PONDER PONDERS END
Ponder As a copy-editor and proofreader, the first judgement (or judgment) I make about a new acquaintance is whether or not they (he or she) use (uses) the apostrophe correctly. [...]
EDITORS AND AGENTS
Subtext is All Copy-editors and proofreaders are well-used to the sophistry of language, its nuances and deceptive guises. Sometimes it may be the copy-editor's job to clarify and explain, but [...]
DILETTANTE
Diletante? Dillettante? Dilletante? Dilettante? Yes! Well, having settled the spelling, what does it mean? It comes from dilettare which means to delight. So you might imagine it's a positive word. But no. Or certainly not according [...]
EDITORS’ RULES
And Proofreaders' Rules Editors, like me, hate rules. We want authors to be free to use language creatively; we want English to live a little, get out more, be vibrant. [...]
HASHTAG – NEW WORDS FOR OLD
Hashtag Learn to Copy-edit Hashtag Learn to Proofread We all know what a hashtag looks like, but no one could have guessed that the word hashtag would be Oxford University [...]
THE EDITING DIARIES (PART 2)
Bestselling author Lavinia Collins talks about the process of editing her second trilogy, published with Not So Noble Books, out now! Book I, Part II: Tell Me What I Know So, [...]
OXYMORON
My reason for choosing this word for those learning to proofread and copy-edit is purely selfish. I like it; it has always amused me; and I use the form often [...]
QUINTESSENTIAL
Quintessence, quintessential and quintessentially are three posy words which I used excessively when writing school English essays. I loved them. I grew out of the habit at about sixteen and [...]
CHRISTMAS WORDS: BOXING DAY
Deck the Halls with Boughs of Boxes Boxing Day, the first weekday after Christmas Day, has become the day when retail selling and sales go into full swing. Perhaps not [...]
WRITING AND GRAMMAR TIPS
Short Sentences Writers, editors and proofreaders should not be afraid of short sentences. They can be effective. They convey meaning directly. They carry no fat. Fear of the short sentence [...]