Matt Lake

The Midpoint (Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 7 of 12) via Helping Writers Become Authors #amwriting #writetip #nanowrimo #pubtip https://lnkd.in/ewEiumuZ

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Editing pet peeve: the goofy obsession with the Oxford comma. Oxford enthusiasts—whom I often refer to as "Oxfordnistas"—insist that the serial comma is the ultimate arbiter of clarity and slayer of ambiguity. And they demonstrate this overstated power through a series of reductionist—albeit humorous—memes. Below on the left is one such example. Again, this meme assuredly suggests a moment where a lack of a serial comma may confuse readers. Rather than express a list of the three, the Oxford-less sentence seems to imply an appositive suggesting the exotic dancers are, in fact, Stalin and JFK. But what happens if you change strippers (plural) to stripper (singular). One good contrived strawman argument deserves another, right? On the right is the counterpoint. Here, the sentence with the Oxford comma introduces ambiguity. Is that JFK on stage three collecting singles, or is somebody else? The trick is simple: When in doubt, rewrite. "We invited JFK, Stalin and the strippers." See how this is clearly a list of three? See how I didn't need the comma to do so? Ultimately, the Oxford comma is a stylistic convention, so it is a matter of personal preference. You can also write, "We invited JFK, Stalin, and the strippers." That *also* works. Either way, stop pretending that your prescriptivist take on the Oxford comma is holy writ. #Oxfordcomma

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It’s important for both writers and editors to understand the nuances of the phrase "to have" and its past participle "had," as they reveal deeper connections between subjects and actions. https://lnkd.in/e4QXnABb #Writing #Editing #Usage #Language #CopyEditing #RightTouchEditing

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Many writers and editors think the Associated Press Stylebook is against using the serial (Oxford) comma. That’s not true. AP style *does* recommend using the serial comma in complex lists. For example, if one of the items in a list contains a conjunction, AP style calls for a serial comma. Like this: Fritz enjoys snacking on bananas, cheese and crackers, and ice cream. Additionally, if the items in the list are long, AP style calls for a serial comma. Like this: Helen changed the car’s worn tire before embarking on her big road trip, Raul shined the fenders until he could see his reflection in them, and Sara double-checked all fluid levels. AP does not recommend using a serial comma in a simple list: Dante bought strawberries, sliced turkey and rye bread. This is in contrast to most other style guides, including The Chicago Manual of Style, which calls for a serial comma in all lists. To learn more differences between AP style and Chicago style, check out Dragonfly Editorial’s field guide on this very topic. It’s titled “AP Style and Chicago Style: 15 Major Differences,” and the link is in the comments.

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'When the board expressed the need for a copy editor, Elsevier's response, they said, was "to maintain that the editors should not be paying attention to language, grammar, readability, consistency, or accuracy of proper nomenclature or formatting."' https://lnkd.in/gGR6iXAY

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'When the board expressed the need for a copy editor, Elsevier's response, they said, was "to maintain that the editors should not be paying attention to language, grammar, readability, consistency, or accuracy of proper nomenclature or formatting."' https://lnkd.in/gGR6iXAY

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Writing Tips: When To Reveal A Secret via K.M. Allan #amwriting #writetip #nanowrimo #pubtip https://lnkd.in/e8WQ7XZe

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Three Emotion Problems to Avoid in Your Story Opening via Writers Helping Writers #amwriting #writetip #nanowrimo #pubtip https://lnkd.in/ePhd6zdj

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How to Fix Big Story Problems via Writers Helping Writers #amwriting #writetip #nanowrimo #pubtip https://lnkd.in/egygij7u

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Four Things That Make Your Writing Boring (and how to fix them!) via Writers Helping Writers #amwriting #writetip #nanowrimo https://lnkd.in/eKPQedxf

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Should you pay for beta readers? Each readers brings their own expectations to any story they read. As such, it's best to get a wide range of opinions about your narrative. https://buff.ly/3JASx5V #writingcommunity #betareader #betareaders

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