Enjoy these FREE instructional audio podcasts on a host of grammar and language-use topics, brought to you by Copyediting newsletter. New podcasts are added weekly!

July 26, 2010
CONFUSABLES 6: "Could of" vs. "Could have" vs. "Could've"

"Could of" is a common error in place of "could have" or "could've," and, what should a copydesk do when reprinting official transcripts that contain errors? Copyediting contributing editor Grant Barrett clues us in. (4 min.)

July 19, 2010
CONFUSABLES 5: "Recur" vs. "Reoccur"

What's the difference between recur and reoccur or recurrence and reoccurrence? Copyediting contributing editor Grant Barrett spills the beans. (2 min.)

June 25, 2010
CONFUSABLES 4: "Pleade" vs. "Plead"

Is it "pleaded guilty" or "pled quilty?" What about "plead innocent"? We take a quick look at a common misconception—and find that all the style guides agree. (2 min.)

June 9, 2010
READER QUESTION: Should the verb follow "a total of 12" or "a number of cars" be plural or singular?

In this podcast, Copyediting contributing editor Grant Barrett answers a question posted by a reader on our Facebook fan page. (2 min.)

June 3, 2010
INTERVIEW: A sneak-peek of upcoming "Clichés, Jargon and Business-Speak" audio conference

In June, Wendalyn Nichols, editor of Copyediting, will present an audio conference titled "Dealing with clichés, jargon, and business speak." In this interview, she puts these kinds of language in perspective as she gives a sneak preview of the how-tos she'll later offer in the audio conference. (7 min.)

May 17, 2010
INTERVIEW: Discussion about the style of Canadian English

In this Copyediting podcast, we talk to Joe Clark in Toronto about the style of Canadian English, which falls somewhere between the American and the British ways of writing. The spelling, punctuation, pronunciation, and even words themselves are just different enough in Canada to trip up outsiders. Joe has written a book about it called "Organizing Our Marvellous Neighbours."  (11 min.)

May 10, 2010
INTERVIEW: Editing writers whose main spoken language is not English

Copyediting contributing editor Grant Barrett wanted to find out about the particular problems an editor encounters when working with someone who is writing in English as something other than their first language. So he had a conversation with someone who teaches professional-level English composition to Spanish-speakers in Mexico.  (10 min.)

April 26, 2010
INTERVIEW: Latest changes to the Associated Press' Stylebook

To match the changing times and current events, every year the Associated Press makes changes to its Stylebook. It's the bible of many newsrooms, describing how words are spelled, capitalized, and used in newsprint, broadcast scripts, and on the Web. Even in places where it is supplanted or supplemented by house style guides, it's a highly respected constant presence. To find out more about the latest changes to the style guide, Copyediting contributing editor Grant Barrett had a conversation with Associated Press contributing editor Darrell Christian.  (8 min.)

April 19, 2010
INTERVIEW: San Diego Reader's "Typo Patrol"

In this podcast, Copyediting contributing editor Grant Barrett talks with Jim Holman, publisher of the San Diego Reader, an alternative newspaper which pays its readers bounties for every typo they find in the print edition. We find out how the "Typo Patrol" started, how it works, and what the staff and readers think about it. (7 min.)

April 5, 2010
CONFUSABLES 3: "Loath," "Swath"

The third in a series of podcasts on confusables, words that because of their spelling or pronunciation are often wrongly used in place of each other, even by experienced writers. In this episode, Copyediting contributing editor Grant Barrett talks about confusables loath and loathe and swathe and swath. (3 min.)

March 29, 2010
CONFUSABLES 2: "Disperse," "insightful"

The second in a series of podcasts on confusables, words that because of their spelling or pronunciation are often wrongly used in place of each other, even by experienced writers. In confusables episode number 2, Copyediting contributing editor Grant Barrett suggests methods for getting confusables right, and talks about confusables disperse and insightful. (4 min.)

March 22, 2010
CONFUSABLES 1: "Reckless," "chord," "discrete"

The first in a series of podcasts on confusables, words that because of their spelling or pronunciation are often wrongly used in place of each other, even by experienced writers. In confusables episode number 1, Copyediting contributing editor Grant Barrett talks about reckless, chord, and discrete. (4 min.)

February 19, 2010
STUPID RULES 13: Don't use "then" as a conjunction

The thirteenth in a series of podcasts about rules that Copyediting editor Wendalyn Nichols says are misguided, if not actually stupid. In this episode, commandment number 13: Don't use "then" as a conjunction (3 min.)

February 2, 2010
FIDDLY RULES 12: The comma splice

The twelfth in a series of podcasts about fiddly rules that Copyediting editor Wendalyn Nichols says are nevertheless ones that careful writers follow. In this episode, fiddly rule number 12: Avoid the comma splice. (3 min.)

January 21, 2010
FIDDLY RULES 11: “Compare with/to”

The eleventh in a series of podcasts about fiddly rules that Copyediting editor Wendalyn Nichols says are nevertheless ones that careful writers follow. In this episode, fiddly rule number 11: Observe the distinction between compare with and compare to. (3 min.)

January 14, 2010
FIDDLY RULES 10: “As opposed to”

The tenth in a series of podcasts about fiddly rules that Copyediting editor Wendalyn Nichols says are nevertheless ones that careful writers follow. In this episode, fiddly rule number 10: Save “as opposed to” for true opposition. (2 min.)

December 23, 2009
FIDDLY RULES 9: "Disabuse," "disavow," and confusables in general

The ninth in a series of podcasts about fiddly rules that Copyediting editor Wendalyn Nichols says are nevertheless ones that careful writers follow. In this episode, fiddly rule number 9: "Disabuse," "disavow," and more on confusables in general. (4 min.)

December 16, 2009
FIDDLY RULES 8: Keep “ensure,” “assure,” and “insure” straight

The eighth in a series of podcasts about fiddly rules that Copyediting editor Wendalyn Nichols says are nevertheless ones that careful writers follow. In this episode, fiddly rule number 8: Keep “ensure,” “assure,” and “insure” straight. (4 min.)

December 9, 2009
FIDDLY RULES 7: Use “a” and “an” correctly with “h”-words

The seventh in a series of podcasts about fiddly rules that Copyediting editor Wendalyn Nichols says are nevertheless ones that careful writers follow. In this episode, fiddly rule number 7: Use “a” and “an” correctly with “h”-words. (4 min.)

November 24, 2009
FIDDLY RULES 6: Use “Due to” with caution

The sixth in a series of podcasts about fiddly rules that Copyediting editor Wendalyn Nichols says are nevertheless ones that careful writers follow. In this episode, fiddly rule number 6: Use “due to” with caution. (2 min.)

November 17, 2009
FIDDLY RULES 5: Compound objects with "me”

The fifth in a series of podcasts about fiddly rules that Copyediting editor Wendalyn Nichols says are nevertheless ones that careful writers follow. In this episode, fiddly rule number 5: Make sure to use me, not I, in a compound object. (2 min.)

November 6, 2009
FIDDLY RULES 4: “Irregardless”

The fourth in a series of podcasts about fiddly rules that Copyediting editor Wendalyn Nichols says are nevertheless ones that careful writers follow. In this episode, fiddly rule number 4: Correct “irregardless,” regardless! (2 min.)

October 30, 2009
IN STYLE: Tweet talk

Do you Twitter or twitter? Perhaps you tweet on Twitter, if not Tweet on Twitter. This audio article is from the October-November 2009 issue of Copyediting. (2 min.)

October 19, 2009
STUPID RULES 12: "More than" is never “over”

The twelfth in a series of podcasts about rules that Copyediting editor Wendalyn Nichols says are misguided, if not actually stupid. In this episode, commandment number 12: Never use “over” as a synonym for “more than.” (4 min.)

October 12, 2009
STUPID RULES 11: "Fewer" is never “less”

The eleventh in a series of podcasts about rules that Copyediting editor Wendalyn Nichols says are misguided, if not actually stupid. In this episode, commandment number 11: Always use “less” for uncountable amounts and “fewer” for countable ones. (4 min.)

October 5, 2009
FIDDLY RULES 3: Parallel construction

The third in a series of podcasts about fiddly rules that Copyediting editor Wendalyn Nichols says are nevertheless ones that careful writers follow. In this episode, fiddly rule number 3: Keep the correlated parts of a sentence parallel. (4 min.)

September 28, 2009
CURRENTS: Copyeditorese

This audio article is from the October-November 2009 issue of Copyediting. Regular contributor Linda Lowenthal discusses the kind of sentence structure that, while scrupulously correct, seems to point an arrow at a sentence and declare, “Copyeditor was here.”  (6 min.)

September 21, 2009
FIDDLY RULES 2: "Historic" and "classic”

The second in a series of podcasts about fiddly rules that Copyediting editor Wendalyn Nichols says are nevertheless ones that careful writers follow. In this episode, fiddly rule number 2: Keep historic and classic straight. (3 min.)

September 14, 2009
FIDDLY RULES 1: "With regard to"

The first in a series of podcasts about fiddly rules that Copyediting editor Wendalyn Nichols says are nevertheless ones that careful writers follow. In this episode, fiddly rule number 1: Save your regards for Broadway. (4 min.)

September 2, 2009
STUPID RULES 10: Singular "none"

The tenth in a series of podcasts about rules that Copyediting editor Wendalyn Nichols says are misguided, if not actually stupid. In this episode, commandment number 10: Thou shalt never use the pronoun none with a plural verb. (1 min.)

August 26, 2009
STUPID RULES 9: Sentence-ending prepositions

The ninth in a series of podcasts about rules that Copyediting editor Wendalyn Nichols says are misguided, if not actually stupid. In this episode, commandment number 9: Thou shalt never end a sentence with a preposition. (2 min.)

August 19, 2009
STUPID RULES 8: Split multi-part verbs

The eighth in a series of podcasts about rules that Copyediting editor Wendalyn Nichols says are misguided, if not actually stupid. In this episode, commandment number 8: Thou shalt not split a multi-word verb. (2 min.)

August 14, 2009
STUPID RULES 7: Split infinitives

The seventh in a series of podcasts about rules that Copyediting editor Wendalyn Nichols says are misguided, if not actually stupid. In this episode, commandment number 7: Thou shalt not split an infinitive. (3 min.)

August 7, 2009
STUPID RULES 6: "Hopefully"

The sixth in a series of podcasts about rules that Copyediting editor Wendalyn Nichols says are misguided, if not actually stupid. In this episode, commandment number 6: Thou shalt never use “hopefully” as a sentence adverb. (3 min.)

July 29, 2009
STUPID RULES 5: "Is comprised of"

The fifth in a series of podcasts about rules that Copyediting editor Wendalyn Nichols says are misguided, if not actually stupid. In this episode, commandment number 5: Thou shalt never use “is comprised of.” (3 min.)

July 28, 2009
STUPID RULES 4: "The reason why"

The fourth in a series of podcasts about rules that Copyediting editor Wendalyn Nichols says are misguided, if not actually stupid. In this episode, commandment number 4: Thou shalt never write the phrase “the reason why.” (5 min.)

July 15, 2009
STUPID RULES 3: "Between"

The third in a series of podcasts about rules that Copyediting editor Wendalyn Nichols says are misguided, if not actually stupid. In this episode, commandment number 3: Thou shalt always use “between” with two items and “among” with three items or more. (3 min.)

July 14, 2009
STUPID RULES 2: Collective Nouns

The second in a series of podcasts about rules that Copyediting editor Wendalyn Nichols says are misguided, if not actually stupid. In this episode, commandment number 2: Thou shalt always use a singular verb with a collective noun. (3 min.)

July 13, 2009
STUPID RULES 1: "They"

The first in a series of podcasts about rules that Copyediting editor Wendalyn Nichols says are misguided, if not actually stupid. In this episode, commandment number 1: Thou shalt never use “they” to refer to a singular subject. (4 min.)