#Editor

New Year, New Website? Add Unique Written Copy To Get People Talking

Steve Gamel

Jan 12
3 min

New Year, New Website? Add Unique Written Copy To Get People Talking

You've hired someone to build a site for your small business. But not just any website ... one you can be proud of that also legitimizes your company. And everything is coming together nicely, too – the colors, design and layout, functionality, and calls to action. But now you need to tie it all together with written copy. Ah, yes, written copy – that crucial storytelling element with a clearly-defined message that tells visitors who you are, what you do, why you do it, and w

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Edit This Grammar Lesson: Is It New Year's or New Years?

Steve Gamel

Dec 29, 2022
2 min

Edit This Grammar Lesson: Is It New Year's or New Years?

We are a few days away from the calendar shifting to 2023. Everyone's excitement has reached a fever pitch, which means I will undoubtedly be asked this age-old question before the celebrations get underway: "Should we write it as New Year's or New Years?" The quick answer is ... New Year's (with the apostrophe). Please, for the love of all things holy, do not write "New Years." Why is it New Year's? It really comes down to one thing – using an apostrophe shows possession. Po

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Every Writer Needs a Good Editor: An Excerpt From Write Like You Mean It

Steve Gamel

Nov 17, 2022
2 min

Every Writer Needs a Good Editor: An Excerpt From Write Like You Mean It

Every writer needs a good editor. It doesn't matter if you're a college student who needs an extra set of eyes for an important paper or a savvy journalist whose next piece must be accurate and readable before it goes to print. You could also be an aspiring writer chipping away at your first novel, a veteran with hundreds of skins on the wall, or someone who likes to write on the side. A quality editor shapes your writing. They help it look the way you meant it to be by fixin

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Edit This Grammar Lesson: A Lot vs. Alot

Steve Gamel

Nov 3, 2022
2 min

Edit This Grammar Lesson: A Lot vs. Alot

Welcome to another Edit This® grammar lesson. In today's blog post, we will discuss the difference between a lot vs. alot. Do you know when to use each one? The grammar and spelling nerds out there are squirming in their seats right now, exclaiming ... "Only one of those is actually a real word!!!" And they're right. But somehow ... some way, the "a lot vs. alot" debate continues to be a tough nut to crack in the English language. So let's clear up any confusion right now, sh

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Edit This Grammar Lesson: Undo vs. Undue

Steve Gamel

Sep 22, 2022
2 min

Edit This Grammar Lesson: Undo vs. Undue

Welcome to another Edit This® grammar lesson. In today's blog post, we will discuss undo vs. undue. Do you know the difference between them? Undo and Undue 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? Undo has several meanings, including to reverse or erase. It can also mean to untie, unwrap, destroy, or cause a downfall. * I promise to undo wh

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Edit This Grammar Lesson: Aisle vs. Isle

Steve Gamel

Aug 11, 2022
2 min

Edit This Grammar Lesson: Aisle vs. Isle

Welcome to another Edit This® grammar lesson. In today's blog post, we will discuss aisle vs. isle. Do you know the difference between them? Aisle and Isle 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? Aisle refers to a passageway between rows of seats or shelves in a store. * Where is the candy aisle? * She smiled as she walked down the aisle.

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Steve Gamel

Jul 28, 2022
2 min

Steve Gamel and Edit This Featured on Dads on Purpose Podcast

Steve Gamel, President and Owner of Edit This® and the author of Write Like You Mean It: Mastering Your Passion For The Written Word. had the opportunity recently to be a guest on the wildly-popular Dads on Purpose Podcast. Dads on Purpose is an engaging platform created by Josh Ashford. The goal of each episode is to empower fathers through education, entertainment, and engagement. And the topics range from mental health to serving others, wealth building, changing habits fo

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Edit This Grammar Lesson: Laying in Bed or Lying in Bed?

Steve Gamel

Jun 23, 2022
2 min

Edit This Grammar Lesson: Laying in Bed or Lying in Bed?

When you're tired and want to go to bed, do you wonder whether it's grammatically correct to say that you're laying in bed or lying in bed? Of course not! You're tired and couldn't care less about grammar at this point! Laying down ... lying down ... I'm in bed! Who cares?! Well, we grammar nerds care! So if you don't mind keeping one eye open for a few seconds longer, I'd like to use this week's Edit This® grammar lesson to show you that you've probably been saying this line

6,469 views2 comments

30 Common Words That Are Really Hard to Spell

Steve Gamel

Jun 2, 2022
2 min

30 Common Words That Are Really Hard to Spell

Even the best writers admit certain words are really hard to spell. No matter how often we use them in everyday writing, we routinely have to spell them out slowly as we type or even resort to double-checking ourselves with spell-check or a quick online search. Even then, we still aren't confident that we got it right. Some words are just confusing like that, especially those that sound like they should be spelled a different way, have weird letter combinations, or feel like

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Edit This Grammar Lesson: Compliment vs. Complement (Revisited)

Steve Gamel

May 19, 2022
2 min

Edit This Grammar Lesson: Compliment vs. Complement (Revisited)

Welcome to another Edit This® grammar lesson. In today's blog post, we will discuss Compliment vs. Complement and the differences between the two. I wrote a blog post about this five years ago but am revisiting the topic since I've seen a lot of confusion lately. Compliment and Complement 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? Compliment

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Edit This Grammar Lesson: Already vs. All Ready

Steve Gamel

Apr 14, 2022
2 min

Edit This Grammar Lesson: Already vs. All Ready

Welcome to another Edit This® grammar lesson. In today's blog post, let's discuss the difference between Already vs. All ready. Do you know when to use each one? Already and All ready 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? Already as an adverb means that something has taken place, just took place now, or was completed beforehand. It also

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Steve Gamel

Mar 10, 2022
2 min

Edit This Grammar Lesson: Pail vs. Pale

Welcome to another Edit This® grammar lesson. In today's blog post, let's discuss the difference between Pail vs. Pale. Do you know when to use each one? Pail vs. Pale 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? Pail is another word for a bucket. You know, those things with the half-circle handle used to carry water, etc. It also refers to the

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Steve Gamel

Jul 15, 2021
2 min

Edit This Grammar Lesson: Gray vs. Grey

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

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Edit This Grammar Lesson: Vain, Vein, and Vane

Steve Gamel

Jul 8, 2021
2 min

Edit This Grammar Lesson: Vain, Vein, and Vane

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

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Hilarious Grammar and Spelling Fails You Need to See

Steve Gamel

Jul 1, 2021
1 min

Hilarious Grammar and Spelling Fails You Need to See

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

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Steve Gamel

Jun 24, 2021
2 min

Edit This Grammar Lesson: Feat vs. Feet

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

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Edit This Mailbag: Questions on Writing and Editing

Steve Gamel

Jun 3, 2021
4 min

Edit This Mailbag: Questions on Writing and Editing

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

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Edit This Grammar Lesson: Capital vs. Capitol

Steve Gamel

May 27, 2021
2 min

Edit This Grammar Lesson: Capital vs. Capitol

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

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Steve Gamel

May 20, 2021
2 min

20 Qualities of Good Editors

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

5,386 views0 comments

Edit This Grammar Lesson: Discuss vs. Discus

Steve Gamel

May 13, 2021
2 min

Edit This Grammar Lesson: Discuss vs. Discus

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

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