To Infinitives . . . And Beyond
A common problem for writers is how to use the infinitive form of a verb. The infinitive is the form of any verb that is "infinite:" for example, "to eat."…
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April 10, 2012
The Hopper Guy has an MFA in Creative Writing and has written and published poems, nonfiction, and fiction. Click the dropdown menu above to see specific genres.
So what are the rules that editors follow and who made them?
The most famous style guides include the Chicago Manual of Style (most widely used in academic publishing) and the Associated Press Stylebook (most widely used in reporting and advertising). Below…
March 14, 2012
Why do editors tell me different things in what seems to be the same situation?
Editors see things that you don’t. They know how language works and what rules govern its use. And those rules vary. Sometimes to communicate what you want as clearly as…
March 13, 2012
What we talk about when we talk about language
What we talk about when we talk about language Any thing is called a "noun" as a part of speech. Any action is called a "verb.". Anything that describes another…
March 12, 2012
“Voice” is not “Quantity”
The number of words is not what conveys meaning; the choice of words does. My cutting your words does not harm your meaning; leaving just the right one makes it…
March 7, 2012
Why You Need An Editor
Why do we need to follow editors' rules? Writing is sustained speech. Nonverbal cues are not there when people are not talking in one another's company, so grammar rules replace…
March 5, 2012
Spell check fail of the day
"The shear quality of the program" I think The right word is "sheer" as in "unqualified," but I like the idea that if you want to leave the program early,…
February 21, 2012
New possibility for medical publishing
I just got my first freelance assignment to help with publishing a study protocol. Journals are encouraging publishing of protocols from studies that are funded but not yet begun…
February 15, 2012
What is a lingua franca?
A lingua franca is any set of language words and constructs that are agreed upon by a set of people. For example, for academics it is lingua franca to say…
January 31, 2012
Antennae vs. Antennas
A while ago my brother, an environmental planner, had to give a presentation about proposed radio antenna towers. He told me that the plural is antennas for radio towers, though…
January 30, 2012