Welcome to another Edit This® grammar lesson. Today, we'll be talking about the difference between Gray and Grey. Do you find yourself getting tripped up on these? If you do, you're not alone. And why? Because they're both technically correct – depending on where you live and your audience, of course! The purpose of today's blog post is to explain the difference so that you can be a grammar pro moving forward. Gray and Grey are both correct spellings of the popular color, tho

Welcome to another Edit This® grammar lesson. Today, we'll be talking about the difference between Vain, Vein, and Vane. Do you find yourself getting tripped up on these? If you do, you're not alone. Vain, Vein, and Vane are homophones — words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings. The purpose of today's blog post is to explain the difference so that you can be a grammar pro moving forward. Vain is used to refer to someone who arrogantly admires themse

Anyone who has seen our social media posts over the years has probably seen a few pictures of unfortunate grammar and spelling fails found in everyday life. Mind you; I'm not talking about minor flubs. I'm talking about the obvious ones that are so funny they end up going viral on the Internet. Over the years, we've captured a few of our own, had others shared with us, and found several more online. Below are some of our favorites. If you don't laugh, you should seriously che

Welcome to another Edit This® grammar lesson. In today's blog post, let's discuss the difference between Feat vs. Feet. Do you know when to use each one? Feat vs. Feet are examples of homophones – words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings – and they trip more people up than you think. So, let's dive right in, shall we? Feat refers to an incredible and noteworthy achievement or act that is out of the ordinary and requires significant courage, strength

A student reached out to us recently asking if we'd be willing to answer a few basic questions about the world of writing and editing. A soon-to-be high school senior, this young lady shared that she wants to edit books someday and possibly work for a publishing company. Naturally, we were happy to help and tried our best to give some quick on-the-spot answers in e-mail form without getting too wordy. Below are three of the questions she asked. I'm sharing in case you've cons

Welcome to another Edit This® grammar lesson. In today's blog, let's discuss the difference between Capital vs. Capitol. Do you know when to use each one? Capital vs. Capitol are examples of homophones – words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings – and they trip more people up than you think. So, let's dive right in, shall we? Capital with an "al" at the end has several meanings. It can be used when talking about uppercase letters or when referring to

I've been fortunate to work closely with some really good editors over the years. Sadly, not every writer can say the same. Maybe this has happened to you? You turn over your novel or magazine feature article to an editor for a thorough once-over, thinking the "extra set of eyes" will uncover all the things you can't because, well, you've been lookin' at the thing for way too long. * Spelling mistakes * Grammatical errors * Formatting issues * Plot holes and weak transitions

Welcome to another Edit This® grammar lesson. In today's blog entry, let's discuss the difference between Discuss vs. Discus. Do you know when to use each one? Most people will say they do know the difference. And yet, I see this mistake repeatedly in written copy ranging from school papers and published articles to blogs and social media posts. So, let's talk about it a little bit. And maybe by the end of this, we'll all be less confused. Discuss (with the double "s") simply

Hey, guys and gals. Just in case you've been living under a rock, Mother's Day is Sunday. It can be difficult trying to find the perfect gift at the store, especially if you're looking to give her something different from the norm. So how about writing her a special love letter? Love letters, poems, and anything heartfelt go a long way in showing mom just how much she is loved and appreciated. Granted, I understand that what I'm suggesting isn't a unique concept. But while th

Welcome to another Edit This® grammar lesson. In today's blog entry, let's discuss the difference between Dessert vs. Desert. Do you know when to use each one? Most people will say they do know the difference. And yet, I see this mistake time and again in written copy ranging from school papers and published articles to blogs and social media posts. It's OK. I'm not here to poke fun. I have to stop and think about this one, too! So, let's talk about it a little bit. And maybe

Edit This®, your friendly neighborhood writing and editing service, is another year older! That's right. Today, we celebrate our 7th anniversary! IT'S EDIT THIS DAY!!! I can't say thank you enough to every family member, friend, client, business partner, and everyone in between for the love and support as I continue to live and breathe my dream job! I've been in the writing and editing industry for 24 years, but when I went off on my own seven years ago – on April Fools' Day,

Welcome to another Edit This® grammar lesson. In today's blog, let's discuss the difference between Stationary vs. Stationery. Do you know when to use each one? Stationary vs. Stationery are examples of homophones – words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings – and they trip more people up than you think. So, let's dive right in, shall we? Stationary with an "ary" refers to something that isn't supposed to move. It's fixed in place, unchanging, and imm

Starting a blog was the best thing I could have done for my writing and editing business. Not only has it kept me top of mind with clients, but it's being shared more as time goes by – putting me in front of potential clients, other writers, and people who enjoy good content. If you're a business owner, it's time to overcome any weird hangups you might have about starting a blog and jump on the bandwagon. When done right, the benefits are immeasurable. Here are 20 reasons why

There aren't many small-business owners who wouldn't want to talk about what they do for a living. After all, these are people who have a true passion for their work. So in a casual one-on-one conversation, they'll tell you anything you want to know about: * What they do * Why they do it * How they got started, and * What makes them different But ask the same person to write all of that stuff down as written copy for their website, and they'll stare at you like a deer in head

Today, we have an Edit This® grammar lesson based on a specific question from one of our loyal readers! This reader would like to know the difference between Premier vs. Premiere. Do you know when to use each one? Premier and Premiere are examples of homophones – words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings. And they trip more people up than you think. So, here is the quick answer: Premier refers to someone or something that is the best or first in posi

Welcome to another Edit This® grammar lesson. In today's blog post, let's discuss the difference between Sight, Site, and Cite. Do you know when to use each one? Most of you might be saying, "Why, yes, I do!" But for others, it's not that easy. Sight, Site, and Cite are examples of homophones – words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings – and they trip more people up than you think. Let's clear up any lingering confusion. Sight refers to our ability t

Welcome to another Edit This® grammar lesson. In today's blog, let's discuss the difference between Waste vs. Waist. Do you know when to use each one? Waste vs. Waist are examples of homophones – words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings – and they trip more people up than you think. Waste has several meanings. Examples include referring to excess or unwanted material, trash, or to use something carelessly or without reason. It also can be used to de

You've sat down to write a magazine article, a short blog post, or even a few chapters for your next novel. Everything is coming together nicely, but you know it's a little too wordy. Your editor wants 700 words max. You wrote 787. It's supposed to be a 300-word blog. You have 400. Each chapter should be 3,000 words. Oops! You need to cut something. But what? How? From where? Plenty of writers struggle to be efficient with their words, especially when they have a good story b

I believe everyone should have an opportunity to do what they are most passionate about for a living. It's like they say, if you do, you'll never work a day in your life. For me, my passion is obviously writing – being a writer. And I am incredibly thankful for that and so much more. I am thankful for being blessed with the ability to write. I am thankful for having the opportunity to tell your stories. I am thankful that I can use my God-given talents to provide for my famil

The holiday season is upon us. That means your mailbox is soon to be filled with warm and fuzzy holiday cards from family, friends, co-workers, and neighbors. Perhaps reading that was a reminder that you need to send out a few dozen, too! And when you do, don't fall victim to the age-old grammar fail that so many families overlook during the holiday season: using an apostrophe to pluralize their last name. You don't need the apostrophe! Here's how to make your last name plura