tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post5950376965994437836..comments2024-03-27T23:53:59.771-04:00Comments on SleuthSayers: Copyediting tipsLeigh Lundinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-75453291376435401012020-01-15T20:29:50.977-05:002020-01-15T20:29:50.977-05:00Thanks, Edith, Marilyn, Leigh, and Mel. I love mak...Thanks, Edith, Marilyn, Leigh, and Mel. I love making people smile.<br /><br />Leigh, your spelling of editing (I can't even bring myself to spell it your way) is all kinds of wrong. Shiver. As to the difference between line and copyediting, I don't think there's a universal opinion on that. If you really want to know how I define the difference (the services I offer for line editing versus copyediting, we can talk privately sometime). <br /><br />Mel, you let me know which imaginary husband you want, and I'm sure we can come to some arrangement. For the right price, of course.<br /><br />Rita and Susie, I yearn to be illuminating. And Susie, your comma usage here was perfect. On behalf of copyeditors everywhere, I salute you!Barb Goffmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16013123434790272424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-15033183433035756732020-01-15T12:48:19.409-05:002020-01-15T12:48:19.409-05:00Fun and informative post. When I was in grad schoo...Fun and informative post. When I was in grad school, I swear I had to memorize the 17 uses of a comma for one of my classes (history). 17! I still use lots of commas in my academic writing, but in my novels they are all removed by the copy editor. Half the tim I don't know why, but I don't really care. (I bet I've misused all the commas in this post too!) :-) Susie Calkinshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16023173142068702088noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-18038494252174823192020-01-15T08:35:01.865-05:002020-01-15T08:35:01.865-05:00That which you post is illuminating.That which you post is illuminating.Rita Owennoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-62167149403568662862020-01-14T22:56:56.793-05:002020-01-14T22:56:56.793-05:00That's what I'm missing! An imaginary hus...That's what I'm missing! An imaginary husband! Barb, you can't keep them all to yourself...(great post!)Melodie Campbellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07870938103759179132noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-2231662689033583342020-01-14T20:39:42.301-05:002020-01-14T20:39:42.301-05:00More than copyediting, why shouldn’t it be (copy)e...More than copyediting, why shouldn’t it be (copy)editting? We don’t say “Hiting the books.”<br /><br />While we’re on the topic, what’s the difference between line editing and copyediting? And why isn’t it lineediting? Enquiring minds want to know.<br /><br />Barb, I manage which/that pretty well, but not your earlier examples. Your explanation really helped… and did so hilariously.<br />Leigh Lundinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07921276795499571578noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-84748405950573144792020-01-14T20:29:54.535-05:002020-01-14T20:29:54.535-05:00LOVED this, Barb. You should write a grammar book ...LOVED this, Barb. You should write a grammar book in this style. Marilyn Levinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10424778692932139865noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-10790467027442650622020-01-14T18:21:00.973-05:002020-01-14T18:21:00.973-05:00You are hilarious! I actually knew those rules but...You are hilarious! I actually knew those rules but a reminder never hurts.Edith Maxwellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01388006370860482509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-8695278727707829692020-01-14T18:20:22.597-05:002020-01-14T18:20:22.597-05:00Thanks, everyone, for your kind words and for stop...Thanks, everyone, for your kind words and for stopping by!<br /><br />Eve, French lovers always required a comma? Does that mean that no one ever had more than one lover at a time?<br /><br />Sandy, Mark? Who is Mark? A future third imaginary husband? Do tell!<br /><br />Tonette, Mrs. Dahl clearly didn't know about appositives. And that story with your husband is funny indeed. How many husbands did his boss's wife have?Barb Goffmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16013123434790272424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-19389276576021901812020-01-14T18:00:24.113-05:002020-01-14T18:00:24.113-05:00Very good, although my first-grade teacher, Mrs. D...Very good, although my first-grade teacher, Mrs. Dahl, (who I always suspected of being a Gestapo reject because of her excessive cruelty), would go bonkers over leaving off the commas. Conversely, she drove into us never to use commas before an 'and'.<br /><br />You always make me laugh out loud! Your poor husband, Paul.(Did I do that right?)<br />I still rag my own husband about the call he made to his then-boss's home. When his wife answered the phone and he had finished with the pleasantries, he asked, "Is your husband Tom at home?" She and I had a good laugh about it later on,as did Tom.Tonette Joycehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03282619985489614075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-52834464138340145572020-01-14T13:38:24.215-05:002020-01-14T13:38:24.215-05:00I sometimes have a real problem with commas multip...I sometimes have a real problem with commas multiplying like viruses. This helped a lot. Thanks!Larry W. Chavishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06804143598641414386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-80811380794567846232020-01-14T12:28:46.897-05:002020-01-14T12:28:46.897-05:00I can’t stand the sight of a comma inside quotatio...I can’t stand the sight of a comma inside quotation marks and will do anything to avoid. It just looks WRONG because it’s not part of the text within the quotes. I add extra words to avoid it — ex: My new story is published in Crime Travel. The title is.... But I don’t like the look of periods inside quotation marks either. So I would go for “Blah Blah” is the title. <br /><br />I hope you and Mark will be very happy together. Sandra Pardhallhttp://www.sandraparshall.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-84978184617526224462020-01-14T10:23:29.273-05:002020-01-14T10:23:29.273-05:00Great post!! Especially those first two examples-...Great post!! Especially those first two examples--wonderful explanation of WHY those commas are (and are not) needed.<br /><br /><br />John Floydhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04001712728130488485noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-24988994977021070542020-01-14T10:21:35.103-05:002020-01-14T10:21:35.103-05:00The French rule of relationships, in the 17th-18th...The French rule of relationships, in the 17th-18th centuries, was to marry for family and love for pleasure. That way everyone always knew who one's husband was. Using your lover, however, in a sentence, would always require a comma. <br />Love the post.Eve Fisherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03015761600962360110noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-43598164576520103172020-01-14T09:30:25.469-05:002020-01-14T09:30:25.469-05:00Thank you, Leone!Thank you, Leone!Barb Goffmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02172124872936856806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-20784895396023481562020-01-14T09:29:51.151-05:002020-01-14T09:29:51.151-05:00Counting time in six-minute increments--no! Law fi...Counting time in six-minute increments--no! Law firm flashback! And thanks, Mark.Barb Goffmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02172124872936856806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-80492170191238298292020-01-14T09:27:36.927-05:002020-01-14T09:27:36.927-05:00Me too! And thanks, Josh.Me too! And thanks, Josh.Barb Goffmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02172124872936856806noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-10527990846948985222020-01-14T07:40:33.892-05:002020-01-14T07:40:33.892-05:00Informative AND witty. A perfect post.Informative AND witty. A perfect post.Leonehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13803251635902910126noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-30369540330084896152020-01-14T07:05:23.353-05:002020-01-14T07:05:23.353-05:00Entertaining as always, and so helpful. I owe you ...Entertaining as always, and so helpful. I owe you for six minutes of editing time. Mark Berginhttp://markberginwriter.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3119105822589181967.post-13914875130621056362020-01-14T05:45:17.600-05:002020-01-14T05:45:17.600-05:00Good one, Barb! But I’m sorry to hear that your re...Good one, Barb! But I’m sorry to hear that your <i>real</i> life is Rudderless....joshpachttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12123432071405643210noreply@blogger.com