Should a member correct their post when it is clear the response was incorrect?
If I make a post and my response is totally wrong, should I edit it and indicate the correct response? I ask this because of two issues.
- I don't want to mislead another user searching the archives for a correct answer
- I'm not sure if the member asking the question receives updates (via email) for the edits to questions
I'm not asking about questions of preference or opinion. This question is regarding responses for more questions having more definite answers like grammar and translation.
I'll give my opinion first. Yes, I believe it would be helpful to correct incorrect responses as an edit in the original post. It helps the respondent recognize and correct the problem and minimizes confusion if a thread is retrieved by another member.
Unfortunately, this practice would cause me to make a lot of edits, since I've given some pretty bad answers.
What do you think?
10 Answers
If they didn't want us to edit, they wouldn't have given us the "Edit" link.
Every occasion to edit is a unique circumstance.
If my edit is not within the first few seconds of posting (oops! I immediately noticed a horrible spelling error or wording problem...) I just fix it.
If editing later for almost any reason, I usually add a line beginning with "Edit: " and explain what was added or revised.
Si no quisieran que editáramos, no nos habrían dado el enlace "Editar".
Cada ocasión para editar es una circunstancia única.
Si mi edición no es justo unos segundos después de haberla enviado (¡ops! Inmediatamente me di cuenta de un error de ortografía horrible u otro problema ..) sencillamente lo arreglo.
Si puedo editar más tarde por cualquier razón, suelo añadir una frase que comienza con "Editar" y explico lo que se ha añadido o revisado.
Since this is a learning site I think it is very important that we post the most accurate information that we can, and by all means if someone makes an error then they should go back and correct it as soon as they see their mistake. I am 70 years old and I have made some dandy mistakes in my lifetime. It's bound to happen. The crime would be if someone made a mistake and did not correct it.
Yes.
When I give an incorrect answer I go back and edit my post to read:
Edit: My answer was incorrect. Please see Joe's answer.
Oh yes I have! I went off on a search for the wrong meaning, or a misunderstood question,or just your basic "dumb attack". I either made the correction in my post or "deleted-incorrect" or even "deleted -better answer given". I think all of us that answer,are realistic enough to recognize an error and correct it. lets keep that attitude!. Editing a clearly erroneous question will also help the person asking.
Why not?
I often misunderstand the questions, sometimes I'm not happy enough with my answer, or I feel that I must add some clarifications after reading other responses... not to mention the tons of mistakes in both English and Spanish that I keep unintentionally strewing around here!
I've edited lots of them too, and even removed all I wrote and putting "delete" instead. I don't see any bad side in doing that.
I don't know if the person who asks the question is notified of edits, dogwood, but in your position I have always edited mine and stated that I've done so.
A metaphor, there are only two kinds of pilots, those who have landed with their wheels up, and those who will. Apply that to those of us who have made errors and those of us who will!
I would like to make another comment I did not make in my original question. I see something on this forum I really appreciate.
Check this thread.
I was glad to be a part of this thread. The member asking the question wanted a text translated that did not contain correct spelling, punctuation, and capitalization. I responded totally off target, because I did not recognize the text as two sentences. Finally, a third member saw the text as two sentences and translated the message properly. The mature response of the members endorsed the correct translation in the comment section of the correct response, allowing the member asking the question to select the best answer. I like to see that behavior. It helps me realize this is a learning site where we all make mistakes, take correction, and accept the better answer when we recognize it.
There are many other threads like it. I appreciate this mature approach to learning.
I think it's just common courtesy to correct something you realise is wrong. Also the act of correcting it reinforces the learning pattern.
If a member posts a translation in response to a request for help from another member and makes a mistake/ mistakes in writing his post -either in his native language or particularly the language he/she is learning, then yes, I believe it would be important and beneficial to others for the person posting the answer to make such edits as would be necessary at the time. Native and more advanced speakers may make other less experienced members aware of corrections that need to be made using the edit function such as those given by Cogumela in Picture of the day. They usually do this by writing something in the comments section below a member's post
No-none is perfect and even natives sometimes make confusing typing errors of which they are unaware and which may later be brought to their attention. I believe that the main purpose of the edit function is to allow members to correct their own serious errors, which could otherwise mislead people into using incorrect Spanish/English expressions, or using the correct ones inappropriately.
The edit function is a privelege that has to be earned and used wisely. However, having said that, members should not hesitate to correct their serious errors of which they are aware especially in posts giving translations to others, either when prompted by other more advanced speakers or as and when they become aware of them. I speak as a bit of a perfectionist who has edited my own posts many times: do not worry about minor typos if the message is clear but please read and re-read your posts upon first submission. This is something I always do
