An Editor's Cup of Tea

Stylistic punctuation is a powerful tool for creating voice in writing. However, this effect quickly dwindles if writers don't use punctuation marks correctly, particularly when it comes to ellipses and em dashes. Some people misuse these marks, while others tend to overuse one and avoid the other. In reality, using both ellipses and em dashes as intended would be far more effective. So, let's jump in! Created via the imgflip meme generator All About Em Dashes Admittedly, I use the em dash a little too much. In a previous post, I even called myself "the em dash champion of the world." Nevertheless, em dashes do serve specific purposes, and they aren't always the best choice. So, what can they do? You're about to find out.  Convey Interruptions Em dashes are perfect for showing interruptions in dialogue. Amateur writers often use ellipses for this purpose, but this is incorrect. Em dashes simply work better because their tone is more abrupt, as interruptions sh...

For a lot of people, syntax is a scary word with an obscure meaning. It's something that teachers don't cover much in schools, and as such, many people don't understand all of its nuances. So, what is syntax? Essentially, syntax is the proper choice of words for each sentence. It covers topics such as word choice, denotation and connotation, and sentence agreement.  Created via the  imgflip meme generator Word Choice One subject that connects to syntax is word choice. In the English language, there are numerous words that mean the same thing. However, the audience of an individual piece will determine what word is used. For example, take the word "toilet." If you're speaking to a room full of adults, this word would be the correct choice. But would this word change if you were speaking to a toddler? Would you perhaps say "potty" instead? That is an example of syntax. You adjust your words depending on your audience.  Created via the  imgflip meme gen...

Except when it comes to newly developed slang, spelling has been standardized in the United States since 1806, when Noah Webster published his first dictionary. Words are supposed to be spelled a certain way so that everyone can read them and know what they mean. However, sometimes, companies will still sell misspelled items and make money off of them. If a product is still making money, does it matter whether or not it's misspelled? Created via the  imgflip meme generator Jeff Deck's Experience In chapter 16 of his book The Great Typo Hunt , Jeff Deck chronicles an experience in which he noticed a typo in a piece of merchandise at a festival booth. Instead of using the standard, correct French spelling of "Bon Appetit," this store had printed and started selling a sign that said "Bon Appetite."' Created via the  imgflip meme generator Deck, who was on a cross-country road trip to correct typos, brought this issue up to the lady running the booth. He at ...

Over the course of this semester, I have delved into three separate books that explain different aspects of grammar, punctuation, and writing. Each of them had very different tones and described multitudes of topics. Because I enjoy sharing great texts with anyone who needs them, I have decided to write a small review for each book, answering three questions: Who is this book for? Does it accomplish its goals? And would I recommend it to my readers? Ready? Let's begin! Created via the imgflip meme generator The Great Typo Hunt Have you ever read a grammar book that followed an actual storyline? If not, you have got to read this book. It follows the author, Jeff Deck, as he travels the United States with one goal in mind: fixing typos. It has action. It has adventure. It has intrigue. But best of all, it details all the common spelling and grammar mistakes and explains why they're wrong. Based on this information, this book seems to be for people who understand some basic gramm...

Have you ever struggled with spelling? It's okay. You can admit it. Spelling words correctly can be incredibly difficult, and it's not something that is going to go away because you passed all your spelling tests as a kid. The truth is: We aren't usually taught how to spell. We're taught how to memorize spellings, and there are frankly too many words in the English language for this method to be sustainable. Created via the  imgflip meme generator The Rules You Probably Already Know If your spelling education was anything like mine, I'm sure you learned a few basic rules. The one that comes to my mind right away is the " i before e except after c " rule. I still repeat that in my head sometimes when trying to decide how to spell common words like "their." Of course, I also learned how to sound out words, but both of these rules hit roadblocks. What about words like "caffeine"? That i isn't before the e , and there's no c befo...