Wanna know a weirdly regular thing I find myself correcting during proofreads? The correct way to write “T-shirt.” According to Merriam-Webster, this is the correct way to write out this noun, with a capital “T.” I think the most common way I see writers spell it out is with a lowercase “t.” But that’s actually […]
Did you know that *swan* can be a verb? According to Merriam-Webster, to *swan* means to wander aimlessly or idly; to dally. I was finishing up a proofread when I came across what I thought was a typo. The author used *swan* as a verb. I thought he meant to say *swim* (since the scene
Let’s Learn a New Word (2/7/22) Read More »
It’s February 1st, 2022, and my year has been off to a slow but absolutely acceptable start. In the month of January, I copyedited a blog for someone whom I work with regularly. I then started my newest venture of editing a text game for a games company I am super excited to freelance for.
February 1st Update Read More »
A year ago, I proofread a gentleman’s debut novel. Fast forward to today, and I’m currently proofreading a novella for him. The growth I see in his writing is impressive. It’s harder to recognize because I live it every day, but I know that in the past year, I’ve grown as an editor as well.
On Growing with Clients Read More »
Thanks to a bit of a dip in editing work over the holiday break, I’ve actually had more time to read for pleasure as opposed for work. I’m sure most editors will tell you that it’s hard to turn that part of their brain off when reading for fun. But you know what? That’s not
When You Can’t Turn Off Those Editing Impulses, Embrace Them! Read More »
Wanna learn a new word today? How about malapropism? According to Merriam-Webster, malapropism (a noun) is the usually unintentionally humorous misuse or distortion of a word or phrase. It’s especially the use of a word sounding somewhat like the one intended but ludicrously wrong in context. I love the example it gives: Jesus healing those
Let’s Learn a New Word (1/17/22) Read More »
I have an update about the “learned vs. learnt” thing. A colleague of mine who was taught UK English says she uses “learnt.” Now I’ve officially heard two different preferences on this, which makes me feel even more confident in the advice I always give writers: use whichever preference you wish. When editing fiction, I
Learned or Learnt? (1-13-22 Update) Read More »
So far, this year has seen lots of small projects for me. Pieces for Issue 3 of the games magazine I edit have been coming in hot (I did two yesterday). Yesterday I also began a short-turnaround project for a company I recently started freelancing for. They gave me three days to complete it, and
Short Projects to Start the New Year Read More »
Last month I started working with a new client who doesn’t use PayPal. They asked if I would be willing to sign up for Zelle, which is an alternative to PayPal that doesn’t charge fees for sending or receiving money. I was unfamiliar with Zelle at the time, but this client seemed nice and was
On Being a Flexible Editor Read More »
I just learned the word “laconic” and thought it would be a good one to share today. According to Merriam-Webster, “laconic” means using or involving the use of a minimum of words; concise to the point of seeming rude or mysterious. I was reading something about the Halo franchise, and the series protagonist was referred