Chicago Style Workout 24: Commas with Quotations and Questions
This workout focuses on paragraphs 6.43–45 in CMOS 18. Advanced editors might tackle the questions cold; learners can study that section of the Manual before answering the questions.
Am I Too Old to Copyedit? 3 Questions for Those Who Wonder
How does a professional copyeditor know when it’s time to retire? Freelancers especially may be tempted to sail on past the age at which in-house editors are encouraged to put down the red pencil. But in either case, how long is too long? Here are some questions to consider.
Chris Jones talks about Behind the Book
CMOS: Behind the Book is about eleven writers and their experiences in writing and publishing. There are already an awful lot of ”How I Got Published“ blog posts out there in the world. How is your book different? CJ: Let me just say, I love those kinds of posts. I think it’s really valuable to
Chicago Style Workout 23: Hyphens, Part 3b
This workout, the fourth (and last) on hyphenating compounds, centers on the second half of section 3, “Compounds Formed with Specific Terms,” in our extended hyphenation table under paragraph 7.96 in CMOS 18.
Jane Friedman talks about the business of being a writer
Jane Friedman has more than twenty years of experience in the publishing industry and formerly worked for Writer’s Digest and the Virginia Quarterly Review. Her newest book is The Business of Being a Writer. CMOS: What is the business of being a writer?
Can This Not Help But Be a Double Negative?
Double negatives come in many flavors in addition to the familiar “we didn’t find no money” type. Our friends at the website Language Log keep an archive of documented cases of “misnegation,” featuring popular head-scratchers like “I can’t help but not be X,” “I don’t doubt
Chicago Style Workout 22: Hyphens, Part 3a
This workout centers on the first half of section 3, “Compounds Formed with Specific Terms,” in our extended hyphenation table under paragraph 7.96 in CMOS 18.
Section 5.141 in the Spotlight
We all know that a singular noun subject requires a singular verb, and a plural subject requires a plural verb: My favorite is the giraffe. My favorites are nasturtiums and dahlias. And we usually aren’t thrown by a plural subject with a singular predicate:
Iva Cheung talks about plain language, accessibility, and cartooning
Iva Cheung is a Certified Professional Editor (Editors Canada), an indexer, a print designer, and a publishing consultant. She specializes in plain-language editing in health and is working on her PhD in mental health research. Many editors and writers are familiar with her cartoons about . . .
How Long Will My Copyright Last?
How long will your copyright last? The answer depends on a number of factors, including the year it was created, how many authors there were, and where it was published.
