Specific reply to someone who was sorting me.

[mari4212]

So, as I was reading over the votes today, I came across this comment:
I was tempted to squib because I thought Ravenclaw for you, but all the typos and the poor proofreading ruled out Ravenclaw. But I suppose I can see Hufflepuff in you.

I was incredibly confused. One, because I wrote the whole thing out in Word, which, despite its failings, is pretty good at catching spelling and simple grammar mistakes. Two, I read through this thing several times, and then had several people look through it before I posted it.

Now, I'm willing to admit that my Ron answer was not the clearest ever written. I was trying to be evenhanded about the fact that he annoys me. And the simple truth is that I care about him enough for him to irk me because he is a real person to me. He's a real person because he his so well-rounded. So I'll admit that if you don't know me well enough to understand how my brain works, that answer doesn't always make much sense. So if you claim I need better proofreading on that answer, then I'll agree with you. I could have been clearer. But the rest is fairly well written,in my opinion, so I dislike being told that my entire survey is poorly edited.

And where are the typos you claim to see? I've reread the entire application, and the only things I can think of are two places where I could have used a hyphen and didn't. But the words don't require a hyphen, and it's simpler without them. I don't have any obvious spelling errors, words aren't slurred together, and no one else has mentioned anything about this. I would have expected someone else to at this point if they were obvious enough for you to have seen and changed your vote because of them.

And I'm slightly insulted on behalf of Hufflepuff. If I don't deserve Ravenclaw because of flaws, but you feel you can place me into Hufflepuff regardless of those flaws, what does that say about your ideas about the relative values of those houses? I mean, I know that's not what you meant to imply, but that was my understanding, given the way you phrased it.

Okay, can someone, anyone, point out what typos I made?

And if the person who wrote that comment is reading this entry, I did not mean for this to sound accusatory, but I don't like making avoidable mistakes, and when I hear about them I want to correct them immediately. I don't like making the same mistake twice, and it's harder to avoid the mistakes if you don't know what they are.

Comments

Grammer police - dad

[(Anonymous)]

Mom and I were confused by the response too. reading over your essay one more time, I noticed that you use a very informal style of writing, which is perfectly fine for a journal-type entry, or an informal gathering in a virtual commons room. There are several sentences starting with "And...", such as in three paragraphs in this post. Some of these sentences could be read as sentence fragments. They read perfectly fine, and they mimic your conversation style.

The Slytherin poster may be a grammer fanatic, unwilling to tolerate errors anywhere. He/She may also have expected a more formal style in an application essay. Whatever the reason, I think the comment was unjustifiably harsh. Focus instead on the number of Gryffindors, Ravenclaws and Hufflepufs who want you for their houses.

Re: Grammer police - dad

[mari4212.livejournal.com]

Ah. If that's what the person was talking about, then I'm fine. I just don't want to make stupid mistakes. But the style choice was deliberate, as it also reflects part of what makes me me.

I'm not going to say the comment was unjustifiably harsh, just because when you are dealling with the written word instead of talking face to face, there can be a lot of room for misinterpretation. I'll assume that the poster meant things in the best possible light, it's easier that way and I don't get pulled into unnecessary battles over nothing.

I'm not upset by it, and if I was, I would be reassured by the responses of the others.

Re: Grammer police - dad

[(Anonymous)]

Typical of a Hufflepuff. And dealing in your reply is misspelled.

Re: Grammer police - dad

[mari4212.livejournal.com]

It's Monday, and it was 6:30 in the morning. I didn't spellcheck.

[ljmckay.livejournal.com]

I guess I can see what your dad is saying about starting sentences with "and", but that doesn't really jump off the page because, like he said, it just sounds conversational.

But typos? I think not. (And, frankly, even if there were, is he/she trying to say that Ravenclaws never make mistakes? Personally, I think Ravenclaws might be more prone to typos; they'd probably type really fast and may not be as consciencious about checking spelling, since they're pretty confident in their intelligence. But that may just be me.)

[mari4212.livejournal.com]

Okay, so there are no atrocious typos that I missed.

I think the point is that a Ravenclaw tends to be a perfectionist, so they'll keep double-checking and double-checking. So therefore, a Ravenclaw application might start out with more typos, but when the time comes to submit, they will have gone through the application with a fine-toothed comb.

If he/she dislikes the style, which was deliberately more informal, then I consider that to be a difference of opinion. I've written enough to know that I can do the formal style, but it does not reflect me personally. When I'm writing something for myself, or where I can get away with it, it does tend to be more informal. It's my writing style, it's something that has evolved with me. Going to the full formal style would mask parts of my personality. It was a choice I made, but this person may have assumed I was trying to be more formal and failed, in which case the poor proofreading comment makes more sense.

Personally, I'm starting to wonder if the person actually meant to reply to me, or if he/she just clicked reply on the wrong application.

[ljmckay.livejournal.com]

I think the point is that a Ravenclaw tends to be a perfectionist, so they'll keep double-checking and double-checking.

That's probably true. I'm not good with the in-depth house analyses, you can tell! ;)

When I'm writing something for myself, or where I can get away with it, it does tend to be more informal.

I know exactly what you mean. There can't possibly be something wrong with that; they keep drilling into our heads that it's all about voice, voice, voice! Make it stand out, etc. So, yeah, if it's your personality then that's just what you should be putting on that paper.

Personally, I'm starting to wonder if the person actually meant to reply to me

Now there's a thought! Ha, wouldn't that be something...

[mari4212.livejournal.com]

I'm really starting to believe it myself, just because no one else is seeing these supposed typos. There are several applications there, I'm thinking the person read over the applications, then had to leave and come back to do the sorting, and just ended up going one up or down to place the comment.

[ljmckay.livejournal.com]

Well, I skimmed the one above yours and it seems to apply more to the comment. It's entirely possible.

[actualize.livejournal.com]

Hi! You just got sorted into my house!
(I'm a Hufflepuff over at HE)

I'd like to say that our sorting comments can sometimes... I don't know, sometimes I don't get them at all. And you only got maybe what 3 or 4 squibbities? So, don't think that it was your application..

I'm not making sense.

But!

Hi! And welcome to the comm!

[mari4212.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the welcome!

And thank you for the reassurance.

[ljmckay.livejournal.com]

Congratulations! I'm so happy for you! So knew you'd end up a Hufflepuff. :D

[mari4212.livejournal.com]

*bounces* *pauses, remembering why she decided not to bounce today*

I'm pretty happy about it myself. I really was hoping to get into Hufflepuff.