Even if your copy is on message and reads well, small errors can sink you.
Every month, our team — led by proofreader Sarah Muench — shares a proofreading tip or two to help you strengthen your content, one detail at a time.
Is It “Cite” or “Site”?
It's a construction site (not cite). These two get mixed up all the time, and spellcheck might not save you. Cite means to reference a source. Be sure to cite your sources in [...]
Adviser or Advisor: Which Is Right?
Both adviser and advisor are correct spellings. But if you follow AP style, adviser is the preferred choice. The Associated Press sticks with -er for consistency, even though advisor is commonly used in academia, finance and government titles. So [...]
On site vs. On-site vs. Onsite: What’s the Difference?
On-site On site Onsite These three versions may look similar, but one is used more often: “on-site.” On-site (with a hyphen) is the correct adjective: We provide on-site support for your equipment. On [...]
Equity and Equality: What’s the Difference?
The words equity and equality both originate from the Latin root aequus, meaning "even," "fair" or "equal." From this root, Latin gave rise to aequitas (which became equity) and aequalitas (which became equality). While the [...]
Pre-pregnancy or Prepregnancy?
Your gut might tell you to hyphenate “pre-pregnancy” or other words using the prefix “pre.” But you might be dating yourself. That’s because in recent years, the Associated Press added “pre” and “post” to the [...]
How to Stylize Bulleted Lists
We have another important entry for your company style guide: how to stylize bulleted lists. It’s worth adding this one because a lot of people go rogue. Here’s what you need to explain: Capitalization in [...]
Should I Use “Says” or “Said”?
Attribution is important in stories, and you may be confused about whether you should use “says” or “said.” You might also wonder: Does it really matter? This won’t surprise you, but at Active Voice Communications, [...]
Breath vs. Breathe
Breathe is a verb. For example: After her new asthma medications, she could breathe easier. Breath is a noun. For example: Whenever he was stressed out, he took a deep breath.
Guidance on capitalizing New Year
As you prepare your content to welcome your audiences to the new year, it's a good time to brush up on capitalization rules. Here's the general rule: Capitalize "New Year" when referring to the holiday, [...]
M.D. or MD?
Is it M.D. or MD? AP Style recommends using periods with academic degrees (e.g., M.D.). However, at AVC, we prefer the cleaner look of no periods (MD). Whatever style you choose, the key is to [...]