Resources
Resources for thinking about diversity
By Dilane Mitchell ACES 2019 included a group of sessions that addressed several aspects of diversity and inclusion in our workplaces. A pattern emerged among the feedback. Several attendees asked presenters: “Where can we go to ask these questions in the future?” During the “Hey Guys” session on Saturday morning, Laura Browning of The A.V.…
Read MoreFive ways to succeed as a book copy editor
By Cindy Howle Getting your first freelance job from a production editor at a trade book publisher can be difficult. But it does happen! If you do get that break, here’s how you can impress the author, the editor, and the production editor on your first job and ensure that you’ll be considered for more…
Read MorePreparing your copy for translation: 7 tips for success
By Madalena Sánchez Zampaulo The sign of a great translation is one that does not appear to be a translation—it reads as though it were originally written in the reader’s primary language. This is why, although many stellar translators can translate into their non-native language, the industry standard tends to be that professional translators translate…
Read MoreScience editing: So that’s what you’re doing with your PhD…
By Tamira K. Butler-Likely Science editing is one of those “alternative” careers that isn’t really advertised to science PhDs. When I was a graduate student, I just knew that I would spend the rest of my days in a lab doing research. But after 15 years of working in the lab, I decided to change…
Read MoreAre you careening or careering?
By Andy Hollandbeck The verbs career and careen are easily confused — and they have been often enough that their meanings may merge sometime in the near future. But for now, they mean different things. Career Career comes from a Latin word meaning “road or path.” As a noun, the career we use most is…
Read MoreOne secret to overcoming writer’s block
By Jevon Bolden For many of us, writing has been a part of almost everything we do. Just like you, my time in school and work has been consumed with writing. I’ve been editing books for more than 15 years, but I’ve also written books, articles, marketing pieces, blog posts, essays, research papers, and the…
Read MoreHispanic vs. Latino?
By the writers at CommunicateHealth How do you know whether to describe people as Latino or Hispanic? The short answer: Both terms work, and neither is best. First, let’s clarify what each term means. (Special thanks to @terryblas and his comic You Say Latino for breaking this down for us.) Hispanic refers to language. It…
Read More4 keys to a successful Spanish writing project
By Helen Eby I generally translate documents from English into Spanish for use in the United States. The original document is usually in English, and I am expected to write an equivalent document that meets the client’s needs in Spanish. Since I’m also an editor, I often ask if I can insert minor customizations for…
Read MoreWays words get made
By Emily Brewster A dive into the various origin stories of the members of the English lexicon is best preceded by a quick swim in the details of the language’s basic composition. The heart of the language is Germanic, thanks to some fifth and sixth century invaders, and a huge number of its words are…
Read MoreWhy every style book needs a ‘Dog Terms’ entry
By Kim Kavin The terms “puppy mill” and “dog rescue” have become ubiquitous. One is shorthand for the devils of the dog industry, the other a blanket description of the angels. “Adopt, Don’t Shop,” the saying goes, suggesting that rescuing a puppy and buying a puppy are mutually exclusive actions. How, then, was I supposed…
Read More