Copy Editor ISO Vacation Spot with NO WORDS!

I LOVE the work I do - I honest to God think I have the best job in the world. The only downside to it is that now every time I pick up a book to read in my spare time, I edit it as I go, which turns my all-time favorite hobby into...work. =( And I can't just turn it off either. I think I might need a vacation. What do you think? The only problem is finding a really private spot where I can kick back and relax, and most importantly--NOT READ ANYTHING!! No signs, no manuals, no directions, no menus...well, okay, maybe menus!! But seriously, nothing that will make me feel as if I am working.

I'm in luck. I found just the place, but I need your help!!

I don't know anybody who couldn't use a vacation right about.....NOW! PLEASE click the link below and sign up! For every person I have sign up, I receive 10 entries for myself. But don't worry! Once you sign up, anybody you have sign up will earn 10 entries for yourself as well! So sign up, repost everywhere you can, and I'll meet you on the beach! =)

Hopefully I will be back in the swing of things with my blog very very soon. During the past 2 years, I have been blessed by so much work I just couldn't find a few minutes to blog. Don't get me wrong, I'm still busy, but a lot of things have changed for me over the past two years, and my priorities have been "reorganized." Maybe I'll even share some of my story on here even though it has nothing to do with editing. It's MY blog after all, right? ;)

Talk to you soon!
Laura

PS - Here is the link you want SO badly to sign up for just for me!! ;)

Make Your New Year's Resolution to Hire a Copy Editor!

I wish everyone a very Happy 2011. And for all of you out there who feel that the state of your written materials last year might just be what cost you that job, got you all those C's on your school papers, or caused the main customer comment left for your business to be "You misspelled ____" or "You use too many commas," make a resolution this year to always have your copy editor check your work. 


Happy 2011 to everyone!
Laura

English Grammar Rules That Could Have Used Copy Editing!

Hi everyone. Long time, no post. I apologize for that. I have been swamped! But I wanted to post some pics I have taken over the last month. These pictures are errors made by people that should have known better - or hired a copy editor!! Enjoy!

No comment really...other than maybe WHY would anyone name a gas station "Three way"? PLEASE consult your copy editor next time.

This one isn't so much funny as it is sad. CITY business should always be copy edited before "Every day" becomes an everyday thing..

I enlarged this picture so you can read it better. CNN--a leader in news reporting--really should have had their business reports copy edited before they put "gararge" on the news. Nice CNN, nice. =)

I hope you enjoy these and I will post again as soon as I slow down a bit. Until then, mind your Ps and Qs--and by all means, have your copy editor double-check your work! 

Your copy editor/proofreader,

Laura

Go Texas Rangers!!!!!

Congratulations to the Texas Rangers for their very first trip to the World Series!!! Awesome Job Guys!!!!

There's a LOT of happy people in Texas right now. =)

Your Copy Editor (and Ranger fan)

Laura

Your Copy Editor Wants You to Ask Yourself, "Is This Necessary?"

TGIF!!!! I hope everyone had a wonderful week! I know this week has definitely been a great one for me. I actually took a few days off to spend playing with my kids—ALWAYS time well-spent. 

I am working on compiling a list of style guide comparisons in between teaching and copy editing. Until I get the list compiled though, let me give you another comma point to ponder. =)

First, let’s talk about the difference between a restrictive clause and a non-restrictive clause. A restrictive clause adds information to the sentence that is imperative to its meaning. In other words, if you remove the restrictive clause, it will change the meaning of the sentence.

For example:

1. The proofreaders were responsible for catching the errors that the copy editors overlooked.

If you remove “that the copy editors overlooked” from this sentence, it changes the meaning of the sentence.

Now, a non-restrictive clause is non-essential information that is added to the sentence. In other words, if you remove the non-restrictive clause, the meaning of the sentence will not be changed.

For example:

1. The unedited technical document, which was written by the engineer, was lengthy and disorganized.

Here, if you remove “which was written by the engineer” from the sentence, it does not change the meaning of the sentence. 

What does all of this have to do with commas? Glad you asked. This is a VERY common error I find when proofreading or copy editing. Restrictive clauses are never set off from the rest of the sentence by commas and they usually begin with that, who, whose, or whom. The non-restrictive clauses are always set off from the rest of the sentence by commas and they usually begin with which, who, whose, or whom.

I find that many writers confuse that and which quite often. So in your writing, ask yourself “Is this information necessary to the meaning of the sentence?” If your answer is “yes,” then you will use that without commas. If your answer is “no,” then the correct usage is which with commas separating the clause from the rest of the sentence.

And if you STILL have questions, ask your copy editor. =) Make sure you don't miss any posts, and click "Follow Laura's Proofs" at the right-hand side over there! And right now, the first person to get 15 of their friends and family to "follow" my blog will win 2 FREE hours of proofreading or copy editing! Make sure your friends e-mail me at laurasproofs@gmail.com to tell me you sent them! =)

Until tomorrow,

Mind your Ps and Qs!

Your copy editor,

Laura

P.S. I am still taking submissions for my book of unique words and phrases. I would like to have some from all corners of the globe!

Are You and Your Friends Following Laura's Proofs YET?!

Well, what's taking so long? =) 

Make sure you don't miss out on any of my updates or posts! It's uber-simple to do! Just look at the right-hand side of this page and click "Follow." That's it! I don't send you anything, no spam. Just a way to keep up with me and my editorial rants. 

Oh yeah, and there IS that little contest for 2 FREE hours of copy editing or proofreading for anybody who can get 15 of their friends and family to "follow" me as well. But make sure they send me an e-mail to laurasproofs@gmail.com to tell me you sent them! 

Good luck to everyone and good night. =)

Your copy editor, 

Laura

The Commas, etc., in Your Copy Editor's Head!

I hope everyone had a fantabulous weekend!!! Mondays tend to…well, they just suck. So we are going to have a very simple comma lesson today. YEAH!!!! And for all my English tutoring students – “simple” does not mean you don’t need to study!! ;) 

Today I am just going to talk about comma usage with the abbreviations “etc.” and “et al.”

Etc. (et cetera) means “and others of the same kind.” 

For example:

1. It takes the work of many people such as authors, copy editors, proofreaders, publishers, etc., to publish a book.

Unless it falls at the end of the sentence, you always place a comma before AND after etc. Simple, right?

Now, et al. means “and others.” It is the abbreviation for et alia (neuter), et alii (masculine), and et aliae (feminine). You should place a comma before and after et al. just as you do etc. UNLESS it is preceded by only one item.

For example:

1. K. Thomas, R. Martin, et al., contributed to editing the technical document for their boss (more than one).
2. Thomas et al. contributed to editing the technical document for their boss (only one person’s name is listed).

You should also note that neither etc. nor et al. are italicized. This is a common error I find when editing materials.

AND, that’s it!! Told you I was going to ease you into Monday. =P

Have a great week!! We’ll chat again tomorrow.

Your copy editor,

Laura