The comma
To me, part of the beauty of a comma is that it offers a rest, like one in music: a break that gives the whole piece of music greater shape, deeper harmony. It allows us to catch our breath (Pico Iyer). This post gives the comma its due regard and highlights its...
PEG publications: From the postman on foot to the portal online
Almost since its inception, the Professional Editors’ Guild (PEG) has been committed, through publications, to keeping its members updated and informed. This post gives readers a brief overview of our transition from post to portal.
The author’s voice
Alexis Grewan looks at what the author’s voice is, why it is important and how we, as editors, can be more aware of it in every text that we edit. Our role as editors is to protect and preserve the author’s voice.
Plain Language in academic writing (part 3)
In this final part of the post, I provide two slightly more involved example sentences of how typical constructions can be greatly improved in clarity and simplicity by applying Plain Language principles.
Plain Language in academic writing (part 2)
What follows are some examples of typical constructions that can be greatly improved in clarity and simplified by applying Plain Language principles, with zero or negligible risk of changing the meaning.
Plain Language in academic writing (part 1)
If you have to read academic texts in your working life, you may dread the task because it is such a chore ploughing through all that verbiage. But it has to be that way, right? The authors are conveying complicated concepts, so because of the very nature of the content, the language must be complicated too, surely? Well – only up to a point.
Essential resources for language practitioners (part 2)
Since grammar and punctuation are two of the areas most critically in need of ‘panelbeating’ in the texts we are presented with for improvement, we certainly need to be in command of them – or at least know where to double-check our editorial interventions.
Essential resources for language practitioners (part 1)
A question that language practitioners often ask is whether there is a single publication – either printed or online – that contains everything they need to know or be able to access about their craft. Short of an editor fairy waving their magic wand, there is, unfortunately no such resource. Instead, each of us needs to acquire specialist reference works that support or complement our craft.
6 tips for your first editing gigs
Your first few jobs as an editor can feel daunting and you may have questions about how best to tackle the initial paperwork so that the project starts without a hitch.
Gender-neutral language causes us to think differently
The Swedes do not need to choose between han (he) or hon (she) any longer; they are now able to fall back on hen, the gender-neutral pronoun that was given legal status in 2015.
3 ways to reduce the risk of non-payment
There is nothing more demoralising than pounding away at a task, delivering it in good time and then waiting to be paid – but never seeing that payment. Here are three things to put in place that, at the very least, should reduce the risk of not being paid for your efforts.
How to find your files
Your filenames should tell you all you need to know about their contents so you don’t have to open them to find out.
The don’ts of academic editing
There has been considerable debate in professional editing circles regarding the limits and boundaries of the editor’s role. There are limits to what the editor should be expected to do. PEG sets the following ethical limits for students, supervisors and editors.
The advantages and benefits of PEG’s accreditation offerings
The raison d’être of accreditation is essentially differentiation: presumably someone who has gone the extra mile to put themselves to the test, and is able to add the title Accredited Text Editor or the initials ATE after their name, has to be – and has to be seen to be – a cut above the rest.
Types of editing and their roles in the quality of your manuscript
It is of utmost importance to give attention to every aspect of your manuscript, or to at least evaluate your manuscript for each level of editing and see if all the objectives identified have been attended to.
Why a style guide?
The four pillars on which really competent copy-editing is founded are completeness, coherence and clarity, correctness, and consistency. It is the fourth of these that creates the need for a style guide.
Trade books: The role of editors and proofreaders
I have witnessed and can say with certainty that the significance of editors and proofreaders in trade book projects is not understood. In fact, it is overlooked.
Social media marketing for editors
Social media is the new normal with regard to business. In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the POPI Act and its impact on direct marketing, and the need to establish an online brand, social media marketing has become an essential skill.
Optimising your LinkedIn profile
One of the best ways to market yourself as a language practitioner is by optimising your LinkedIn profile.
Social media marketing: So many questions
In this fourth article in the series on social media marketing (SMM), I consider the questions: Content or paid SMM? and What platforms should I consider? I provide some pointers about what to consider and what is happening in the SM space, using broad brushstrokes.