Beta-ing: you're doing it wrong

[meridian_rose]

This is from a beta offer comment [not going to say where I read it]; their profile is sparse, their journal inactive, they're old enough to know better but they don't give a location so I can only guess that they're American.

Please spell check first. I do tend to correct britspelling to englishspelling so please let me know if you don't want that done (ie humour is corrected to humor); I am very well versed with all 3 shows

• "britspelling" is not a word. I think you mean English, or to be pedantic, British English.
  
• "englishspelling" is not a word. English spelling implies British English. You seem to be confusing American English with British English.
  
• You do not "correct" humour to humor. You merely change the English spelling to the American one. I find it offensive that you suggest I'd be wrong to spell word in my native language incorrectly.
  

I'll accept corrections for language only in dialogue (I might need a reminder that an American character will say elevator and not lift, for example) or for facts (911 vs 999), but not for overall spelling.

In short, would-be beta reader with your completely borked html that does not inspire confidence from the start, I would not trust you to proof read a single line e-mail.

I guess I now know how some of the supposedly beta-read atrocities still end up on ff.net, complete with in-text author notes and a distinct lack of punctuation.

Comments

[pristineungift.livejournal.com]

Ew, in text author notes, groooossssss.

Also, I'm an American, and I prefer the British spellings. I like 'u's. In fact, I always have to go back and change things for my school work because my Word program is British because my husband is British, so it's programmed for the British spellings.

I have no idea what the point of this comment was, but you're welcome to beta read it.

[/random].

[meridian_rose]

I think the point of some comments is just "I read this and I largely agree with you" and that's always welcome :D

Just the arrogance of the thing, coupled with the overall fail, and that it was a "beta reader offer" just made me rage. I did not know your husband was a Brit! So now I have tasty new factoid from your comment too :D