Typo in this article:
* caption for Figure 1 (p39): "ists" should be "lists"

I spent a large portion of the last 17 years of my career editing documents, both scientific and otherwise.  Since retiring last year, I have been asked to edit a number of documents for local waterhed organizations.  I love MRH and its on-line format, and I read it from cover to cover - including all the adds, etc., even though I model only in N-scale.  The only thing that I have found with MRH that could use a little work is the copy editing. 

For example, I copied the following paragraph from the last column on page 42 of Vol 11 (Jan 2011):  "If the tape is removed after the paint is fully dried then the paint film is torn by the tape during removal however the paint has developed enough adhesion to the painted object so as to be able to tolerate this. In between these two extremes is where edge sharpness problem during tape removal becomes a problem."  For what it is worth, I note that there is no punctuation in either sentence.  I recognize that today's writers use very limited, if any punctuation; however, I fully believe that some punctuation is often needed for clarity of thought and ease of reading/understanding.   Also, the word' problem' is unnecessarily repeated in the second sentence.  Thus, my edits for this paragraph would result in the following:   "If the tape is removed after the paint is fully dried, then the paint film is torn by the tape during removal; however, the paint has developed enough adhesion to the painted object so as to be able to tolerate this. In between these two extremes is where edge sharpness, during tape removal, becomes a problem."   BTW, the previous pargarph contains a sentence that ends with:  "The worst time to remove tape is when the paint is “somewhat dry”.  I beleive that the period should be inside the quote mark.

With that said, I want to note that the copy editing is generally a fairly minor issue, especially since this is a very large document and I suspect that you have limited time for editing.  However, I thought I should at least comment, since you have asked for reader input.

I hope someday to submit an article about my N-scale CSX-Warm Springs Run Subdivision layout, once I get the remainder of the track laid (I'm handbuilding about 50 Code 55 #6 turnouts (not including the hidden staging; phase two of my layout), using the Fast Tracks system. and still have about 10 to build.  My 9'X20' layout is proto-freelance, with CSX as the primary carrier and interchanges with both Western Maryland and the South Branch Valley Railroads; Amtrak passenger service will also be provided, once the hidden staging is complete.  I am modeling the modern era but have 'resurrected' a portion of the WM.  The focus of my layout is on Hancock Yard and its servicing of the US Silica Plant at Berkeley Springs, WV.  Hidden staging will eventually provide westbound trains from Martinsburg, WV and eastbound trains from Cumberland, MD.

Keep up the great work!  I look forward to every issue.

I could not agree more with you about sentence structure. I wrote the original forum post. Not in my wildest dreams did I think it would be in a magazine otherwise more attention would have been paid to proper structure. Writing in a forum has different prose than writing in a publication just as conversation has a different style than public speaking. To MRH credit, the information is being disseminated even if in less than perfect grammar.

We each have our writing flaws, even professional copy editors...

(I'm handbuilding about 50 Code 55 #6 turnouts (not including the hidden staging; phase two of my layout),

Two open parenthesis, one close.

Still, you make a very valid point as MRH strives to become an even more professional publication.

PS The latest paper issue of MR has multiple typos and examples of bad grammar in it also.

Jan 2011 Excellent column especially on the wiring issues.

Thanks,

Stew

 The wiring tip is absolutely awesome, I never thought about doing that and it does make a lot of sense and is probably easer to test everything before soldering.

>>>PS The latest paper issue of MR has multiple typos and examples of bad grammar in it also.

What's this strange word you use, "Grammar". OH, it's what they DID NOT teach me in High School or College, even though I graduated WITH HONORS!  It was rather interesting I learned more about Grammar in my German Language classes than I ever did in my English and Literature classes! 

Ken L.

The nice thing about a magazine like MRH is that improvements in grammar, or glaring errors, can be made after they have been found. Yes, the new age method of writing that is continually being devised is causing all of us to forget things like sentence and even paragraph structure. I guess there is a place for this type of writing. For me though, using, or at least attempting to use, proper structure helps in my understanding of what I have written for the whole world to see. For the most part MRH is doing a great job of keeping things readable and this is due to the quality of the submissions by the writers and the MRH staff. Will there be errors? Yes, always, but they can be corrected in the MRH format if the meaning of the sentence is going to be changed, or made clearer.

Keep up the great work, MRH.

Roy

With your comment about not being taught Grammar in English Literature until you get into a foreign language(me too).

Grammar in English Literature is very much like Intelligence in Military Intelligence

They don't really belong together in the same sentence, at least not without laughing a little.

Another thing is I never could figure why they named My American Language English when if you have ever been to England they are similar like Spanish and Latin but no way near the same.

Thanks for the comment LOL.

Dan