When you copyedit for different clients in different styles, it’s important to note the specific rules of each style, such as how to capitalize titles of works.
Articles Tagged writing tips
To Have and to Receive: Two Usages of Have
As a main verb, “have” is one of the most common lexical verbs in English. Learn about how emphasis can shift the meaning of “have” and thus, your sentence.
Such Examples as These
Lots can be learned from the experiences of others. An editing forum sparked this deep dive into using a comma for restrictive and nonrestrictive phrases.
Maybe, May Be Not: Don’t Sweat the Difference Too Much
The English language is fluid and constantly shifting with the times. This may result in the occasional grammatical error, but not all errors are worth a fuss.
Caroling the Lie/Lay Distinction
The distinction between the words “lie” and “lay” can be confusing for both writers and editors. Let’s break it down using well-known holiday carols.
On Account of My Pet Peeve
I’m not usually peevish about language use, but “on account of” is a pet peeve of mine. Here’s why it’s okay to use it anyway.
Don’t Let Your Modifiers Dangle
Modifiers are words or phrases that help clarify the meaning of another word in the same sentence. Learn about how letting them dangle can affect your writing.
Ending the Tug of War Over Parallelism
Parallelism is something copyeditors and writers often disagree about. With a little research and a lesson in grammar, we can end this age-old debate.
Rewriting the Zombies: Don’t Use “Each” for “Either”
While you may have learned that the words “each” and “either” have different meanings, this is actually a zombie rule that does not need to be followed.
When Adverbs Fall Flat
We’re taught from a young age that adverbs end in –ly and modify verbs. This is correct, however, adverbs are more complicated than the rule implies.
