Oh, how I love words!

Even as a child, I craved knowledge about their origin (Greek mythology, literature, history) their significance and how to use them. That opens the door – nice and wide – to copy editing. Every day, I’m grateful to be in a profession where I routinely proof the Chamber’s e-newsletters, event and publication promotions, award-winning BizVoice® magazine and other communications.

What about you? Do you love editing … or detest it? Either way, perk up your ears! I’ve compiled a list of common editing guidelines/errors:

  • Spellcheck: Don’t be deceived. This tool, while valuable, is not foolproof. Of course it’s imperative to confirm words are spelled correctly; however, spellcheck doesn’t detect misspellings in words containing all upper case letters or those that inadvertently include numbers. In addition, spellcheck won’t interpret your content, so to speak. You have to carefully read each word to confirm it’s the one you intended to use. Consider this example. Instead of saying, “We worked through the night on a project,” you inadvertently write, “We worked though the night on a project.” The spelling is accurate, but the term is not.
  • Web site links: First and foremost, ensure hyperlinks route readers to the correct place. And if you’re sending an email, check the links immediately prior to distribution.
  • Acronyms: Spell out the first reference and place the acronym in parenthesis. Including the acronym without explanation will confuse readers who aren’t familiar with it.
  • Word variation: Spice up writing by avoiding repetition. An electronic thesaurus is just a click away!
  • Extra spaces: Be sure there aren’t more spaces than needed between words, sentences and paragraphs. Also watch out for these sneaky culprits: backwards quotation marks.
  • e.g., vs. i.e.,: e.g. means example given; i.e. signifies in other words/that is. Examples: She has a passion for classic rock, e.g., the Beatles. He enjoys home improvement, i.e., projects to reinvigorate and increase value in his home.

Final thought: I liken editing and writing to cooking. There are recipes (guidelines) to follow but it’s all about the ingredients (words) you use that impact the outcome.

Symone Skrzycki is the senior communications manager for the Indiana Chamber. She is also a senior writer for the Chamber’s award-winning BizVoice magazine and has been with the organization for 21 years.