Is it stationary or stationery?

At this time of year, there are a lot of good stationery offers in the supermarkets. ✏️✉️📏✒️ StationEry. 💡 Stationery — ‘e’ for ‘envelopes’: that’s how I remember it. And for those of you who like to get organised and maybe even label a cupboard or drawer… I mean, the cupboard is stationary (unless it’sContinue reading “Is it stationary or stationery?”

More satisfying proofreading spots that Word and AI grammar checkers did not flag.

aka I sell confidence 1. permitter ❌ ➡ perimeter ✔ The grammar checkers didn’t see an issue with this. Why? Because ‘permitter’ is one who permits. Was that what my author meant? Nope. He intended to say ‘perimeter’. 2. the closet person ❌ ➡ the closest person ✔ I suppose one could be a closetContinue reading “More satisfying proofreading spots that Word and AI grammar checkers did not flag.”

If you want an insight into what it takes to get a book to print, read the acknowledgements.

📢 New writers. Have you studied the acknowledgements? If you follow me on social media, you may have seen yesterday I suggested The Editing Podcast is an excellent port of call for those wanting advice on the various components of publishing… May I also suggest you check out the acknowledgements sections of the books youContinue reading “If you want an insight into what it takes to get a book to print, read the acknowledgements.”

How do you find and remove unnecessary spaces at the start of new lines on Word?

The author I’m editing for at the moment has a tendency to add unnecessary spaces at the start of new lines – after a line break. Here’s a great way to find them and fix them. Use Ctrl+H and use this wildcard. ([^l|^13])( ) This will find them for you. And the second wildcard willContinue reading “How do you find and remove unnecessary spaces at the start of new lines on Word?”

Is it slither or sliver?

It’s cake central in my life at the moment. 😬🍰 (Big!) birthdays. Work events. Reconnecting with friends over coffee and cake. So I’ve got to be careful. I only want a small slice … (She says!) But what should I ask for? Check below to find out.

Is it apart or a part?

I promise I am 𝙣𝙤𝙩 this person. I wouldn’t message you back with a correction of your grammar. 😅 I save that for manuscripts. 🔎 But I couldn’t resist it on this meme generator. That’s what memes are all about, right? 💡 Apart = separate from 💡 A part = [in this sense] a sectionContinue reading “Is it apart or a part?”

Is it lay or is it lie?

😬 Even editors hate lay/lie! 💡 Watch this video to check you’re using them correctly. 💬 Feel free to drop some examples below. ❓ Can you use one of the following words correctly in a sentence? ◻ Lay – present tense: to set an object down◻ Laid – past tense◻ Laying – present participle◻ LaidContinue reading “Is it lay or is it lie?”

Mother’s Day or Mothers’ Day? Where should the apostrophe go?

🇬🇧 It’s Mothering Sunday here in the UK. ❓ Did you wake up wondering where to put the apostrophe in your mam’s card?! ✅ Well, it’s your lucky day as I can confirm it should go between the ‘R’ and the ‘S’. Mother’s Day Yes, more than one mum is celebrating her special day today,Continue reading “Mother’s Day or Mothers’ Day? Where should the apostrophe go?”

Your book is your baby – so find the right babysitter!

The author–editor relationship: an analogy: 👶 “I’m so proud of my book baby!” 🎂 “Happy book birthday!” I see a lot of authors using the baby metaphor to describe their books. I can definitely see why. All that time. All that nurturing. And that uncanny reflection where you see parts of yourself staring straight backContinue reading “Your book is your baby – so find the right babysitter!”

Is it me, myself or I? The correct use of first person pronouns.

Sara Rosinsky’s wisdom needs to be shared widely. I’d like to add that the same goes for the word ‘myself’. Subjects: Jessica and myself have organised a workshop. ❌Jessica and I have organised a workshop. ✅ Objects: Please address all enquiries to myself. ❌Please address all enquires to me. ✅ I love Sara’s phrasing: ‘DespiteContinue reading “Is it me, myself or I? The correct use of first person pronouns.”