Category: Editing Expertise


  • Copyediting Drug Names

    My first job after college was with a company that developed training for pharmaceutical sales reps, and it taught me a lot about trademarked drug names. In the materials we created, we had to make sure the drug name was handled correctly every time it appeared—that is, with any unique registered marks and trademarks, capitalization, hyphenation, or…

  • Triage Copyediting: What to Cut When Time Runs Short

    When there’s no time for a full copyedit, a triage plan helps you focus on what matters most and protect yourself professionally.

  • Quoting Song Lyrics (A Minefield)

    Dear Authors. Stop. Quoting. Song lyrics. You probably don’t have permission. You definitely can’t afford it. Here’s what to do instead.

  • What is “an error”?

    “It depends!” I need a button I can press to say this, it is so often my answer to editing and proofreading students. Aside from a handful of inalienable grammar rules, everything else depends.  What does it depend on? Why, the style being followed, naturally. And that style is up to the author and the…