23
votes
Accepted
Is changing quotation marks from German style to English style a constructive edit?
In and of itself, yes it is constructive. The "German" quotation mark style is not used in any version of English that I know of.
However, it's not a substantive edit. If there are other formatting ...
- 14.8k
20
votes
Is editing a very old answer of one's own OK?
Go, make your posts better! The people deserve the best posts!
There are only a few cases where you shouldn't edit to improve an old post (neither of which seems relevant here):
You're replacing the ...
LaurelMod
- 65.1k
18
votes
How to deal with a significant substantive error in an otherwise good answer by an absentee answerer?
I would say that taking matters into your own hands is appropriate at this point. You found a factual error (and have attributions to back it up), you notified the original author, you gave them ...
- 59.3k
15
votes
Explaining edits in the post
I generally feel the same as what Dan Bron said in his comment: I prefer that new or changed material be integrated seamlessly into the original post so that it can stand alone instead of calling ...
- 59.3k
14
votes
Does a single typo warrant an edit?
I come from a background in copy editing, so (not surprisingly) I think that a post with the word clothes in it is significantly better than a post with the word clohes in it. And as several ...
- 161k
14
votes
How to deal with someone that edits their post from time to time just to bump the question to top?
I probably edit my own old posts more frequently than anyone else at this site does theirs. Before posting a new question or answer, I read it over for obvious mistakes—but in my experience it is ...
- 161k
12
votes
Accepted
Editing questions that will probably be closed or downvoted anyway
To me, the awkward thing about editing a very poorly worded question that is a bad fit for EL&U anyway is the disparity between the voice of the revised question and the level of the question.
...
- 161k
12
votes
Accepted
Is it correct to change the title of a question that is broader than the actual question asked, and as such actually asks a different question?
The original title by the OP was ungrammatical and pointless.
JonMarkPerry's edited title was grammatical but not as specific as it could be. No-one should have been answering based on the title ...
- 14.8k
10
votes
Feeling bashful about approving edits to a moderators's question
I can see why you might feel uncomfortable approving such an edit.
But I would also say you shouldn't reject a proposed edit that conforms to the site guidelines—at least, not in a case like this, ...
- 80.3k
10
votes
How to deal with someone that edits their post from time to time just to bump the question to top?
I am the author of A better word than 'cathouse' for an outside shelter for 1 cat.
I am a writer, but I have also worked as an editor on a few publications.
As a regular participant here on EL&U, ...
9
votes
What is the point in editing answers to add a single space to the first line?
ab2 explained that they edited it in order to reverse a downvote. A questionable move, but it does sometimes serve a purpose.
- 5,705
9
votes
Did I edit too much?
The revisions page shows that the OP added Revision 3 after your Revision 2, without rolling back your edits. This indicates that your editing hadn't gone "too far" in the OP's view.
The actual ...
- 38.4k
8
votes
How does one contact an editor?
Massimo Ortolano posted this link in the comments, which provides details about how the @replies operate:
How do comment @replies work?
The best practice is to comment on the edited post and use the ...
- 2,649
8
votes
What is the point in editing answers to add a single space to the first line?
I'm pretty sure that there is no point, and that this should not be happening.
tchristMod
- 134k
8
votes
Accepted
"Edits" That Change the OP's Meaning
I concur. The information about Microsoft Word's grammar checker is important and I have restored that. It provides the information about where the premise for the question actually lies and what the ...
Andrew LeachMod
- 101k
8
votes
Accepted
First proposal tag wiki rejected
The Twentieth Century ran from 1901–2000, not from 1900–1999. :)
tchristMod
- 134k
8
votes
Accepted
Why can't I edit this question?
There was probably a pending edit. I think the mobile templates don't show that there's a pending edit, just hiding the edit text entirely.
- 5,705
8
votes
Accepted
Is it better to remove spam links when editing or to flag them for moderators?
Good question, the general guidance in this case is to not edit the post. Looking at the answer below it's different; you stumbled upon a suggested edit adding spam and inadvertently approved/improved ...
- 14.5k
7
votes
Should there be a limit on the number of edits a single post generates?
For answers, it's more straightforward - edit it as much as necessary, so long as it gets better each time.
For questions, it's technically the same. However, people who are composing answers would ...
- 38.4k
7
votes
How to deal with someone that edits their post from time to time just to bump the question to top?
Improving posts by editing is always regarded as desirable on Stack Exchange, regardless of whether the improvements are minor or substantial. A minor improvement is still an improvement.
If one finds ...
- 8,169
6
votes
Should there be a limit on the number of edits a single post generates?
@Lawrence has already stated what I would have answered, but I'll add this:
Does it hurt the site in any way?
Yes, it puts it at the top again. I think if the user does this, say, to draw more ...
- 55.2k
6
votes
Did I edit too much?
I've gone and read the revisions, starting at the original. My thoughts went as follows:
I read the original question. I was confused as to what was available in what format.
I read your edit (...
- 14.8k
5
votes
Feeling bashful about approving edits to a moderators's question
As others have said, if the edit sticks to the site's rules then it is fair enough for it to be approved. However, the message you allude to was a commemorating the OP's 999th question and mentions ...
- 7,089
5
votes
How does one contact an editor?
Chanced upon this meta now. Surprised to see that it mentions me. Here's the thing. Mostly,
I'm a speed reader.
Otherwise,
I have a mind like a sieve.
When there are multiple answers to a question, ...
NVZMod
- 22.6k
5
votes
Accepted
What happens when I roll back an edit that was approved from the queue?
Feel free to rollback the approved edits or improve on the existing revision.
No user will lose reputation.
NVZMod
- 22.6k
5
votes
Reviewing Proposed Edits
There's a full list of privileges and at what reputation you earn them in the Help Center.
When you earn the privilege to edit questions and answers without peer review, you also earn the privilege ...
- 1,352
5
votes
Why can I edit someone else's post?
This is answered in the Help pages:
Why can people edit my posts? How does editing work?
All contributions are licensed under Creative Commons, and this site is collaboratively edited, like Wikipedia....
Andrew LeachMod
- 101k
5
votes
Should I edit this problematic question and fold my own somewhat similar question into it, or just ask my question separately?
I would just leave the old question alone and ask a new one. You should:
Follow the instructions for [single-word-requests] (you are missing a sample sentence, for one).
Link to the old similar ...
LaurelMod
- 65.1k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible