That in-person feeling
When it comes time for an author to review my edits, having a meeting with them by phone or in person can lead to changes that might not happen when the conversation happens only on the edited page.
Editing in the age of AI: Why human insight still matters
Artificial intelligence (AI) makes me anxious. Not because I’m worried about robot uprisings or deepfakes, but because I’m an editor living through what feels like an existential moment for my profession, arguably for almost all professions. Every day brings new…
Plain language by design
I’ve always loved maps: their colours, their textures, and the millions of possible journeys they represent. Maps are designed not only to be visually appealing but also, and more importantly, to effectively communicate information.
Spell Canadian!
Canadians are being encouraged to keep our elbows up, stand together for our sovereignty, and buy Canadian. Could we also (please) spell Canadian?
Keen to go to an editing or plain language conference in 2025? Here’s your guide to what’s on
There are many editing and plain language conferences planned this year.
Words that have worn out their welcome
Certain words and phrases rise to prominence every year, capturing the zeitgeist. Every December, I love reading the words of the year from the major dictionaries. For 2024, Merriam-Webster chose “polarization” as its word of the year, Oxford University Press…
The finer points of lists
A list can be a powerful plain-language tool to help readers find information they might otherwise miss. When used effectively, lists help busy readers skim content so they can grasp ideas quickly and efficiently. Increasingly, however, lists are overused and…
Sentence case, Title Case, or ALL CAPS?
One of the most common issues we run into as editors is capitalization—starting certain words with a capital letter or using capital letters for entire words.
Editing consciously
The hearts of editors beat faster in April when the University of Chicago Press announced that a new edition of the Chicago Manual of Style, number 18, would be released in September. It’s come a long way since the 1st…
West Coast Editorial Associates at the Editors Canada Conference 2024
All of us at West Coast Editorial Associates (WCEA) are looking forward to the Editors Canada conference “Present Progressive: Passion, Precision and Purpose,” which will be held June 21 to 23, 2024, in Vancouver. The annual conference is always a…