Then: 2007 We found this in an edition of Pegboard from as far back as 2007. These were deliberations of editors about prepositions at the end of sentences: Do your hackles rise when you spot a preposition at the end...
Navigating editorial challenges with emotional intelligence: building strong author-editor relationships
Being a top-notch editor isn't just about red pens and grammar rules. It's about emotional intelligence, understanding our authors and making the editing journey a valuable experience for everyone involved. In the...
Editing as a side hustle: a personal perspective
Let’s face it. Not many of us have the privilege of editing on a full-time basis. I suppose it falls into the same category as writing, acting or dancing as a career. Such pursuits often require that we hang on to our...
Renkema’s CCC model: Why is it useful?
Renkema’s CCC model facilitates and evaluates the text-editing process in a systematic, standardised and accountable way. This blog briefly describes the origin, composition and usefulness of this model. (The blog was...
Copy-editing a compilation or a paper-based thesis/dissertation: knowing and setting our limits
In this PEGblog, we explain what a compilation thesis is (often called a thesis by articles or a paper-based thesis/dissertation) and the limited nature and extent of the copy editor’s engagement with it. Compilation...
Renkema se K3-model: Hoekom is dit nuttig?
Renkema’s K3/CCC-model facilitates and evaluates the text-editing process in a systematic, standardised and accountable way. The first of our blogs written in Afrikaans, this blog briefly describes the origin,...
How to spot plagiarism
One of the many jobs of an editor is to be on the lookout for plagiarism. I don’t have a magic formula for spotting it, but I do have some tips that might help. First off, what is plagiarism? The dictionary definition...
(Power)Toys for Editors
Professional editors are, by definition, Microsoft Word power users because we spend 90% of our time wrangling texts into submission in this specific word-processing software. But did you know that Microsoft has...
Active and passive voice
What is the active voice? In the active voice, the subject performs the action. Sentences are active in voice when the person or thing performing the action comes before the verb. The message is clear about who is...
Why do we edit?
We asked PEGgers why they edit and what keeps them editing. Responses were received from members who have been with PEG for 30 years to members of just two months. Let’s look at their reasons for editing. Joy, passion...
Plagiarism: rooting it out
Plagiarism on the grand scale has been made more and more tempting and easy for lazy [writers] by people who provide whole essays on all manner of subjects on the web. – Manning Murphy (2019) To understand the nature...
10 tips for freelance copy editors
If you are a freelance editor or are considering editing in a freelance capacity, this is for you. These 10 tips guide you through different aspects of your work as a freelancer. Before we get to the 10 tips, here are...
Tools you need to be a copy editor
When a friend was retrenched and asked me what you need to set yourself up as a freelance proofreader or editor, I mentally went through the tools I use and gave her a rundown. It occurred to me that the list might be...
The accreditation debate
Debating accreditation: This was the title of a contribution by the PEG newsletter editor at the time, André Snyders, in the edition dated November 2007. How far we have come. And how long it has taken! Sixteen years...
Technology for editors – made nice and simple: Part 2
In our last article on technology for editors we looked at the basic components of a computer and the main differences between a desktop and a laptop computer. This article highlights some of the main problems you...
Editing for conscious and inclusive language
In support of the efforts of Alexis Grewan, our national chairperson, to work towards greater diversity and inclusion in PEG, I offer my thoughts on what this means for PEG and its members and what it requires of all...
The ‘P’ in ‘PEG’
I recently came across Alexis Grewan’s four-part series, which was posted between November 2021 and January 2022. This post will add my contribution as a follow-on to Alexis’ excellent series. For those who missed her...
Book review: Improve your editor website. A comprehensive guide
Editors and websites This straightforward guide by Debbie Emmitt certainly helped me improve my editor website. Debbie is a copy editor and author with over 20 years of experience in web content. She brings together...
Technology for editors – made nice and simple 1: The basics
In a recent coffee conversation with PEG members, we discussed technology and how it could be used better to help us get our work done more efficiently. A number of questions were raised which prompted me to put...
Formatting before editing 2: Headings
Formatting makes it much easier for me to work with the document, it looks professional, and it is much easier for the examiners to navigate (Richard Steele, 2023).  In my last blog, I shared my 14-step formatting...



