Blog
No Holiday for Perpetual Proofreaders
Include compliments when crafting complaints
“Thank you” is one of the most powerful phrases in the universe. Put it to work when you’re problem solving for an effective, stress-free way to open the door to corrections, improvements and compensation. Consumer advocacy for yourself or clients works best when the...
Vintage children’s book fetching top dollar
From a quirky moose’s first “Howdy Do!” to a baby-mommy mouse reunion finale, Ellen Raskin’s 1974 classic “Moose, Goose and Little Nobody” enthralled my kids, inciting true belly chuckles and countless read-it-again requests. I never minded repeat performances because...
Typo of the Month roundup includes humbling error by Yours Truly
“Oh my God!” The press release had been triple-checked by me and reviewed by my client at least that many times before I transmitted it to a dozen media outlets. A couple of days later she sent an e-mail with the subject line “uh-oh,” noting an incorrect digit in the...
Author’s book signing provides lessons in format, flair, persistence and hometown pride
“I got a rejection the other day,” Corey LaBissoniere tells me, and the three of us – Corey, his mom Tammy and I – snicker. We are sitting in the Portage Lake District Library community room on the Houghton, Michigan waterfront basking in a substantial audience...
AP Style Changes Underway
All hands on deck for an important announcement: You may now use underway as one word in all instances. The Associated Press tweaked its style guide earlier this year, scuttling one of my most-remembered (reviled?) editorial admonitions in the Dreary Whining Gazette...
August typo of the month plus a deer-skull bonus
I drive past this sign every day. The “thru” is irritating but the larger problem with the current promotional slogan is a commonly confused term -- an everyday error -- that the discerning writer avoids. Every day is an adverb. Everyday is an adjective. Learn it....
Introducing the Typo of the Month
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ISBN 978-1-940761-31-2