Blog: Proofreading matters – Academic, business and educational proofreading

Origins of phrases 1: Music

“As fit as a fiddle” ‘Fiddle' here is the colloquial name for a violin. ‘Fit’ didn’t originally mean healthy, in the sense it is nowadays often used to describe the gym-goers but was used to mean ‘suitable’ or ‘seemly’, similar to the way we now might say ‘fit for purpose’. “It ain't over till the … Continue reading Origins of phrases 1: Music

authorship, readership, tips for writers, writing

How NOT to write a novel – from an established author

Writing a novel is not easy and there is no guarantee of being published or of being a success. Fay Weldon gives some tips.

advertising copy, proofreading, website material

The cost of not proofreading can be great

In a previous blog on my website I stated that it can be costly not to proofread you publication. Well, here a few examples of other people’s losses and misfortunes due to failing to proofread. Case A I’ll tell you a story about how not proofreading cost thousands of dollars. This person, let us call … Continue reading The cost of not proofreading can be great

British English, language, proofreading, US English

Confused words: N to Q

During proofreading I frequently come across the same words that have been confused time and again. I have already discussed words beginning A to M, now I will continue with words beginning with the letters N to Q. naught / nought Nought is used in British English for the digit zero and is also used … Continue reading Confused words: N to Q

grammar, language, writing

Is the double negative a definite no-no?

The Oxford Dictionary of English says a double negative “is a negative statement containing two negative elements (for example he didn’t say nothing)” and “a positive statement in which two negative elements are used to produce the positive force, usually for some rhetorical effect, for example there is not nothing to worry about!” It is … Continue reading Is the double negative a definite no-no?

euphemisms, language, writing

Doublespeak

Doublespeak is language that disguises or distorts the meaning of words deliberately and can often involve a degree of ambiguity. Doublespeak may use euphemisms (that is, indirect expressions used in place of words judged too harsh or blunt when referring to something embarrassing or unpleasant – for example, “downsizing” for laying off employees, “cleansing” for … Continue reading Doublespeak

authorship, grammar, house style, punctuation, quotations, spellings, tips for writers, titles, US English, use of capital letters, writing

House style – Part 2

In part 1 I considered why a house style is necessary for a business – for reasons of consistency, brand identity, and economy. Here I will cover a few areas that should be considered based on UK English usage Writing a house style • Abbreviations, acronyms, and contractions: A common style for abbreviations is capital … Continue reading House style – Part 2

authorship, capitalization, editing, grammar, punctuation, spellings, tips for writers, writing

Developing a house style

Why you need a “house” style By “house” style I mean a writing or editorial style that a company or organization will aim to apply to all the documents and communications it produces. The same can perhaps apply to an individual author who is writing a series of books, guides, or articles. The main reasons … Continue reading Developing a house style

proofreading, punctuation, writing

The decline of the apostrophe

John Richards, a former journalist, started the Apostrophe Protection Society in 2001 after his retirement, with the aim of preserving the correct use of this much-abused punctuation mark in written English. However, he announced in November 2019 that he would close the Society because of firstly, his age (he is 96 after all) and secondly, … Continue reading The decline of the apostrophe

editing, proofreading, tips for writers, typographical errors, writing

5 key steps for writing perfect emails

Today life is a bit of a rush, especially on the work front and mistakes are understandable but a hazard. Failure to check your work and proofread your business emails can result in all sorts of problems, and errors in emails can make your communications appear unprofessional and careless. But there are steps that you … Continue reading 5 key steps for writing perfect emails

House style – Part 2

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Developing a house style

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Tips for writing fiction from a master thriller writer

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Tips for writers: Knowing when to use colons

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Tips for writers: Using italics

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Tips for writers: Avoiding sexist and biased language: part 2

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How NOT to write a novel – from an established author

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The cost of not proofreading can be great

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Confused words: N to Q

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Is the double negative a definite no-no?

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Doublespeak

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House style – Part 2

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Developing a house style

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The decline of the apostrophe

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5 key steps for writing perfect emails

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