Inconsistencies

[Threddy]

I've been writing a book, but I have just noticed some inconsistencies in how I write things.
For example, in some parts I have written Yea, and not Yeah, or Ok instead of OK. Does this matter?

[Ursa major]

Yeah, it would to me as a reader, but I'm pernickety; unless, I suppose, they are meant to represent how different characters speak the word; but from what you say, that's not the case here. So, to reiterate: yea, it does matter.

[pyan]

Me too, Threddy....sorry!

How long is the story? Would it take a huge amount of time to check and alter every occurrence of Yeah/yea and OK/Ok?
Or perhaps you could use the spellchecker to bring them all to a consistent spelling?

[Birol]

In the first draft, no. Keep going until you reach the end. When you're rewriting and editing, fix it.

[Epona]

I think it needs to be changed too. If I was reading a book with minor inconsistencies like the ones you mentioned it would probably bring me back to reality, which is never a good thing in a story. It shouldn't be too hard to do though, while you're editing. You can always use the find and replace feature if you're using Word. If you just make a note of them and any others you notice you'll make sure you don't forget.

[Sapheron]

OK to Ok is barely noticable. I mean look at them. If the book was any good you'd be too busy reading to see that, assuming they aren't consecutive words.

As for yea and yeah... well it'd be fine for different characters, different moods, different times, etc. Something needs to be different, otherwise this one could potentially stand out.

[jackokent]

If you've spotted some something like that it seems crazy not to fix it. After all it should be a simple matter to use a "find and replace" search.

[Nik]

Ah, typos...

IMHO, they're worth zapping. 'Search & Replace' will do it, but be patient, do NOT use 'global' lest weirdness strike...

I thought you meant plot-glitches.

[SJAB]

Originally Posted by Threddy

I've been writing a book, but I have just noticed some inconsistencies in how I write things.
For example, in some parts I have written Yea, and not Yeah, or Ok instead of OK. Does this matter?

I would say yes, try to use the same phrase all the way through. This is why you edit and re-edit, to smooth out all the blips in form, flow and continuity in your story.

As they say the devil is in the details

[Lith]

CTRL+H on your computer. It works in Notepad and Word, and probably a lot of other programs. Helps a lot with minor inconsistencies, though you do have to be careful with "replace all". Spent a good couple hours last week replacing: "dot-space-space-quotemarks" with "dot-quotemarks-space-space", because I'd replaced all those and didn't notice it right away (when it was still possible to undo). Haven't done anything that stupid on a computer in years.

I have another inconsistency question: does it bother people if some words are spelled according to British standards and others American? I like all my double-L words to have double-Ls, and prefer grey to gray (immensely, for some reason). I'm sure I'll be a nightmare for editors, when I get to that point.

[Teresa Edgerton]

I always use "grey" and I don't believe I've ever had an editor change it yet.

When it comes to alternative spellings, some houses and editors insist that everything they publish follow the same style book, others are just happy if you're consisent with yourself. (If you spell "glamor" as "glamour" you better write "humor" as "humour.")

[Threddy]

Thanks for all the posts.
10 posts in under 24 hours.
That's imressive.
The opinions and tips were helpful, thanks.
Ed - Threddy