Grammar

Eliminating served as. Also in today’s News Roundup: Elsevier’s system is hacked; five tips to managing your time; Bond knows what he’s talking about; and completing actions.

Top pick

“Served As”: Don’t bury the action. (The Scientist’s English)

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Was there someone in your life you just could not get enough of that you hung on every word? You may have been enchanted.

Dictionary

Enchanted - to attract and move deeply: rouse to ecstatic admiration

Etymology

The word enchanted comes from the Middle English word “to chant” or the French word “enchanter” meaning to chant a spell. Enchanted has been used as a greeting when introduced to someone for the first time, especially by a man when introduced to a woman. This phrase is no longer used regularly in this manner.

A style guide or manual of style is a set of standards for how writing and the design of documents must meet within a field of study. A style guide creates consistency for all writing, such as spelling and language. The benefit of adopting a style guide is that it puts guidelines in place to ensure consistency across all documents that go out the door.

Types of Style Guides

What resolution do you have for your copyediting business? Also in today’s News Roundup: tuxedo verbs, beyond the pale, anachronisms in Lincoln, and belief over facts.

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“13 New Year’s Resolutions for Your Business”: How will you grow your business next year? (Dynamic Business)

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Your home office doesn’t have to be all work and no play. Also in today’s News Roundup: below as an adjective, headline myths, the gifts of gift, editors’ resources, and Oppan Chomsky style.

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“Put the FUN in Functional in Your Home Office”: When setting up your home office, balance function with fun. (She’s Self-Employed)

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Have you ever experienced phantasmagoria? This type of experience could be both exciting and frightening at the same time.

Dictionary

Phantasmagoria - a shifting series of phantasms, illusions, or deceptive appearances, as in a dream or as created by the imagination.

The suspect usage of suspect, according to John McIntyre. Also in today’s News Roundup: a positive anymore, hyphen and bullet tips, and nouning. Plus a look at dictionary illustrations in the Friday bonus.

Top pick

“Hey, AP, Maybe You Could Ban Suspect”: Or least teach journalists how to use the word correctly. (You Don’t Say)

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Words gone missing from the OED. Also in today’s News Roundup: submit your contender for Word of the Year, how we got hanged and Cyber Monday, and turning off your inner peeve.

Top pick

“Former OED Editor Covertly Deleted Thousand of Words, Book Claims”: Once a word is entered in the OED, it’s supposed to stay there. (The Guardian)

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If reading up on transitive verbs or anaphora seems a bit too difficult for a Monday following a holiday weekend, you’re in for a laugh-out-loud treat.

Jerry-rigged? Not likely. Also in today’s News Roundup: ensure your clients take you seriously, use the right adjective with squeamish, and more articles to make you a better copyeditor. Check them out!

Top pick

“Jury’s in on Jerry-Rigged”: Keeping jury-rigged and jerry-built straight. (You Don’t Say)

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