The same procedure as every year. Really?
Each new year brings a slew of commitments to change; resolutions come to mind. Some things, however, are perennial. Revellers have flocked to New York’s Time Square on New Year’s Eve for over 100 years to watch the same “ball drop”, with those at home glued to live TV coverage that looks and sounds like the prior year’s event. German TV has broadcast Dinner for One, an 18-minute, black-and-white sketch in English, every December 31st since 1963. The same two protagonists, the same “guests” for dinner, the same courses served and, as the script repeats, “the same procedure as every year”, somehow create humorous and soothing entertainment.
Being stuck in old ways may not be the mantra of rejuvenated baby boomers or trailblazing millennials. But for many accustomed to annual traditions such as vacationing in the same place, or daily rituals like taking the same route to work, repetition may be the comfort food of the 21st century. “Multitasking”, the great aspiration of many professionals, has gone silent. As change barrels ahead, from the economy to social media, brain power is limited, and brains need time at night to houseclean and sift through memories. We’re as much about seeking peace of mind as actively stimulating our bodies and souls.
What does this mean for editing? As for many métiers, it’s a walk along a tightrope and a search for balance. New ways of communicating may drive the changes and resolutions for this and coming years, but their success will depend on ensuring everyone makes sense and puts their best foot forward. The dull darlings will be clarity, conciseness and correctness – an emphasis on being clear not only in long but also, and increasingly, in short texts; a commitment to keeping things concise to reduce the drag on our minds; and adherence to conventions of grammar, syntax and spelling so that we give a good impression and, quite simply, are understood as we all along intended to be.
Indeed, in some ways: the same procedure as every year.
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