by Dawn Hawkins

Created on: April 01, 2009

It might seem like an easy task, but it truly isn't. When someone has taken the time to write an article to Helium, he/she is telling others that he/she enjoys writing. That generally boils down to the fact that he/she took great pride in writing the article that you are reading. It is very common to come across mistakes or even mishaps when rating these articles.

We usually have good intentions as we type up our thoughts on the authors work. It seems clear cut to us what needs to be fixed or made better. It is important to remember that the person that wrote it isn't coming from the same perspective as you are. There is a way to comment on another persons work to get the point across effectively. Here are some tips that will make your time productive when making those comments:

Be Watchful of Tone

The person who receives your email has no idea who you are in most cases. It is wise to be careful with the tone of your email. If you start your comment with a flaming attitude, the only thing you accomplish is upsetting someone. Always re-read your comment before hitting the send button. It can make all the difference in the world.

Find Something Good

Many people will say they don't have time to find something nice to say in every comment they send to an author. If you have time to send a comment rebuffing someone on their work, you certainly have time to look for something good about it as well. It doesn't have to be something that drips syrup. A kind word helps to buffer the error that may have been found.

Don't Forget the Title

The title of the article you are referring to should always be inserted into the comment. It does not automatically attach itself when you send it to the recipient. If you found something in the article that needs to be fixed, it will be near impossible for them to find the error and fix it.

Understand Constructive Criticism

There is a huge difference in constructive criticism and just plain criticism. If you write to someone telling them how horrible their work is, you are not helpful. If you tell them it's a good article but there is a problem with it along with a suggestion on how to fix it, it is constructive.

Be Specific

If there is a misspelled word in the article, be specific about what it was. It is even better when you can tell them exactly where it appears in the article. This goes with grammar as well. Simply telling someone they have used bad grammar probably isn't going to help. The person might not recognize a grammar error as easily as you. Always be very specific in these situations.

The idea of commenting on someone's article is two-fold. It lets a writer know when they are doing a good job and it helps them correct things that will make it better. If you cannot offer either of these things, it is better not to comment at all. Always be courteous and understand that you could be on the receiving end tomorrow.

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