Ending Sentences with Prepositions
You’ve likely heard the famous quote by Winston Churchill, prompted by an editor who rearranged a sentence of his to avoid ending it with a preposition: “This is the sort of bloody nonsense up with which I will not put.”
Prepositions such as “with,” “of,” “in” and “to” let the reader know where a noun is [...]
Writing About Music
As an editor, I have had to edit and proofread a huge variety of subjects, but never has one presented more difficulty and detail than writing on classical music. I am lucky to have a skilled partner in crime–a music lover who moonlights as a proofreader for the Foundation—but even luckier to have found what [...]
Failblog Friday: Now Hiring
Many editors and writers are working on multiple projects at multiple times. It can be tempting to compartmentalize and focus on what you are doing without considering the big picture, but try to keep in mind how your total project will look.
If it’s a newscast, ask an editor to look over your show your help [...]
The Paramedic Method of Revision
Whether it’s for an email, a report or a PowerPoint presentation, many people write every day who never set out to make writing their job. But those who write well succeed because they communicate better.
On the corporate level, writing is not a gift; it’s an easily learned skill. Following the Paramedic Method of revision can [...]
I Stand Corrected
As an editor or proofreader, there is The Line. The Line is the difference between being a capable and knowledgeable grammarian and being an unbearable know-it-all twit. Some people are able to straddle this line better than others.
Correcting those you work with has to be done judiciously if you don’t want the whole office falling [...]
Editing vs. Proofing
Most people don’t understand that editing and proofreading are not synonyms. This article explains the difference so that you can get the most out of your revision process, whether you are a contractor, working in-house somewhere, or just trying to get the process down yourself. So let’s take a look at the writing process:
Prewriting: Initial [...]
Style Conversion 2.1: C-ing Things My Way
These are my notes as I learn the NYT Manual of Style. Check out the previous entries on the A and B sections, and send any questions you have my way via email or in the comments section.
C
CANADA GOOSE: Not Candian geese, since they don’t have citizenship.
CANNON, CANON: A CANNON is artillery, CANON is a [...]
Style Conversion 2.1: The ABCs of New York Times Style
Language is so complex, I feel that every time I read a new guide I only begin to understand all that I do NOT know about writing. But after I get over the initial shock of how I ever wrote a word without knowing this stuff, I feel even more empowered to write better, more [...]
Style Conversion 2.1: The New York Times Manual of Style
When I begin using a new style, the first thing I do is read the stylebook from cover to cover. I did this when I learned AP, too, and although it is a bit like reading the dictionary, you do run across some interesting things.
One paragraph in the preface really struck me. It appears after [...]
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