Are you a graduate student in the health or life sciences? Do you know what you want to say but find you have a hard time putting it into words? Does your supervisor or graduate committee express frustration over your apparent lack of writing skills? Are you certain that your scientific logic is sound but … Continue reading The Benefits of a Writing Coach
Scary “Scare Quotes”
It seems a topic only too appropriate for today: I ran across scare quotes today in a page proof. They were used inconsistently, so I dug into my trusty Chicago manual to see the scoop and what rules might apply. As usual, I never open that book without learning something. "Scare quotes," according to CMOS 17 … Continue reading Scary “Scare Quotes”
Serious Serial Comma Silliness
I am a fan of the Oxford comma (also called the series or serial comma): parsley, sage, rosemary[,?] and thyme. Or at least I thought I was. Recent conversations and reading have led me to think again about where I place my comma allegiances, and why. My go-to example in favour of the series comma … Continue reading Serious Serial Comma Silliness
The Asthma Adversary
I have asthma. When you learn this about me, what assumptions do you make? That I am fragile? Weak? That my parents and doctors failed me somehow? That I don’t (or didn’t) take good care of myself? That I can’t (or won’t) do the things healthy people do? That it can’t really be that bad, … Continue reading The Asthma Adversary
Nit-picking Numbers
How a day spent grappling with "2" and "two" taught me something about numbers, numerals, and life Sometimes I appreciate the technical side of editing. I don't mean editing technical documents, necessarily - I mean the technical aspects of grammar and style that give me the illusion that I can tell right from wrong. As my … Continue reading Nit-picking Numbers
Comma Confusion: To Include or Not to Include?
Recently, in reviewing an academic article, I came across the following sentence in the notes to a table: "Industry and year-specific intercepts are not included for brevity." At first glance, the meaning might seem obvious, but let's look again. Are you including the intercepts or not? Because this could mean two things: that the intercepts … Continue reading Comma Confusion: To Include or Not to Include?
Barrel Racing, Family Style
The grandpa has a chestnut gelding named Cody with whom he competes on the rodeo circuit. Today he has fitted Cody's saddle with a set of mini-stirrups so his preschool-aged grandson can climb aboard. They are headed to the arena to do some barrel racing. The preschool kind, anyway. Grandpa has the reins, on the … Continue reading Barrel Racing, Family Style
Horse Tails
It's lunchtime at the ranch and I am taking a break. In the barn. The rest of the staff are elsewhere, but not I. I just can't stay away from these animals. I am starved for their company. This is therapy. Two rows of standing stalls are occupied by twenty horses having lunch. The barn … Continue reading Horse Tails
Perspective
This evening I attended the Manitoba Editors' Association workshop entitled "Get to the Point", where the organizer Adrianne W. led us through a fun and informative series of exercises in concise writing. The first exercise took me into familiar territory: writing concise business communication. Adrianne shared the Top 10 Tips for editing business writing, and … Continue reading Perspective
The Plurality of Pluralization
I found out today that Editors Canada members now receive an online subscription to the Chicago Manual of Style. Bonus! ... even if I just bought my own copy of the 17th edition, um, last week. Ah well. It's good to have options, and I am indeed grateful for the benefits of membership I am … Continue reading The Plurality of Pluralization