Something I’m constantly doing as a copyeditor is looking things up, and perhaps compound words are what I look up most. Should a compound word be open (like “rib cage”)? Should a compound word be closed (like “windowsill”)? Should a compound word be hyphenated (like the noun “run-in”)? It can be easy to know how […]
Here’s a proofreading tip for you. Use those arrow keys on your keyboard. I’ve found that it’s extremely advantageous to use the arrow keys to navigate through the document instead of scrolling with your mouse. Here are three reasons why. 1) They get you to slow down. It’s a known fact that the more slowly
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Do you know the difference between “snugly” and “snuggly”? “Snugly” is an adverb. It can be used to describe something that fits closely and comfortably. Here’s an example: The bibliophile’s books fit snugly on her bookshelf. “Snuggly” is an adjective. It can be used to describe something that is suitable for snuggling. Here’s an example:
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A client of mine has started a YouTube channel that I want to point people toward. His videos discuss his experience as a self-publishing author using Linux. He’s got a handful of uploads so far, and I know he has plans for more. If you’re a Linux user and a writer, this is a valuable
People who haven’t worked with proofreaders may assume that we look for only misspellings, punctuation mistakes, and incorrect grammar. While we are laser-focused on all of those things, another aspect we pay close attention to is consistency. A manuscript needs to be consistent in terms of style, how words are spelled, and plot details. The
Proofreaders Do More than You Think Read More »
The other day I encountered a headline that mentioned something about the different Doctor Whos, and it inspired me to write this post. Do you know when to correctly use an apostrophe to form a plural? If you’re following Chicago Style, the answer is: Lowercase lettersCapital letters when necessary to avoid confusionSymbolsSingle-digit numeralsLowercase abbreviationsCapitalized abbreviations
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No editor is perfect… but I sure try. That’s why I give every manuscript that comes my way three passes before I’m comfortable sending it back to my client. The first pass is just to digest the story and characters. I don’t do any research or make any style decisions here. I only correct the
No Editor Is Perfect… But I Sure Try Read More »
Here’s a proofreading tip for you. If you’re working with text that has dialogue (or really any quotation marks), make sure each opening quotation mark has an accompanying closing quotation mark, and vice versa. Each time you encounter an opening quotation mark, remind your brain to check for a closing quotation mark as well, even
Quotation Marks: Make Sure They Open and Close Read More »
Did you know that Merriam-Webster lists “goose bumps” as an open compound? This isn’t a terribly common word I come across, but whenever I do, it’s quite often misspelled. I attribute this to the massively popular Goosebumps children’s book series. As a child of the ’90s, these books were everywhere. They also had the coolest
One space makes all the difference. “I can’t eat any more.” >>> I’m full. “I can’t eat anymore.” >>> I’ll never eat again.