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Does this title need a comma too?
By Andy Hollandbeck The adverb too, as common and as useful as it is, can also be a source of irritation for editors. As an intensifier meaning “excessively” or “more than necessary” (“Oh that this too too solid flash drive would melt!”) it doesn’t lead to many problems except in its overuse. But when it’s…
Read MoreVetting clients: 10 red-flag phrases
By Molly McCowan No matter how a prospective client finds you (personal referral, search engine, networking event, etc.) it’s your responsibility to make sure you’re a good match. The biggest rule in freelancing—and one newbies often break—is “trust your gut.” You don’t want to end up with a problem client, and take it from me:…
Read MoreStyle Sheets: what they are and how to use them
By Crystal Shelley Every writer and editor has their own working process. When I first started editing, I would open a new Notepad file before I began working on a new manuscript. As I would progress through the edit, I made note of every character name and location I came across, as well as any…
Read MoreHow to avoid fuzzy pictures
By Adrienne Montgomerie A picture is worth a thousand words but is a fuzzy picture worth any words at all? Unless an editor is also a photographer or production staff, the only time they are likely to run into image resolution details is when previewing an image or making an image request. DPI VS PPI…
Read More5 pairs of uncommon confusable words
By Andy Hollandbeck “Commonly confused words” lists exist in excess online, and professional editors make a point of internalizing those common word problems as a matter of professional development. No, what trips us up are the confusable words that are uncommon, like the ten words listed below. Good editors with any doubt about the spelling…
Read MoreGetting paid by the project
By Marcella Fecteau Weiner If you look at freelance job listings, you’ll see that many clients pay by the hour. University presses and smaller publishing houses, however, tend to pay by the project, which can be daunting for a freelancer. How do you know how much time to spend? How do you use your editing skills efficiently? As a freelance editor who works primarily with clients…
Read MoreConnecting writing to architecture, design and building
By Ar. Apurva Bose Dutta The disciplines of writing and architectural design share an inherent bond. Both have narratives created by familiar elements of function, form, and style, interpreted as per the disciplines. Every writing is a story in itself, as every design is one too. Through unique narratives, both fields communicate their stories. This…
Read MoreTo be, or not to be: A grammatical error
By Charita Ray-Blakely, PhD Oftentimes, writers assign human behaviors to inanimate objects and subsequently place themselves in a grammatical quandary known as anthropomorphism. One fundamental task of editing is to promote clarity in content. When used, anthropomorphism can interfere with comprehension and lead to a reader’s inaccurate understanding of content. Some writers confuse anthropomorphism with personification. Fundamentally, personification is a picture or representation of a nonhuman entity possessing a…
Read MoreAvoiding anachronisms in fiction
By Elizabeth Frazier Halfway through a manuscript, the main character remarks that her hobby of refinishing furniture saves material from going to landfills. The proofreader points out that landfills weren’t a thing yet in this setting—at least not formally. It’s a small detail, but an important one. Anachronisms can easily slip into manuscripts—especially fiction and historical fiction. Every reader could probably tell you of a moment they…
Read MoreACES welcomes our new executive director
By Gigi Sutton ACES: The Society for Editing is proud to announce Jehan “Gigi” Sutton as the new executive director. Sutton is joining ACES following her role as the executive director for multiple client associations at an association management firm. She has worked for over 15 years in the association/nonprofit industry and has extensive experience…
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