Merriam-Webster Online
(www.merriam-webster.com) This is a resource I use many, many times every day. Of course the site includes a free basic dictionary, complete with pronunciation help. If you’re not sure how to spell a word, you can take a stab at it and the search feature will give you a list of possibilities. You can also [...]
The Elements of Style (Strunk and White)
This is the classic that belongs on every writer’s bookshelf. Seriously, if everyone who writes in English would read and follow the advice given in The Elements of Style, the world would be a better place (and I would be unemployed). This short, inexpensive little gem provides a usage guide, a section of commonly misused [...]
Grammar Vigilantes vs. Historical Sign
You’ve undoubtedly heard of the Grammar Vigilantes, the two 28-year-olds who have traveled the country correcting America’s typos along the way. Recently, however, they got a little carried away and edited (or “defaced” or “vandalized,” depending on your point of view) a sign at the Grand Canyon. Bad vigilantes. Bad. When I first heard of [...]
Editing Is Just Reading, Right?
Whenever I tell someone I edit books for a living, the most common response is some version of “Ooh, you get to read books all day!” Sometimes their eyes go all dreamy and I know they’re picturing themselves kicking back in an easy chair, a cup of coffee or herbal tea in one hand, a [...]
Is Tough Really So Hard?
We all have our pet peeves (and by “we” I mean editors). Some people get excited about the serial comma; others debate whether alright is really all right. Personally, I sigh in dismay whenever I see someone write “tuff” when they mean “tough,” or “ruff” for “rough,” “nite” for “night,” and so on. I’m not [...]
Meet the Editor
Author and editor Sarah M. Andrews is the owner of Sundragon Editing, an independent editorial service. In addition to editing all kinds of documents, from novels to business web copy to college papers, Sarah writes a free monthly newsletter featuring tips and resources for writers. The newsletter is available at the Sundragon website. Should you [...]
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