the Sknunk Works about engine settings, RPMs, fuel mixtures, recommended head temperatures and the like.

Another authoritative article puts the whole fiasco squarely at the feet of the Itasca's Captain.

Greetings! This didn't sound very 'crackpot' to me; very plausible, I'd say. And as you noted, there were enough potential issues with the flight to kill the crew several times over.

We sub-editors kinda do whatever needs to be done. Usually it's a case of putting an article into the 'standard' Edited Guide format (this includes using 'proper' GuideML). For example, I added a short intro. We also check and fix spelling, punctuation and grammar, verify that the links work and are acceptable, find possible links to other Edited Guide entries, and generally do whatever needs to be done to get the entry ready for fame and fortune on the Front Page.

I try to use a gentle touch with my editing and keep the author's original wording as much as possible. (I've had my share of 'deathless' prose changed, not always for the better, so I know what it feels like and try not to do it to others. ) And I like for the author to see what I've done so that he or she is happy with the result. I'm nearly finished with your entry - I still have to do the links and to check for consistency (eg: either abbreviate the word 'page' in the references or spell it out, but not both).

I'll let you know when I'm finished so that you can give it a final check.

I think I'm finished. I reorganised a bit, grouping the sections about parallax under the header 'Understanding Parallax'. I also found an Edited Guide entry about the disappearance of the Amelia Earhart and some related entries about human flight.

Please let me know if you'd like to add or change anything.

I like your changes and additions a lot.

I have nothing to add or change.

Very good. Off to the Editors it goes!