It's a Comma, It's a Noun, It's Grammar Girl!

I'm on a grammar kick this week and the universe must know. I tuned into Oprah yesterday and was introduced to
Grammar Girl, a podcast hosted by grammar guru, Mignon Fogarty.

What a fun way to answer your grammar and writing questions as you're pounding away on the keyboard. It's a way to enhance your self-editing skills, and thereby (or is it therefore, hmm, better ask Grammar Girl) limit some line-editing and copy-editing from your editor, teacher or beta reader.

I'd rather have someone edit the content of my work, and leave the line-editing until everything else is tweaked and polished. I'd like never to have effect changed to affect again, and now I think I've finally got it!

If you master the mechanics of language before you show someone your work, they can read it for content and context -- which is my preference. I also think that bad grammar, syntax, etc. detracts from the content.

I know some writers want their editors (professional and amateur) to check everything and just want their ideas on paper complete with grammar garbage.

Any thoughts?

P.S. There's a great little quiz on the Grammar Girl site...see how much you know, or don't, and let us know!