book proofing

[Quoth]

ARC should have the final proofing.

Serious print/publish proofing starts when the author has finished writing/editing.

[Apache]

Originally Posted by icallaci

I started reading a book (which shall remain nameless) that had multiple wrong word choices. God was "graceful" instead of "gracious." Someone put the dishes "ahead" instead of "away." Someone else had a good "idea" for composition instead of a good "eye" for composition. I wondered if the author dictated the story or possibly used an AI tool that wasn't quite up to the task.

More likely an author whose first language is not English.
Apache

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by Apache

More likely an author whose first language is not English.
Apache

Yes. Or a poor translator whose first language isn't English.
Though Joseph Conrad was amazing. I read he didn't learn English till 21. You'd hardly guess he wasn't a native English speaker from his books like "The Secret Agent" which isn't a translation.

[icallaci]

Originally Posted by Apache

More likely an author whose first language is not English.
Apache

I thought this might explain it, so I googled the author's bio: born in the United States and a college degree in ... wait for it ... English! Of course, the bio might be lying. I've decided the book was probably dictated and the software didn't always use the right word, and nobody bothered to proof it.

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by icallaci

I've decided the book was probably dictated and the software didn't always use the right word, and nobody bothered to proof it.

I've seen a couple of books where the author used dictation software and since the words were spelt correctly, the errors slipped through. At that time, the author was not using beta readers, ARC readers or any other way of checking for errors other than trusting instead to a simple spellchecker. They were also guilty of homonym abuse but that's a different rant.

[icallaci]

Originally Posted by DNSB

I've seen a couple of books where the author used dictation software and since the words were spelt correctly, the errors slipped through. At that time, the author was not using beta readers, ARC readers or any other way of checking for errors other than trusting instead to a simple spellchecker. They were also guilty of homonym abuse but that's a different rant.

I think this is exactly what happened. Kind of interesting to watch for the next blunder, though.

[Quoth]

I don't trust spelunking chequers.

There is no substitute, so far, for trained humans to either beta-read or publish-proof.

Even missing letters can pass. Her-he, Palace-place, Discuss-discus, There-the etc.