RedPenRabbit

RedPenRabbit, 6 months ago to edibuddies

Some things I checked in my last copyedit:
-song lyrics (as in listening to the actual song)
-spider anatomy (ew)
-whether certain planets are aligned on a future date
-whether said architect designed X
-Japanese names
-math

You know—things AI will think to verify.

#Editing #AmEditing #Writing #WritingCommunity @edibuddies

RedPenRabbit, 6 months ago to edibuddies

Half of my time copyediting is spent leaving notes for the author that say "I know this is super nitpicky, but hear me out."

#Editing #AmEditing #Writing #WritingCommunity @edibuddies

RedPenRabbit, 6 months ago to edibuddies

When you have to google "biggest spider in the world" for the copyedit you're working on, so you wince and brace yourself for the inevitable image results as you hit Enter.

#Editing #AmEditing #Writing #WritingCommunity @edibuddies

RedPenRabbit, 7 months ago to edibuddies

You know you're an editor when someone asks whether "anyone's familiar with Chicago" and your first thought is The Chicago Manual of Style, not the city.

Granted, this question was in a group of editors, but I still laughed at myself.

#Editing #AmEditing #Writing #WritingCommunity @edibuddies

RedPenRabbit, 7 months ago to edibuddies

The Conscious Language Toolkits for Writers and Editors are 20% off through November 30! These resources provide guidance on choosing language that's more intentional, compassionate, and empowering, and they include terms to be aware of, alternatives to consider, and where to learn more. bit.ly/RedPenRabbitShop

#Editing #AmEditing #Writing #WritingCommunity #WritingTips
#ConsciousLanguage #InclusiveLanguage @edibuddies

RedPenRabbit, 7 months ago to edibuddies

A haunted house for editors: zombie rules, hills that editors have died on, manuscripts that suck the life out of you, ghosts of uncaught errors past, and people who insist something's wrong when it's really a style choice.

#Editing #AmEditing #Writing #WritingCommunity @edibuddies

RedPenRabbit, 8 months ago to edibuddies

I find it very rude that an author would write something in their story that makes me cry while I'm trying to proofread their novel. It's hard enough to check for typos, bad breaks, layout issues, and the like when it's not through tear-filled eyes.

#Editing #AmEditing #AmProofreading #Writing #WritingCommunity @edibuddies

RedPenRabbit, 8 months ago to edibuddies

As a copyeditor, I find that few things are as satisfying as finding an entry or example in the style guide that matches what I'm looking for to a T. No ambiguity, no guesswork, just "this is what you do in the exact scenario you're dealing with."

#Editing #AmEditing #Writing #WritingCommunity @edibuddies

RedPenRabbit, 8 months ago to edibuddies

It's funny how quickly my brain can go from "Yay, editing! I've got this!" to "Do I even know English?" when I come across a usage that may be totally valid and common but that I've never seen before.

#Editing #AmEditing @edibuddies

RedPenRabbit, 8 months ago to edibuddies

I haven't tracked the hours, but I'm pretty sure that ever since I became a freelancer, I've spent half my work days staring at my calendar and thinking either "Oh no, there's a gap in my schedule" or "Oh no, what have I done?"

#Editing #AmEditing @edibuddies

RedPenRabbit, 8 months ago to edibuddies

I love it when something I learned in a previous edit comes in handy. I just queried the use of "poisonous" where "venomous" seemed more appropriate, which I had learned about years ago for another edit, and I may or may not have squeed when I spotted it this time.

FYI:
venomous = toxins are injected
poisonous = toxins are ingested

Bite, sting, or barb? Venomous.
Dangerous to eat or touch? Poisonous.

#Editing #AmEditing #Writing #WritingCommunity #WritingTips @edibuddies

RedPenRabbit, 9 months ago to edibuddies

Tomorrow (Tuesday, September 19) at 4 p.m. ET, I'll be doing a webcast for @aceseditors called "An Editor's Guide to Assessing and Addressing Problematic Content." It's free for ACES members and $30 for nonmembers.

Even if you can't attend live, you'll get the recording and slide deck if you register.

I hope to see some familiar faces there!

Register: https://bit.ly/editingproblematiccontent

#Editing #AmEditing #Writing #WritingCommunity @edibuddies

RedPenRabbit, 9 months ago to edibuddies

No one:

Copyeditors: Writer, please list every single member of this person's family so I know whether to put commas around the family member's name when they're referenced by their relationship to said person.

#Editing #AmEditing #Writing #WritingCommunity @edibuddies

RedPenRabbit, 9 months ago to edibuddies

During a copyedit, I caught that a character was waiting for the big hand on the clock to approach the 3 so they could get out of school.

Not on my watch! 😉

#Editing #AmEditing #Writing #WritingCommunity @edibuddies

RedPenRabbit, 9 months ago to edibuddies

I find the lack of vocative commas in the new(ish) Star Wars game disturbing.

(Okay, not really disturbing, but distracting. This is what happens when a copyeditor plays video games.)

#Editing #AmEditing #Writing #WritingCommunity @edibuddies

RedPenRabbit, 9 months ago to edibuddies

I caught two single quotation marks wearing a trenchcoat, trying to pose as a double quotation mark.

#Editing #AmEditing #Writing #WritingCommunity @edibuddies

RedPenRabbit, 9 months ago to edibuddies

I updated my blog post "Efficiency Tools for Editing" to include two Word tricks I love: using New Window to see editing markup in one window and no markup in another simultaneously, and creating a custom editing tab in the Word ribbon! (Yes, this exclamation mark is warranted.)

https://www.rabbitwitharedpen.com/blog/efficiency-tools-for-editing

#Editing #AmEditing #Writing #WritingCommunity #WritingTips @edibuddies

RedPenRabbit, 9 months ago to edibuddies

Tell me you're a copyeditor without telling me you're a copyeditor.

I have the Merriam-Webster app on my phone.

#Editing #AmEditing @edibuddies

RedPenRabbit, 9 months ago to edibuddies

While reviewing artwork for a children's picture book, I found inverted clothing patterns and limbs, missing background colors, perspective issues, thought bubbles that should be speech bubbles, errant lines, and layout problems.

Editing isn't just about words.

#Editing #AmEditing #Writing #WritingCommunity #WritingTips @edibuddies

RedPenRabbit, 10 months ago to edibuddies

I just changed "2022" to "2023" in a copyright for a book that'll be published this year, so my Monday is off to a strong start.

#Editing #AmEditing #Writing #WritingCommunity @edibuddies

RedPenRabbit, 10 months ago to edibuddies

Today I got to debut a new presentation called "An Editor's Guide for Assessing and Addressing Problematic Content" at #EFACON2023. Thanks to everyone who attended!
.
📷 @KristenTatroe

#AmEditing @edibuddies

RedPenRabbit, 10 months ago to edibuddies

I'm heading off to #EFACON2023 today! I'll be touring parts of DC, debuting a new presentation called "An Editor's Guide to Assessing and Addressing Problematic Content," and seeing lots of edibuddies. ❤️

If you see me, please stop me and say hi!

#Editing #AmEditing @edibuddies