Grammar girl here.

This week I have a special treat for you.

John McIntyre, author of the blog you don't say, and a veteran editor at the Baltimore

Sun, has published a delightful little book of writing and editing maxims.

The old editor says.

And for today's podcast, he's going to read some representative maxims from his book,

and I'll have a little bit of commentary mixed in.

And now here's John with entries from his book, The Old Editor Says.

The old editor says.

Reading other people's raw copy is like looking at your grandmother naked.

When veteran son reporter Raphael Alvarez was temporarily assigned to the Metro desk,

this was his verdict after his first week's experience.

And from this observation several conclusions can be drawn.

First, from your editor as from your butler, there are no secrets.

If you have allowed yourself to be lazy, careless, turdured, or sloppy, there is no concealing

it.

Second, everyone.

Everyone is capable of shoddy work, especially in the first draft.

That is why writers need editing, and not just self-editing, but editing from an independent

set of eyes.

Elsewhere, the old editor writes, quote, you surely understand that a writer who operates

without an editor is like an aerialist working without a net.

...