Copyeditors are so important. Why don't people just realize it and take the time to do it right: have a copyeditor (or a proofreader) look at what's going to be published or sent out?
Even the "big guys" prove over and over again that they need good copyeditors. The problem is, with the "big guys," no one seems to be accountable. With all the layers of little guys, medium guys, and big guys, it's often difficult (perhaps intentionally) to get to the root of the problem.
Take, for example, a form letter I received from Highmark/Blue Shield in connection with an application for health insurance. Here is the excerpt that confused and, quite frankly, really irritated me.
The Following Information is needed to complete your application/renewal:
*Please provide us with one month's worth of income from the past 60 days.
There are so many things wrong with that excerpt, I don't know where to begin.
First, and most annoying, they've asked me to provide them with "one month's worth of income." Are they really asking me to send them money? Do they expect me to provide them with a month's worth of my earnings? Or do they want <proof> of income?
Second, why capitalize "Following Information?" Is it a proper noun, a title, somebody's name, the beginning of a sentence? No, it is none of those.
Third -- and maybe -- I'm being a bit pedantic here, but it's usually a good idea to avoid the passive voice. As in "information is needed." As a reformed prescriptivist, I'm okay with breaking some of the rules. But in this case, I think the active voice would have been much more appropriate.
With all the recent debate about health care and health insurance, I would think a big company like Highmark/Blue Shield would want to put their best face on. Instead, I get poorly written form letters like this from them.
Let me copyedit that for you, Highmark/Blueshield:
We need the following information to complete your application/renewal:
*Please provide us with proof of one month's income earned during the past 60-day period.
See .... This all could have been avoided with a good copyeditor.
