this post was submitted on 02 Oct 2026
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One quirk of Lemmy is that edits and deletions may not propagate properly to every server, meaning you're never guaranteed anything past the initial posting.

So how do you handle when you say something you'd like to amend, correct, or delete?

Do you:

  • Edit your corrections directly into the original?
  • Delete it?
  • Add an Edit:?
  • Put the original comment behind a spoiler tag or strike through?

Or something else?

all 40 comments
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[–] Fondots@lemmy.world 32 points 1 week ago (2 children)

If I'm fixing a minor spelling/grammar/formatting issue and no one has pointed it out, I just edit it

If it's something like that that's been pointed out I put a strikethrough through it and fix it

If I'm correcting myself for something that's factually wrong, something I misunderstood what was being asked, I did my math wrong, etc. then I strikethrough through it, and edit in a note explaining why it was wrong

[–] eggpl4nt@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago

I haven't had to do any edits beyond minor typo corrections so far, but this is essentially what I'd do. I prefer crossing things out so people can see what the context would have been for any older comments.

[–] vapordays@leminal.space 1 points 1 week ago

This is the way

[–] UNY0N@feddit.org 19 points 1 week ago (1 children)

If it's a typo I usually just edit the original. If I really want to correct myself in some content, then I usually just leave the original text and add an "Edit:" comment afterwards.

But I am 100% on mobile with Lemmy (Voyager), so I am too lazy for other methods with this touchscreen keyboard.

[–] schipelblorp@sh.itjust.works 7 points 1 week ago

Yes, typo and phrasing can get corrected hours later.

I give myself about 5 minutes to make substantial edits/additions to the original text, after that, it's Edit:.

[–] quediuspayu@lemmy.dbzer0.com 12 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I just edit without thinking twice, sometimes I add and edit: at the end but now that I think about it they're more like and addendum than an edit, maybe instead I should write addendum.

[–] schipelblorp@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 week ago (4 children)

People also use ETA, for Edited to Add.

[–] quediuspayu@lemmy.dbzer0.com 12 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I have serious issues with context dependent acronyms that can mean a dozen different things, even when the context is clear.

I don't intend to use it, I have a full keyboard.

[–] schipelblorp@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 week ago

If you want to go full boomer, you can add Postscript:.

[–] baronvonj@piefed.social 8 points 1 week ago

I've never seen ETA in this context until this thread and it would confuse me.

[–] Rhaedas@fedia.io 4 points 1 week ago

I had seen that on rare occasions. Having worked decades with aircraft arrivals, it was just wrong to me to use that, and I thought it was a mistake. Never saw it spelled out, now it makes sense. Learn something every day, if you're not careful.

[–] Zwuzelmaus@feddit.org 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)
[–] _haha_oh_wow_@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Depends on the comment. If it's just something grammatical that nobody has commented on yet, I don't write anything extra and just fix it.

Otherwise I usually indicate that there has been an edit and what it was for (usually a factual correction someone else has pointed out). I'll usually strike out the edited text (type ~ twice at the beginning and again at the end of the text to put a line through it on Lemmy and Mbin, probably works elsewhere too).

[–] AbouBenAdhem@lemmy.world 5 points 1 week ago

I try to see it from the POV of someone else reading the thread: if I think they’d care about the edit (e.g., if it affects the context of a reply), I'll call attention to it; otherwise I’ll avoid adding the distraction.

[–] Malica@lemmy.zip 5 points 1 week ago

I just correct it and move on

[–] some_kind_of_guy@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago (4 children)

If it's within a few minutes after the original post, ninja edit. Beyond that, "EDIT:". or "ETA" if I'm feeling froggy.

I'm a human being, so occasionally I'll misunderstand what I'm replying to, or realize after the fact that I've pissed someone off or been unfair. I'm not above just hitting delete in some of those instances.

[–] schipelblorp@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

realize after the fact that I’ve pissed someone off or been unfair. I’m not above just hitting delete in some of those instances.

On reddit when you would do that, the comment would appear in the persons inbox, but they could not reply or report it because it no longer existed, so that would be the absolute worst thing you could do in that case.

I don´t know what the possibility tree is on Lemmy for deleted comments, though; I've gotten replies to comments that I deleted almost immediately. For that reason, I'm leaning more to editing comments than deleting them, leaving the original insult/display of stupidity intact usually.

[–] some_kind_of_guy@lemmy.world 2 points 1 week ago

I can only assume, with federation, that a deletion takes time to propagate out everywhere. If my comment ends up in someone's inbox, yeah, the damage is done there. Deletion is somewhat of a last resort, so I've really only done it a handful of times.

[–] DearMoogle@piefed.social 2 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

I like what they do on Tildes. You’re allowed a time limit (1 minute or something like that) to edit without it displaying your post as “edited.” Good for re-reads and quick fixes😆

[–] baronvonj@piefed.social 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

What does ETA mean in this context? I only know it as Estimated Time of Arrival.

[–] some_kind_of_guy@lemmy.world 2 points 1 week ago

"Edited to add"

[–] kboos1@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago

Just basic internet etiquette, I would like to believe people are aware and follow it, but I know that in reality the majority don't. The fedivers doesn't really have rules other than the local community rules.

Grammatical mistakes, just edit it, no one really cares.

Changing the content or adding content, a quick edit explanation is polite but not required.

[–] tal@lemmy.today 3 points 1 week ago

I generally add an "EDIT" if the change is at the end, like, new material being added, and especially if it significantly changes the meaning, so that the follow-up doesn't render a comment that might be getting written nonsensical. I have been known to add a whole chain of those.

I won't do it if I fix something in the middle, because then "EDIT" is going to be in the middle of a sentence or something, and it's going to be unreadable.

I'll only very rarely delete a comment. Usually, it's if I realize that I've misunderstood what I'm responding to or just have some other fundamental misunderstanding that renders the comment useless, and I won't do it if I see that there are responses.

I don't use strikethroughs to indicate errors.

[–] Chl0r0f0rm_Angel@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

You must snarkily reply the correct spelling or grammar from a sperate account

[–] schipelblorp@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)
[–] Chl0r0f0rm_Angel@sh.itjust.works 5 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Yeah like that but meaner ↑

[–] schipelblorp@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 week ago

That was the tone it was written in.

[–] HubertManne@piefed.social 2 points 1 week ago

I ususually just writed EDITED: or maybe - . if its like a part in the middle I put it in parenthesis or such. I try to leave the original except for fixing typos maybe.

[–] kender242@lemmy.world 2 points 1 week ago (3 children)

I think edit etiquette was a side effect of karma.

So while the question is interesting, on Lemmy, there isn't much riding on the answer anymore.

Maybe we are more free?

[–] schipelblorp@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 week ago

Yes, but people are much more likely to block people who are acting like jerks, because there are fewer of them and so you can clean your inbox quite nicely.

[–] sem@piefed.blahaj.zone 1 points 1 week ago

EDIT: is still courteous if you are significantly changing the content of your comment or post, so that people can have that context in mind when theybread child comments.

If it is a small "ninja" edit I usually don't draw attention to it though.

[–] BurgerBaron@quokk.au 1 points 1 week ago

Writing "edit" and then whatever you wanted to add was traditional bulletin board forum etiquette too, predating internet points.

A spelling mistake I still just add an asterisk* by the corrected word. Idk if that still makes any sense to the majority. I'm a fucking fossil online really.

[–] JohnnyCanuck@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 week ago

I usually "ETA" or "Edit" if it's more than a typo or more than a couple minutes.

Earlier this week I used a reply to myself because I thought it would land better, but I think I confused the OP of the post.

[–] Rhaedas@fedia.io 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I try to look before submitting, ninja edit if fast enough if I catch it, but if not, or if I need to correct myself because of later replies showing I'm an idiot, I'll do an EDIT: at the bottom, and depending on context, also reply to the person that I changed it due to the discussion. That's the part that annoys me and not much can be done about it - all the people who read your mistake but never replies or came back to see the edit. The last thing we need is some push notification that "UserX has edited their message that you read three days ago". Let it be.

[–] schipelblorp@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Might be nice to be notified of edits you've replied to.

Sometimes I'm editing my comment and come back to it being replied and now I have to wonder if I need to write them again with the edit.

[–] Rhaedas@fedia.io 1 points 1 week ago

Depends on the topic and how much you were invested in it, I suppose. Definitely have a time limit.