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!
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. (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: A classic win of historic importance (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 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.)
