a phrase-based take on a
version-change interface.
light-markup writing-tools are hot,
and busting out all over the place.
moreover, a few are now emerging which offer
change-tracking (the very last bastion where
ms-word had an advantage that lured writers),
including draftin.com, criticmarkup.com, and
prose.io, along with editorially.com in beta.
the interfaces of these tools are still raw.
they often use diff routines that're clumsy,
not new ones coded specifically toward text.
i'm sure they'll improve, but the main flaw,
in my opinion, is they are using paragraphs.
they should be chunked by sentences, or even
(as sentences are often too long) by phrases.
in phrase mode, every sentence gets shown on
its own line. if the whole thing doesn't fit,
it gets split, via punctuation, into phrases,
which are then placed on a line of their own.
since changes are commonly made to sentences,
or phrases within them, such chunking is apt.
a phrase-based mode gives us a better display
of the edits, so they can be evaluated easier,
as i believe is shown in the examples below...
it also offers a better interface for the tool
which is used to actually perform the editing,
as i will illustrate in a few days with a demo.
it's probably important to tell you that i've
used various types of this approach for years,
in research on proofing o.c.r. for book-scans;
so my belief in the mode's efficacy is robust.
***
here i've included directly-relevant examples.
my first one below, is actually about editing,
by malcolm forbes, its editing done on itself.
the 6 examples following it were obtained from
stephen king's book “on writing”, and are used
by mr. king as examples of the editing process.
because i set out to use pre-existing examples,
so it would be clear i had not loaded the dice,
the examples shown are not purely phrase-based.
i did break the forbes piece into phrases, but
the king lines are just as printed in his book.
nonetheless, i feel the line-based edit-display
demonstrates the enhanced usability of the mode.
and my upcoming demo of an editing tool takes a
pure phrase-based approach, to strut its stuff.
if you have any feedback, reactions, questions,
comments, criticism, or you just wanna go “yo”,
ping my e-mail address at bowerbird@aol.com...
you can also yell at me @bbirdiman on twitter.
-bowerbird intelligentleman
p.p.s. other tools can use phrase-based display,
freely, without giving me “credit” for the idea,
as it pretty much seems like common sense to me.
Edit Ruthlessly
By Malcolm Forbes
was> Somebody has said that words
new> Somebody said that words
cha> =========^^^----------------
was> are a lot like inflated money --
new> are like inflated money --
cha> ====^^^^^------------------------
was> the more of them that you use,
new> the more you use,
cha> =========^^^^^^^^^^^^---------
was> the less each one of them
new> the less each one
cha> =================^^^^^^^^
was> is worth. Right on.
new> is worth.
cha> =========^^^^^^^^^^
Go through your entire letter
was> just as many times as it takes.
new> as many times as it takes.
cha> ^^^^^--------------------------
was> Search out and annihilate all
new> Annihilate all
cha> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^--------------
was> unnecessary words and sentences
new> unnecessary words, sentences
cha> =================^^^^----------
was> -- even entire paragraphs.
new> -- even paragraphs.
cha> ========^^^^^^------------
Malcolm Forbes
was> ("How to write a business letter")
new> ("How to write a business letter OR MAKE A SPEECH")
cha> ================================^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
was> The Hotel Story
new> 1408
cha> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
By Stephen King
Mike Enslin was still in the revolving door when he
was> saw Ostermeyer, the manager of the Hotel Dolphin,
new> saw Olin, the manager of the Hotel Dolphin,
cha> ====^^^^^^^^^^-----------------------------------
sitting in one of the overstuffed lobby chairs. Mike's
was> heart sank a little. _Maybe_should_have_brought_the_
new> heart sank. _Maybe_should_have_brought_the_
cha> ==========^^^^^^^^^---------------------------------
_damned_lawyer_along_again,_after_all,_ he thought.
was> Well, too late now. And even if Ostermeyer had
new> Well, too late now. And even if Olin had
cha> ================================^^^^^^^^^^----
decided to throw up another roadblock or two
was> between Mike and room 1408, that wasn't all bad; it
new> between Mike and room 1408, that wasn't all bad;
cha> ================================================^^^
was> would simply add to the story when he finally told it.
new> there were compensations.
cha> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
was> Ostermeyer saw him, got up, and was crossing
new> Olin was crossing
cha> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^-------------
the room with one pudgy hand held out as Mike left
the revolving door. The Dolphin was on Sixty-first
was> Street, around the corner from Fifth Avenue; small
new> Street, around the corner from Fifth Avenue, small
cha> ===========================================^------
but smart. A man and woman dressed in evening
clothes passed Mike as he reached out and took
was> Ostermeyer's hand, switching his small overnight
new> Olin's hand, switching his small overnight
cha> ^^^^^^^^^^--------------------------------------
case to his left hand in order to do it. The woman
was blonde, dressed in black, of course, and the
light, flowery smell of her perfume seemed to
summarize New York. On the mezzanine level, someone
was playing "Night and Day" in the bar, as if to
underline the summary.
"Mr. Enslin. Good evening."
was> "Mr. Ostermeyer. Is there a problem?"
new> "Mr. Olin. Is there a problem?"
cha> =====^^^^^^^^^^^---------------------
was> Ostermeyer looked pained. For a moment he
new> Olin looked pained. For a moment he
cha> ^^^^^^^^^^-------------------------------
glanced around the small, smart lobby as if for
help. At the concierge's stand, a man was discussing
theater tickets with his wife while the concierge
was> himself watched them with a small, patient smile.
new> himself watched with a small, patient smile.
cha> ================^^^^-----------------------------
At the front desk, a man with the rumpled look one
only got after long hours in Business Class was
discussing his reservation with a woman in a smart
black suit that could itself have doubled for evening
wear. It was business as usual at the Hotel Dolphin.
There was help for everyone except poor Mr.
was> Ostermeyer, who had fallen into the writer's
new> Olin, who had fallen into the writer's
cha> ^^^^^^^^^^----------------------------------
clutches.
was> "Mr. Ostermeyer?" Mike repeated, feeling a little
new> "Mr. Olin?" Mike
cha> ======^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
was> sorry for the man.
new> repeated.
cha> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
was> "No," Ostermeyer said at last. "No problem. But,
new> "Mr.
cha> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
was> Mr. Enslin... could I speak to you for a moment in
new> Enslin... could I speak to you for a moment in
cha> ^^^^-----------------------------------------------
my office?"
was> _So,_ Mike thought. _He_wants_to_try_one_more_time._
new> Well,
cha> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
was>
new> and why
cha> ^^^^^^^
was> Under other circumstances, he might have been
new> not?
cha> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
was> impatient. Now he was not. It would help the
new> It would help the
cha> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^-----------------
was> section on room 1408, offer the proper ominous tone
new> section on room 1408, add to the ominous tone
cha> ======================^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^-------------
was> the readers of his books seemed to crave -- it was to
new> the readers of his books seemed to crave, and
cha> ========================================^^^^^^^^^^^^^
was> be One Final Warning -- but that wasn't all. Mike
new> that wasn't all. Mike
cha> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^---------------------
Enslin hadn't been sure until now, in spite of all the
was> backing and filling; now he was. Ostermeyer wasn't
new> backing and filling; now he was. Olin wasn't
cha> ==================================^^^^^^^^^^------
was> playing a part. Ostermeyer was really afraid of room
new> playing a part. Olin was really afraid of room
cha> ================^^^^^^^^^^--------------------------
1408, and what might happen to Mike there tonight.
was> "Of course, Mr. Ostermeyer. Should I leave my
new> "Of course, Mr.
cha> ===============^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
was> bag at the desk, or bring it?"
new> Olin."
cha> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
was> "Oh, we'll bring it along, shall we?" Ostermeyer,
new> Olin,
cha> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
was> the good host, reached for it. Yes, he still held out
new> the good host, reached for
cha> ==========================^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
was> some hope of persuading Mike not to stay in the
new> Mike's
cha> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
was> room. Otherwise, he would have directed Mike to
new> bag.
cha> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
was> the desk... or taken it there himself. "Allow me."
new> "Allow me."
cha> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^-----------
"I'm fine with it," Mike said. "nothing but a
change of clothes and a toothbrush."
"Are you sure?"
was> "Yes," Mike said, holding his eyes. "I'm afraid I
new> "Yes," Mike said, holding his eyes. "I'm already wearing my lucky
cha> =========================================^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
was> am."
new> Hawaiian shirt." He smiled. "It's the one with the ghost repellent."
cha> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
was> For a moment Mike thought Ostermeyer was
new> Olin
cha> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
was> going to give up. He sighed, a little round man in a
new> sighed, a little round man in a
cha> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^-------------------------------
was> dark cutaway coat and a neatly knotted tie, and
new> dark cutaway coat and a neatly knotted tie.
cha> ==========================================^^^^^
was> then he squared his shoulders again. "Very good,
new> "Very good,
cha> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^-----------
Mr. Enslin. Follow me."
The hotel manager had seemed tentative in the
was> lobby, depressed, almost beaten. In his oak-paneled
new> lobby, almost beaten. In his oak-paneled
cha> =======^^^^^^^^^^-----------------------------------
office, with the pictures of the hotel on the
walls (the Dolphin had opened in October of
1910 -- Mike might publish without the benefit of
reviews in the journals or the big-city papers, but he
was> did his research), Ostermeyer seemed to gain
new> did his research), Olin seemed to gain
cha> ===================^^^^^^^^^^---------------
assurance again. There was a Persian carpet on the floor.
Two standing lamps cast a mild yellow light. A desk-lamp
with a green lozenge-shaped shade stood on
the desk, next to the humidor. And next to the humidor
were Mike Enslin's last three books. Paperback
editions, of course; there had been no hardbacks.
was> Yet he did quite well. _Mine_host_has_been_doing_a_
new> _Mr. _has_been_doing_a_
cha> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^----------------------------
_little_research_of_his_own,_ Mike thought.
(missing page 287)
(missing page 287)
ear..." He shrugged. "Part affectation, part superstition,
was> I guess. Kind of like the ones you
new> I guess. Like the Hawaiian shirts. Or the cigarettes you
cha> =========^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^----
sometimes see on people's desks or walls, mounted in a
little box with a sign saying BREAK GLASS IN CASE OF
was> EMERGENCY. I sometimes tell people I'll light up in
new> EMERGENCY.
cha> ==========^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
was> case of nuclear war. Is 1408 a smoking room, Mr.
new> Is 1408 a smoking room, Mr.
cha> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^---------------------------
was> Ostermeyer? Just in case nuclear war breaks out?"
new> Olin? Just in case nuclear war breaks out?"
cha> ^^^^^^^^^^^--------------------------------------
"As a matter of fact, it is."
"Well," Mike said heartily, "that's one less worry
in the watches of the night."
was> Mr. Ostermeyer sighed again, unamused, but
new> Mr. Olin sighed again, but
cha> ====^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^----
was> this one didn't have the disconsolate quality of his
new> this sigh didn't have the disconsolate quality of his
cha> =====^^^^--------------------------------------------
was> lobby-sigh. Yes, it was the room, Mike reckoned.
new> lobby-sigh. Yes, it was the office, Mike reckoned.
cha> ============================^^^^^^^---------------
was> _His_ room. Even this afternoon, when Mike had
new> _His_ office. Even this afternoon, when Mike had
cha> ======^^^^^^^-----------------------------------
come, accompanied by Robertson, the lawyer,
was> Ostermeyer had seemed less flustered once they
new> Olin had seemed less flustered once they
cha> ^^^^^^^^^^------------------------------------
was> were in here. At the time Mike had thought it was
new> were in here. And why not?
cha> ==============^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
was> partly because they were no longer drawing stares
new> Where else could you
cha> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
was> from the passing public, partly because Ostermeyer
new> feel in charge,
cha> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
was> had given up. Now he knew better. It was
new> if not in your special place?
cha> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
was> the room. And why not? It was a room with good
new> Olin's office was a room with good
cha> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^---------------------
pictures on the walls, a good rug on the floor, and
was> good cigars -- although not Cuban -- in the humidor.
new> good cigars in the humidor.
cha> ============^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^----------------
A lot of managers had no doubt conducted a
was> lot of business in here since October of 1910; in its
new> lot of business in here since 1910; in its
cha> ==============================^^^^^^^^^^-------------
was> own way it was as New York as the blonde woman
new> own way it was as New York as the blonde
cha> ========================================^^^^^^
in her black off-the-shoulder dress, her smell of
was> perfume and her unarticulated promise of sleek
new> perfume and her unarticulated promise of sleek New York
cha> ===============================================^^^^^^^^
was> sex in the small hours of the morning -- New York
new> sex in the small hours of the morning.
cha> =====================================^^^^^^^^^^^^
was> sex. Mike himself was from Omaha, although he
new> Mike himself was from Omaha, although he
cha> ^^^^^----------------------------------------
hadn't been back there in a lot of years.
"You still don't think I can talk you out of this
was> idea of yours, do you?" Ostermeyer asked.
new> idea of yours, do you?" Olin asked.
cha> ========================^^^^^^^^^^-------
"I know you can't," Mike said, replacing the
cigarette behind his ear.
thanks for reading...
hv
cv