James Scoltock’s Post

❌ "Stay on this page, as we'll use it in the next step." ✅ "Stay on this page. We'll use it in the next step." Using "as" like a conjunction is almost always unnecessary. And it makes sentences longer than they need to be. Plus, people don't really speak like that. Still, I see this all the time in written content. And in almost every case, I delete the comma and "as," add a period where the comma was, and capitalize the first letter of the next word. One long sentence becomes two short sentences. One awkward phrase disappears. One editor feels a tiny dopamine hit. #EditingTips #WritingTips #Editing #Writing

Redundant phrasing is sneaky. When you let down your guard, redundant phrases start scaling the walls of your editorial standards. Fast. It happens to the best writers in the world. And the best editors in the world miss it if they're not paying attention. Here are three I've seen this week: ❌ "design your own custom" ❌ "added bonus" ❌ "joint collaboration" What are some other examples of redundant phrasing? #Writing #WritingTips #Editing #EditingTips

The most common error I see is when people use "to" where they ought to use "too." As in calling someone "to stupid to see" something. #writing #advertising #englishlanguage #editing #proofreading

Putting too much pressure on ourselves to write a "good" first draft limits our creativity and builds frustration, leading to writer's block or worse— a lack of writing altogether. There is a time and place for editing; try not to worry about perfection in the beginning. The most important thing is getting your ideas flowing. #WritingMotivation #JustWrite #FirstDraft #Editing #Revising #AlisonLukin

Ever wonder which is correct? None of us is perfect. Or None of us are perfect. The answer: both. None is sometimes singular and sometimes plural. Singular when it means not one… …and plural when it means not any. None of us is perfect. (Not one of us is perfect) None of us are perfect. ( Not any of us are perfect) #writing #editing #grammar #communications

Using "myself" when "me" does the job is hypercorrection. Don't be fooled by that word's looks—it does *not* mean "extremely correct." More here: https://lnkd.in/gvNnKfQE. #writing #advertising #englishlanguage #editing #proofreading

Here’s a simple writing tip you can use immediately: Replace weak adverbs with strong verbs. For example: Erica spoke softly. ➡ Erica whispered. John ran quickly. ➡ John sprinted, dashed or darted. David moved silently. ➡ David skulked, creeped or slinked. In each case, a strong verb provides more description than a weak adverb paired with a verb. Readers can more easily imagine someone slinking than they can picture someone moving silently. These are simplified examples. And sometimes you do need to use an adverb. After all, good writing sometimes requires breaking the rules. So, if you have a good adverb, use it! Most times, though, you’ll create stronger, crisper copy by just finding the right verb. #writing #editing #communications

"We already mentioned that in the third section ..." Sure, but: That was 1,800 words ago. And there's a strong chance the reader skimmed that section or skipped it entirely. It's OK to repeat yourself in longform content. If you're trying to make your content as helpful as possible, it's not just OK to do so — it's essential in many cases. Tricky definitions, important facts, and similar. These are all good candidates for repetition. #Editing #EditingTips #Writing #WritingTips

Public service announcement for editors: (And writers who reread their work before submitting it.) Some sentences aren't worth saving. Here's what I mean: You are not an ER doctor tasked with saving the life of every bloodied, unconscious sentence a Google Doc wheels into your line of sight. You're an editor. (Or you're editing.) You cut unnecessary words. You clarify. You enforce strict editorial guidelines. And yes — sometimes, you save sentences that were struggling to survive. But you should NEVER be afraid to scrap a sentence that wasn't working and start completely over. You can't cut every sentence that isn't working. You can't save every sentence with a couple of tweaks. And it often won't make sense to ask someone else (like the writer) to do it. So, don't be afraid to rewrite sentences yourself. Don't be afraid to tear down something that isn't working and build it back up — but better. A good rule of thumb: If you're spending more than a minute or two wondering whether a sentence works or can work, rewrite it from scratch. If it was a speed bump for you, it's absolutely going to be a speed bump for the reader. #editing #writing #editingtips #writingtips

What is copyediting? Common terms in the editing industry are often defined differently (if only slightly) by each editor. Here's my definition: Copyediting (sometimes called substantive or line editing) provides a comprehensive edit of your document, ensuring that everything from punctuation and word choice to grammar, tone, and format is correct and consistent. This usually includes specific suggestions for revision or improvement, but does not include rewriting—or, in the case of references, filling any information gaps. For more information about my services and fees, see https://lnkd.in/gbTXuHut. #writing #editing #copyediting #fiction #nonfiction