Business Editing
Saturday, October 29th, 2011
 When deciding when to, or how to use parentheses, an editor will first determine how important the information is to the sentence. At an initial glance, the rules for how to use parentheses may seem confusing but they are actually fairly straightforward. More information can be found at http://www.ehow.com/how_4516252_use-parenthesis-writing.html.
RULE ONE:
Unlike Em dashes - that emphasize the words they mark – parentheses mainly enclose information that is not vital to a sentence. (Dashes emphasize, parenthesis deemphasize.) Regardless of the text within the parentheses, the sentence must still make sense if you delete them and everything inside.
Punctuation varies according to use, since both partial sentences and complete sentences can reside happily within parentheses. If the sentence starts with an opening parenthesis, or the parentheses surround a complete sentence, an editor will put the terminal punctuation mark, that is, a period, question mark, or exclamation point, inside the closing parenthesis.
Example: (I told her it would rain.)
If the text inside the parentheses is only a partial sentence, the terminal punctuation is placed outside.
Example: She went to England to find work (in 1972).
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Tags: editing, parenthesis, writing
Posted in Business Editing | 1 Comment »
Saturday, September 10th, 2011
 There are many different rules for comma usage, and unlike some other sorts of punctuation (e.g. the question mark, the period), the rules can be rather fluid. Here is a short-ish breakdown of how to use commas, and when to use commas:
- Use commas to separate items written in a series.
Example: The dog, the cat, and the goldfish agree that it is going to rain.
(There is current debate about the comma after “cat” in the above sentence. This is the serial or Oxford comma, and is being eradicated from modern usage.)
- Use a comma to separate two or more adjectives (descriptive words) before a noun if the word order of the two could be reversed and the comma takes the place of “and.”
Example: The slumbering, snoring dog awoke with a start.
- Use a comma after a nonessential clause (which begins with who, whom, which or that and includes a verb).
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Tags: commas, how to use commas, punctuation
Posted in Business Editing, Writer's Tips | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 15th, 2011
 Making the decision to study abroad is complex. For one, you will be leaving your family and your home; therefore, leaving and moving so very far away might seem daunting. It may seem even more frightening if you will be studying at a university in a country where your native language isn’t spoken. Universities offering courses in English language are becoming increasingly popular, especially since English is becoming more of a universal language in our increasingly global and technologically advanced world.
Applying to a university where English is the predominant language spoken can bring you more stress, especially if English is not your primary language. At universities such as this, all of your admissions essays, applications and statements will have to be written in English. To receive adequate consideration, these essays will have to reflect excellent academic writing in English. (more…)
Tags: editing, Editing Skills & Services, professional editor, university application essay
Posted in Business Editing, Editing Books | No Comments »
Monday, November 1st, 2010
 English can be a difficult language for native speakers; it can be totally befuddling for non-native speakers. This can make writing academic papers that read logically and use the correct words nigh-impossible…but there IS help for this dilemma: professional academic editing services such as those offered by FirstEditing (firstediting).
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Tags: editing, Professional Editing, Proofreading, Technical Edit, Technical Editing, Writing & Publishing Books, writing tips
Posted in Book Editing, Book Editors, Business Editing, Writer's Tips | No Comments »
Thursday, October 28th, 2010
 Simply put, formatting is taking your document and ensuring that it conforms to the style guide or publishing manual of your school or publisher.
“Well, that’s easy enough; I can do that myself,” you say smugly.
Of course you can! But when your document is 100 pages or more long and you need to format those pesky margins or the pagination just doesn’t seem to want to work for you, it’s nice to know that there are people whose expertise will take that burden off your shoulders. One such company is FirstEditing (firstediting), which not only provides extensive editing services but also formats your work per your request. (more…)
Tags: Christian Publication, firstediting, firstediting.com, Professional Editing, professional editor, Proofreading, Submitting for Publication, Technical Editing, Writing & Publishing Books
Posted in Book Editing, Book Editors, Business Editing, Christian Writing, Technical Editing, Writer's Tips, Writing & Publishing Books | No Comments »
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