Words to Edit By
One of our fundamental principles of writing and editing:
Elements of style ought to be made consistent so they don’t distract the reader.
A Realist Take
If you’re not sure what I’m talking about, take a Minute or 2 – and think about how tough it is to concentrate on what I’m ACTUALLY saying in this sentence. (See?)
Besides, when it comes to your written words, you don’t want to be the ragtag band of plucky peasant rebels. You want to be taken seriously, like the local garrison with their spiffy armor, color-coordinated tabards, and matching heraldry. You know what usually happened to the peasants? Nothing good, y’all—nothing good.
For Instance
Below is a table of contents for our current and upcoming articles on editing for style. Each of the hyperlinked articles encompasses a big editorial action step or subtopic. Those articles link (or will link), in turn, to additional articles covering smaller steps, specific guidelines, and practical tips. If there’s no link yet, the article is forthcoming.
Formatting
Spelling
Capitalization
Numbers
Emphasis
Special terms
Quotations and scriptures
Source citations
Godspeed and happy rewriting!
Article: Your adventures in editing begin here!
(Art ©2016 by Clonefront. Duly licensed by Vaporous Realms Publishing LLC.)