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.
Earth or earth
When do you capitalize Earth, and when is it lowercase? Earth (capitalized) is used when referring to the name of the planet, especially alongside other planets and in this kind of scientific context. Examples: Of [...]
The Correct Way to Write Time Zones
How much time do you have? This question is a bit more complex than one might imagine. First, is it EST or EDT? What do those even stand for? Is there a difference? EST = [...]
Style Question: LGBTQ
LGBTQ is acceptable in all references for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender or for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer and/or questioning. It might be tempting to refer to “the LGBT community,” but in reality, [...]
There Is/Are to Start a Sentence
Should you avoid there is/there are at the beginning of a sentence? The short answer: Yes. Is it incorrect? No. But let's be honest, you can do better. Using "there is" or "there are" sounds [...]
Do I Need a Comma Before “Too”?
You've likely seen it both ways: the word "too" with or without a comma before it. That's because the rules on this one are a bit loose and based on the writer's intent. However, if [...]
How to Identify a Compound Sentence
A compound sentence is a sentence with two or more independent clauses. An independent clause can stand alone as its own sentence. Example: We launched our newest residential living experience, and prospective residents immediately began [...]
Home in vs. Hone
Here’s how to remember the difference between "home in" and "hone": A person, bird or aircraft homes in on a target, but a person hones his or her skills. Most style guides tell us to [...]
Historic vs. Historical
This is a tricky one that makes us want to check and double-check to make sure we're using the right adjective. "Historic" and "historical" are adjectives that have very similar meanings: Historic describes something momentous [...]
More Than vs. Over
This is a question that always pops into the heads of those who learned Associated Press style before 2014. Even when we see someone use the word "over" in copy today, our brains often raise [...]
Less vs. Fewer
"What's the big deal? They mean the same thing." True. "Less" and "fewer" have similar meanings, but they frequently are misused. When that happens, it's a grammar mistake that can leave your audience with less [...]