When authors write a book or novel. Do they correct their own grammar and punctuation in their works before?

Question

they submit it to the publishers?

Answer 1

Depends on the author, I suppose.

I am an aspiring author (I want to be an author or an editor), and I'm a grammar fanatic. If I ever write a book, I will edit it to death before I even think of sending it to a publisher/editor. I will correct the grammar and punctuation of the novel, but I'll still use an editor afterwards to make sure it's as good as it can be.

Some authors are probably like me (meaning, they are grammar nuts). Others probably send it straight to an editor and let them do most of the editing.

Answer 2

If you're serious about getting published then you should definitely correct your own grammar/punctuation errors before submitting. You should edit it to the best of your ability, as if it were to be published in that exact same form. It only decreases your chance of getting published if you don't. Editors don't like reading through manuscripts riddled with unnecessary mistakes, because those are things that you can easily correct given the time and effort put into it.  

Answer 3

It should be mostly corrected, yes. Little mistakes or obscure grammar rules will be corrected by an editor, but that doesn't mean you can send a manuscript with terrible spelling and grammar to a publisher. If it is too bad, they won't even read past the first few pages and then throw it in the trash.

When you send a book to a publisher, you're showing them what you think of your work - meaning if you don't think it's worth triple-checking, then it's not worth publishing.

Answer 4

Some do.  If you really want to have it published though, you should read through it at least once and get all the spelling/grammar mistakes out, I've read through my work five - ten times, and still have some mistakes that I missed, just because I've read it so much I pretty much have it by memory.

You don't need a pro to help edit your stuff though (they cost lots of money) and you could just have your friend/English teacher do it for free (English teachers find so many more mistakes then what i had...) Anyway, get it edited before sending it any were, it makes your chances better and it doesn't take to long to edit (Though, you should get an agent and stuff also)

Answer 5

most will hire/retain an editor to do that work

Answer 6

Cthonia is right. I have never paid an editor to edit my work, and my editors at professional houses expect my work to be in the best possible condition it can be before I or my agent sends it to them. I'm embarrassed when they find typos or grammar mistakes in my work, and we're talking maybe two or three wrong words out of 95,000.

Published books go through extensive edits before being submitted, not just one read-through. I don't know a single writer who does less than three editing passes, for pacing, consistency, story, character...everything!...before submitting. And three is a minimum.

As has been said, if you submit something full of spelling errors and grammatical errors, an agent or editor won't even finish reading it. You are expected to do the work; that's what a writer does.

Answer 7

no they have a professional editor do it

Answer 8

From what I understand from many of my author friends, you edit it as best you can before you submit it.  Then if the editor agrees to accept your story they will have a copyeditor go through your book and help with grammar/punctuation/etc.  The editor themself will help you with plot points, character development, and things you might need to tweak as far as the overall story goes.  I believe the editing process takes several passes before the book is actually published :)