Tip: Skipper knows – DON’T USE IT Just say regardless. Or use Irrespective: meaning to ignore, discount, not considering.Regardless of your opinion, we decided.All dogs are cute, irrespective of breed.
Irregardless – OUCH
Hyphens – don’t panic.
First, hyphens must not be used interchangeably with dashes. Hyphens are shorter and are used for specific purposes. Hyphens basically put words together to make a new compound. They are used when one word does not work on its own, and it pairs it with the next word for a single “word.” Hyphens Compound Adjectives Hyphenate two […]
How to you Pronounce forte?
“Pronunciation is not my [for-tay]” … but I feel that I’ve heard that the correct pronunciation is “Confusing people is my [fort]” Summary: The confusion may come from ‘forte’ as used in music for strong or loud, which is definitely pronounced ‘for tay’ = /ˈfɔr teɪ/. In French, the same letters are pronounced ‘fort’ = […]
I or Me?
Copyediting or Proofreading?
As you can see in the figure, copyediting is more involved and is a deeper look at content. It may involve changing sentences, moving sentences or paragraphs to a better location, and ensuring everything in the piece is true and necessary. If you don’t employ any type of editing after you have written something (or […]
I or Me?
Pronouns are sometimes used erroneously when a phrase contains more than one object. For example, although “My sister and I are coming” is correct because “My sister and I” is the subject and therefore the nominative I is appropriate, “He invited my sister and I” is wrong because “my sister” and I are the objects, and the pronoun should […]
Write with fewer words
What I have learned over the years about editing is to say the least amount of words to get your point across. Excess wording causes people to (1) lose interest; and (2) miss the message. Especially today, we have less time to keep people’s interest. Mark Twain had this comment:
Redundant Words
Watch for unnecessary words causing redundancy. You will not only be writing better but show your intelligence by avoiding these. Advance warning or notice – A ‘warning’ is always something in advance. You cannot rewind time. Actual fact – A ‘fact’ is by definition is something that has been established. Forever and ever – Forever is forever – until […]
Brain Growth
This little meme reminds me to strive to learn something new every day. When we stop learning, we stop growing. Click on this Harvard Health article for more information.
Importance of Copyediting
First, yes — copyediting became one word in 2018. It is still accepted either way. Copyediting is defined as follows: Copy editing (also copyediting, sometimes abbreviated ce) is the process of reviewing and correcting written material to improve accuracy, readability, and fitness for its purpose, and to ensure that it is free of error, omission, […]