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It's possessives and apostrophes week
Singular owner that doesn’t end in ess
Let's start with the easy one. If a singular common or proper noun not ending in ess (cat, for instance) is possessive, you add an apostrophe and an ess. (Ex: My cat's food is stinky. Newsie's food is stinky)
#EditorsNote
Singular owner that doesn’t end in ess
Let's start with the easy one. If a singular common or proper noun not ending in ess (cat, for instance) is possessive, you add an apostrophe and an ess. (Ex: My cat's food is stinky. Newsie's food is stinky)
#EditorsNote
November 10, 2025 at 5:14 PM
It's possessives and apostrophes week
Singular owner that doesn’t end in ess
Let's start with the easy one. If a singular common or proper noun not ending in ess (cat, for instance) is possessive, you add an apostrophe and an ess. (Ex: My cat's food is stinky. Newsie's food is stinky)
#EditorsNote
Singular owner that doesn’t end in ess
Let's start with the easy one. If a singular common or proper noun not ending in ess (cat, for instance) is possessive, you add an apostrophe and an ess. (Ex: My cat's food is stinky. Newsie's food is stinky)
#EditorsNote
Know the diff: lead v. led
Lead (rhymes w/"greed") is the present-tense verb meaning show the way, or a noun meaning thing or person in front or in charge.
Pronounced like "bed" it's a noun, a metal.
Led is past tense of the verb lead.
Ex: He led me to the lead paint. I took the lead on its removal.
Lead (rhymes w/"greed") is the present-tense verb meaning show the way, or a noun meaning thing or person in front or in charge.
Pronounced like "bed" it's a noun, a metal.
Led is past tense of the verb lead.
Ex: He led me to the lead paint. I took the lead on its removal.
November 9, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Know the diff: lead v. led
Lead (rhymes w/"greed") is the present-tense verb meaning show the way, or a noun meaning thing or person in front or in charge.
Pronounced like "bed" it's a noun, a metal.
Led is past tense of the verb lead.
Ex: He led me to the lead paint. I took the lead on its removal.
Lead (rhymes w/"greed") is the present-tense verb meaning show the way, or a noun meaning thing or person in front or in charge.
Pronounced like "bed" it's a noun, a metal.
Led is past tense of the verb lead.
Ex: He led me to the lead paint. I took the lead on its removal.
Know the difference: course vs. coarse
A course is a path, either physical (like a trail) or conceptual (like a class or a plan). It's part of the idiom "of course."
Coarse means rough, either physically (like the texture of a surface) or conceptually (like a tone or manner).
#EditorsNote
A course is a path, either physical (like a trail) or conceptual (like a class or a plan). It's part of the idiom "of course."
Coarse means rough, either physically (like the texture of a surface) or conceptually (like a tone or manner).
#EditorsNote
November 8, 2025 at 9:02 PM
Know the difference: course vs. coarse
A course is a path, either physical (like a trail) or conceptual (like a class or a plan). It's part of the idiom "of course."
Coarse means rough, either physically (like the texture of a surface) or conceptually (like a tone or manner).
#EditorsNote
A course is a path, either physical (like a trail) or conceptual (like a class or a plan). It's part of the idiom "of course."
Coarse means rough, either physically (like the texture of a surface) or conceptually (like a tone or manner).
#EditorsNote
Editing bit: Should I be saying “an historic” or “a historic”?
According to AP Style, it's "a historic."
#EditorsNote
According to AP Style, it's "a historic."
#EditorsNote
November 7, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Editing bit: Should I be saying “an historic” or “a historic”?
According to AP Style, it's "a historic."
#EditorsNote
According to AP Style, it's "a historic."
#EditorsNote
Know the difference: prophecy vs. prophesy vs. prophesize
Prophecy, a vision or phenomenal knowledge of the future, is a noun.
Prophesy, to have a vision or phenomenal knowledge of the future, is noun or verb.
Prophesize is not recognized as a legitimate spelling by most dictionaries.
#EditorsNote
Prophecy, a vision or phenomenal knowledge of the future, is a noun.
Prophesy, to have a vision or phenomenal knowledge of the future, is noun or verb.
Prophesize is not recognized as a legitimate spelling by most dictionaries.
#EditorsNote
November 6, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Know the difference: prophecy vs. prophesy vs. prophesize
Prophecy, a vision or phenomenal knowledge of the future, is a noun.
Prophesy, to have a vision or phenomenal knowledge of the future, is noun or verb.
Prophesize is not recognized as a legitimate spelling by most dictionaries.
#EditorsNote
Prophecy, a vision or phenomenal knowledge of the future, is a noun.
Prophesy, to have a vision or phenomenal knowledge of the future, is noun or verb.
Prophesize is not recognized as a legitimate spelling by most dictionaries.
#EditorsNote
Editing bit: Decades
When you abbreviate decades, put apostrophes in lieu of missing numbers, not before the ess.
Example: I love the '80s.
#EditorsNote
When you abbreviate decades, put apostrophes in lieu of missing numbers, not before the ess.
Example: I love the '80s.
#EditorsNote
November 5, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Editing bit: Decades
When you abbreviate decades, put apostrophes in lieu of missing numbers, not before the ess.
Example: I love the '80s.
#EditorsNote
When you abbreviate decades, put apostrophes in lieu of missing numbers, not before the ess.
Example: I love the '80s.
#EditorsNote
Know the difference: burglary vs. robbery
To burgle is to steal people's things when they are not there.
To rob is to steal people things by force in their presence.
#EditorsNote
To burgle is to steal people's things when they are not there.
To rob is to steal people things by force in their presence.
#EditorsNote
November 4, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Know the difference: burglary vs. robbery
To burgle is to steal people's things when they are not there.
To rob is to steal people things by force in their presence.
#EditorsNote
To burgle is to steal people's things when they are not there.
To rob is to steal people things by force in their presence.
#EditorsNote
Know the difference: temblor vs. trembler
A temblor is an earthquake.
A trembler is anything that shakes.
Examples: I felt that! That was quite a temblor we just had.
The big dude sitting next to me at the scary movie was a real trembler, poor scaredy-pants.
#EditorsNote
A temblor is an earthquake.
A trembler is anything that shakes.
Examples: I felt that! That was quite a temblor we just had.
The big dude sitting next to me at the scary movie was a real trembler, poor scaredy-pants.
#EditorsNote
November 3, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Know the difference: temblor vs. trembler
A temblor is an earthquake.
A trembler is anything that shakes.
Examples: I felt that! That was quite a temblor we just had.
The big dude sitting next to me at the scary movie was a real trembler, poor scaredy-pants.
#EditorsNote
A temblor is an earthquake.
A trembler is anything that shakes.
Examples: I felt that! That was quite a temblor we just had.
The big dude sitting next to me at the scary movie was a real trembler, poor scaredy-pants.
#EditorsNote
Editing bit: Daylight Saving Time is written like that.
It does not include the word 'savings.’
#EditorsNote
It does not include the word 'savings.’
#EditorsNote
November 3, 2025 at 12:21 AM
Editing bit: Daylight Saving Time is written like that.
It does not include the word 'savings.’
#EditorsNote
It does not include the word 'savings.’
#EditorsNote
Editing bit: Don't say "a palm tree." Just say "a palm."
A palm is not a tree.
Palms have no cambium and no bark. Morphologically, they are more like grass.
#EditorsNote
A palm is not a tree.
Palms have no cambium and no bark. Morphologically, they are more like grass.
#EditorsNote
November 3, 2025 at 12:20 AM
Editing bit: Don't say "a palm tree." Just say "a palm."
A palm is not a tree.
Palms have no cambium and no bark. Morphologically, they are more like grass.
#EditorsNote
A palm is not a tree.
Palms have no cambium and no bark. Morphologically, they are more like grass.
#EditorsNote
Know the difference: lightning vs. lightening
Lightning is the flash that comes with the thunder. We're going to get some Monday, I expect (NOTE: My expertise as a grammarian gives me zero credence as a meteorologist.)
Lightening is a lessening of heft, color or stress.
#EditorsNote
Lightning is the flash that comes with the thunder. We're going to get some Monday, I expect (NOTE: My expertise as a grammarian gives me zero credence as a meteorologist.)
Lightening is a lessening of heft, color or stress.
#EditorsNote
November 1, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Know the difference: lightning vs. lightening
Lightning is the flash that comes with the thunder. We're going to get some Monday, I expect (NOTE: My expertise as a grammarian gives me zero credence as a meteorologist.)
Lightening is a lessening of heft, color or stress.
#EditorsNote
Lightning is the flash that comes with the thunder. We're going to get some Monday, I expect (NOTE: My expertise as a grammarian gives me zero credence as a meteorologist.)
Lightening is a lessening of heft, color or stress.
#EditorsNote
Halloween editing bit: Frankenstein
Do not call the big, stitched-forehead, bolted-neck, undersized-jacket green guy Frankenstein. He is not Frankenstein.
The doctor is Frankenstein. The stitched bolted dude with constrained armpits is Frankenstein’s monster.
#EditorsNote
Do not call the big, stitched-forehead, bolted-neck, undersized-jacket green guy Frankenstein. He is not Frankenstein.
The doctor is Frankenstein. The stitched bolted dude with constrained armpits is Frankenstein’s monster.
#EditorsNote
October 31, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Halloween editing bit: Frankenstein
Do not call the big, stitched-forehead, bolted-neck, undersized-jacket green guy Frankenstein. He is not Frankenstein.
The doctor is Frankenstein. The stitched bolted dude with constrained armpits is Frankenstein’s monster.
#EditorsNote
Do not call the big, stitched-forehead, bolted-neck, undersized-jacket green guy Frankenstein. He is not Frankenstein.
The doctor is Frankenstein. The stitched bolted dude with constrained armpits is Frankenstein’s monster.
#EditorsNote
Editing bit: where to put the dollar sign
Out loud, you say, "That cost 30,000 dollars."
But you transcribe that with the symbol pronounced as "dollars" before the number.
Crazy, I know.
Correct: That cost $30,000.
Incorrect: That cost 30,000$
#EditorsNote
Out loud, you say, "That cost 30,000 dollars."
But you transcribe that with the symbol pronounced as "dollars" before the number.
Crazy, I know.
Correct: That cost $30,000.
Incorrect: That cost 30,000$
#EditorsNote
October 30, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Editing bit: where to put the dollar sign
Out loud, you say, "That cost 30,000 dollars."
But you transcribe that with the symbol pronounced as "dollars" before the number.
Crazy, I know.
Correct: That cost $30,000.
Incorrect: That cost 30,000$
#EditorsNote
Out loud, you say, "That cost 30,000 dollars."
But you transcribe that with the symbol pronounced as "dollars" before the number.
Crazy, I know.
Correct: That cost $30,000.
Incorrect: That cost 30,000$
#EditorsNote
Know the difference: foundering vs. floundering
To founder is to totally fail.
To flounder is to struggle.
Examples: That boat had a hole in it, so it didn’t stand a chance. It foundered in five minutes.
I was out there floundering and finally I gave up.
#EditorsNote
To founder is to totally fail.
To flounder is to struggle.
Examples: That boat had a hole in it, so it didn’t stand a chance. It foundered in five minutes.
I was out there floundering and finally I gave up.
#EditorsNote
October 29, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Know the difference: foundering vs. floundering
To founder is to totally fail.
To flounder is to struggle.
Examples: That boat had a hole in it, so it didn’t stand a chance. It foundered in five minutes.
I was out there floundering and finally I gave up.
#EditorsNote
To founder is to totally fail.
To flounder is to struggle.
Examples: That boat had a hole in it, so it didn’t stand a chance. It foundered in five minutes.
I was out there floundering and finally I gave up.
#EditorsNote
Editing bit: Questioning statements
Do not put a question mark after a sentence that begins "I thought," "I wonder" or “Guess.”
If you do, you are wondering aloud if you are really that nuts.
Ex: I thought I was supposed to punctuate it that way.
I wonder if I am that nuts.
Guess what.
#EditorsNote
Do not put a question mark after a sentence that begins "I thought," "I wonder" or “Guess.”
If you do, you are wondering aloud if you are really that nuts.
Ex: I thought I was supposed to punctuate it that way.
I wonder if I am that nuts.
Guess what.
#EditorsNote
October 28, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Editing bit: Questioning statements
Do not put a question mark after a sentence that begins "I thought," "I wonder" or “Guess.”
If you do, you are wondering aloud if you are really that nuts.
Ex: I thought I was supposed to punctuate it that way.
I wonder if I am that nuts.
Guess what.
#EditorsNote
Do not put a question mark after a sentence that begins "I thought," "I wonder" or “Guess.”
If you do, you are wondering aloud if you are really that nuts.
Ex: I thought I was supposed to punctuate it that way.
I wonder if I am that nuts.
Guess what.
#EditorsNote
Editing bit: The expression is spelled "shoo-in."
If something or someone is sure to win, you’ve got a shoo-in.
Imagine the public shooing a guy onto the winner's podium like you would shoo a dog out of the kitchen.
#EditorsNote
If something or someone is sure to win, you’ve got a shoo-in.
Imagine the public shooing a guy onto the winner's podium like you would shoo a dog out of the kitchen.
#EditorsNote
October 27, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Editing bit: The expression is spelled "shoo-in."
If something or someone is sure to win, you’ve got a shoo-in.
Imagine the public shooing a guy onto the winner's podium like you would shoo a dog out of the kitchen.
#EditorsNote
If something or someone is sure to win, you’ve got a shoo-in.
Imagine the public shooing a guy onto the winner's podium like you would shoo a dog out of the kitchen.
#EditorsNote
Know the difference: compel vs. impel
Compel means to force somebody to do a thing. The doer of the thing has no choice or control.
Impel means you have to do it and the motivation is coming from inside yourself.
#EditorsNote
Compel means to force somebody to do a thing. The doer of the thing has no choice or control.
Impel means you have to do it and the motivation is coming from inside yourself.
#EditorsNote
October 26, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Know the difference: compel vs. impel
Compel means to force somebody to do a thing. The doer of the thing has no choice or control.
Impel means you have to do it and the motivation is coming from inside yourself.
#EditorsNote
Compel means to force somebody to do a thing. The doer of the thing has no choice or control.
Impel means you have to do it and the motivation is coming from inside yourself.
#EditorsNote
Editing bit: canceled
There is only one ell in "canceled," but you get to put two ells in "cancellation."
Autocorrect is not your friend here.
Correct: Because we have had so much rain this winter, the city has canceled Farmers Market several times.
#EditorsNote
There is only one ell in "canceled," but you get to put two ells in "cancellation."
Autocorrect is not your friend here.
Correct: Because we have had so much rain this winter, the city has canceled Farmers Market several times.
#EditorsNote
October 25, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Editing bit: canceled
There is only one ell in "canceled," but you get to put two ells in "cancellation."
Autocorrect is not your friend here.
Correct: Because we have had so much rain this winter, the city has canceled Farmers Market several times.
#EditorsNote
There is only one ell in "canceled," but you get to put two ells in "cancellation."
Autocorrect is not your friend here.
Correct: Because we have had so much rain this winter, the city has canceled Farmers Market several times.
#EditorsNote
Know the difference: last vs. past
"Last" means "final," so use this when there will be no more.
"Past" means "most recent," so use this when more are coming.
Examples: She was here for two weeks. We cried the last two days.
We have been eating rice for the past two days.
#EditorsNote
"Last" means "final," so use this when there will be no more.
"Past" means "most recent," so use this when more are coming.
Examples: She was here for two weeks. We cried the last two days.
We have been eating rice for the past two days.
#EditorsNote
October 24, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Know the difference: last vs. past
"Last" means "final," so use this when there will be no more.
"Past" means "most recent," so use this when more are coming.
Examples: She was here for two weeks. We cried the last two days.
We have been eating rice for the past two days.
#EditorsNote
"Last" means "final," so use this when there will be no more.
"Past" means "most recent," so use this when more are coming.
Examples: She was here for two weeks. We cried the last two days.
We have been eating rice for the past two days.
#EditorsNote
Editing bit: Ownership
I see this all the time: Soandso owns his own boat.
Stop this.
You want to say, "Soandso owns a boat."
#EditorsNote
I see this all the time: Soandso owns his own boat.
Stop this.
You want to say, "Soandso owns a boat."
#EditorsNote
October 23, 2025 at 8:11 AM
Editing bit: Ownership
I see this all the time: Soandso owns his own boat.
Stop this.
You want to say, "Soandso owns a boat."
#EditorsNote
I see this all the time: Soandso owns his own boat.
Stop this.
You want to say, "Soandso owns a boat."
#EditorsNote
Know the difference: flier vs. flyer
A flier is a graphic announcement to email or print & post in public.
A flyer is someone who operates something that flies or moves fast.
But people use "flyer" for graphic announcements so often that it has become accepted as an alternate way to spell "flier."
A flier is a graphic announcement to email or print & post in public.
A flyer is someone who operates something that flies or moves fast.
But people use "flyer" for graphic announcements so often that it has become accepted as an alternate way to spell "flier."
October 22, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Know the difference: flier vs. flyer
A flier is a graphic announcement to email or print & post in public.
A flyer is someone who operates something that flies or moves fast.
But people use "flyer" for graphic announcements so often that it has become accepted as an alternate way to spell "flier."
A flier is a graphic announcement to email or print & post in public.
A flyer is someone who operates something that flies or moves fast.
But people use "flyer" for graphic announcements so often that it has become accepted as an alternate way to spell "flier."
Reposted by Editorzilla
Last night I learnt about RAVEN:
Remember:
Affect
(Verb)
Effect
(Noun)
Remember:
Affect
(Verb)
Effect
(Noun)
October 21, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Last night I learnt about RAVEN:
Remember:
Affect
(Verb)
Effect
(Noun)
Remember:
Affect
(Verb)
Effect
(Noun)
Editing bit: Don't use CEO on first reference.
Use chief executive officer or corporate executive officer.
Ex: Bob Andweave, chief executive officer of A Spar is Born, said Guy Duckedtooslow's death was unrelated to the bout. Andweave has been their CEO for two days.
#EditorsNote
Use chief executive officer or corporate executive officer.
Ex: Bob Andweave, chief executive officer of A Spar is Born, said Guy Duckedtooslow's death was unrelated to the bout. Andweave has been their CEO for two days.
#EditorsNote
October 21, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Editing bit: Don't use CEO on first reference.
Use chief executive officer or corporate executive officer.
Ex: Bob Andweave, chief executive officer of A Spar is Born, said Guy Duckedtooslow's death was unrelated to the bout. Andweave has been their CEO for two days.
#EditorsNote
Use chief executive officer or corporate executive officer.
Ex: Bob Andweave, chief executive officer of A Spar is Born, said Guy Duckedtooslow's death was unrelated to the bout. Andweave has been their CEO for two days.
#EditorsNote
Reposted by Editorzilla
The British spelling of diarrhoea is so much grosser than the already stupidly spelled American diarrhea. Get that "o" out of there man.
October 19, 2025 at 4:38 PM
The British spelling of diarrhoea is so much grosser than the already stupidly spelled American diarrhea. Get that "o" out of there man.
Know the difference: Caregiver vs. caretaker
A caregiver is someone who supports another human, usually a child, or someone elderly, ill or disabled.
A caretaker is someone in charge of an inanimate object, like a yard or a building.
#EditorsNote
A caregiver is someone who supports another human, usually a child, or someone elderly, ill or disabled.
A caretaker is someone in charge of an inanimate object, like a yard or a building.
#EditorsNote
October 19, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Know the difference: Caregiver vs. caretaker
A caregiver is someone who supports another human, usually a child, or someone elderly, ill or disabled.
A caretaker is someone in charge of an inanimate object, like a yard or a building.
#EditorsNote
A caregiver is someone who supports another human, usually a child, or someone elderly, ill or disabled.
A caretaker is someone in charge of an inanimate object, like a yard or a building.
#EditorsNote