any newsletter editors here?

[mimitabby]

thanks for responding Trek. I'm referring to small edits to make room on a page and also small grammatical things.

(and people who wait until the last minute to get stuff to me)

[Duck on Wheels]

I write back to the authors with my suggestions. They're usually grateful for the suggestions (most are not native speakers of English). In one case, tho, I was very glad I checked, because some wording that seemed clumsy or non-idiomatic was actually meant that way, meant to be just a bit jarring and off-kilter.

I have seen some newspapers/newsletters that carry a reader alert to the effect that letters to the editor may be shortened by the editors. So it's not illegal, but I would either make the policy up front and explicit or follow a policy of allowing time to check back with the writers. In my experience so far, writers are quick to get back to me when I email them, so that it has only taken overnight to let them have the final word.

[mimitabby]

thank you both.

Perhaps I have been too stronghanded.