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.
Personal vs. Personally
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 [...]
Every Day vs. Everyday; Any Time vs. Anytime
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 [...]
Between vs. Among
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? [...]
TIP: When to Use “Me” vs. “I”
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 [...]
TIP: Ending Sentences with Prepositions
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” [...]
TIP: Comprise vs. Compose
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 [...]
TIP: Can’t I Just Say “They”?
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” [...]
TIP: Commas in Compound Sentences
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 [...]
TIP: How to Punctuate Quotations
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 [...]
TIP: How to Use Apostrophes
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 [...]