If you're like me, you cringe when you hear someone on reality TV say, "Don't take it personal." At that moment, I fear that it will catch on like wildfire across the world and this will be adopted as a new language rule. The correct way to express this sentiment is: "Don't take it personally." [...]
Though it might seem like we're focusing on only two sets of words here, this proofreading tip provides some base knowledge about compound words, adverbs and adjectives. "Every day" and "any time" are phrases that are sometimes placed together as compound words used as adjectives or adverbs. On their own, though, they refer to exactly [...]
What's the difference between among and between? Or is it among between and among? Just some copy editor humor there. :::crickets::: But really, what is the difference and when do you use these two words? Actually, it's not as clear as you might think. Generally speaking, "between" is used when referring to one-to-one relationships. "Among" [...]
Is it “Mike and me” or “Mike and I”? Well, it depends on how you and Mike are involved. If you and Mike are the subject of the sentence, then you should use “I.” If you and Mike are the object, use “me.” Mike and I are going to a movie. [...]
Your third-grade English teacher was wrong. It is OK to end a sentence with a preposition. Really. Oxford Dictionaries says so (even though some of AVC’s own favorite proofreaders aren’t down with this). This “rule” is a carryover from the 17th and 18th centuries when several notable writers were attempting to make English conform to [...]
It's something we often skip over when reading — comprise/compose. Is there really a difference? Does it really matter that much which one we use? Actually, it does. When your audience knows the difference and you don't, a tiny question of credibility seeps into your readers' brains making them wonder if you don't know [...]
Until English speakers adopt a gender-neutral pronoun, we’re stuck typing out “he or she” and “his or her” to be inclusive. But that can get super clunky. Fortunately, AP says it’s OK to use “they” in the singular when it’s absolutely necessary or when someone’s gender is unknown or should not be revealed. Specifically, AP says: [...]
Commas. Some people love them; some people hate them. But no matter which way you lean, you will need to deal with them in your copy. One of those important instances involves compound sentences and sentences that may look like compound sentences. Where do those pesky commas go? A compound sentence is a sentence that [...]
Have you ever quoted something or someone, neared the end of that quote or sentence and begrudgingly put a period or exclamation point inside or outside the quotation mark, not really knowing whether it's right but hoping no one will notice? We've all been there. But a few simple rules can make you feel [...]
Let's talk about apostrophes. Specifically, let's talk about apostrophes used to replace numbers or letters. Sometimes these come in the form of contractions like don't, can't and won't. Other times we replace numbers: I was born in the ’80s. The above is correct, but too often we see mistakes like these: I was born in the ‘80s. INCORRECT [...]
