Edit Nation Blog

Most of these sentences are from “website developers”; in other words, companies that are paid to write for other businesses. In my experience, most internet content writers can’t write their way out of a paper sack and are largely clueless about basic punctuation and...

The other day someone asked me what I'm reading. Well, aside from mining real estate-related websites for material while researching my much-anticipated tenth book, Self-Editing for Real Estate Professionals, I am reading some great books at the moment. Let's see,...

When you are a professional speaker, or even if you're not, you should never agree to speak in a venue that requires you to sign something like this. (The three misspelled words are in the nature of icing on the cake.) If you are ever faced with this sort of...

It's true I do make fun of some of the writing that I see. Yup, I plead guilty. But I only make fun of writing (and post it here) when the author is someone who should know better. Generally speaking, what I post here is basic stuff; you know, stuff that we all should...

Last week I joined a nationally known organization and, when I joined, I got its membership package, marketing materials, etc., etc. There were DOZENS of mistakes in the main package, which explained the various things that this organization offers that it claims will...

You know, I "get" that people have become more and more colloquial, more and more casual, in their conversation. It's sort of like we're all rushing towards the bottom. Yeah, yeah, yeah. The rise of the gangsta rapper as grammar authority. However, there's still no...

1) ”You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression” Well, if you want to make a good first impression, watch the direction of your quotation marks and don’t forget the period at the end of your sentence! Two punctuation mistakes in one sentence is not going...

It's not just the "little guys" who make mistakes. Mistakes are all over. It's really a shame. Yay! You're now following Tiffany & Co. amethyst in your eBay Feed. You will receive email alerts for new listings. Dont send me e-mail alerts. [Thanks to eBay for this...

1) But instead, he has defeated attitude. Frankly, to me, he comes off unprofessional. No surprise that these two sentences are from the same writer (I will not call this person an “author.”) Okay, first thing: no italics. Italics is for emphasis and not appropriate...

"Professional" speakers are among the last people to recognize the importance of proper presentation, which, when you think about it, is hard to understand, and especially so when you get to the upper reaches of speakers—the people with serious speaking chops. It's...

"In the book, you talk about having been a trio with two other girlfriends who got married at the same time; as all of you guys saw it to some degree, they’d moved on together, leaving you behind." —Jia Tolentino,...

1) But instead, he has defeated attitude. Frankly, to me, he comes off unprofessional. 2) Last week I sent out an email about how poorly Carolina Panther's Quarterback, Cam Newton, handled his interview after the Super Bowl. 3) Housed in Orlando’s popular East End...

1) The Vistage Chief Executive Program creates a unique environment that provides each member with the individual insight, coaching, strategies and leadership skills needed to achieve better decisions and results for their company. Remember the issue about...

More sentences from "professional speaker" websites, plus the usual sloppiness from various sources. 1) The Vistage Chief Executive Program creates a unique environment that provides each member with the individual insight, coaching, strategies and leadership skills...

February 15 Quiz with ANSWERS! 1) Earth, Wind & Fire were one of the most musically accomplished, critically acclaimed, and commercially popular funk bands of the ’70s. [From Pandora] A group is an it, and so is singular: Earth, Wind & Fire was one of the...

1) Every Smashwords book will be listed for patrons in every library (unlike with OverDrive, where the book's not discoverable to patrons until the library acquires it. Can't just have part of a parenthesis. 2) If you enjoy, as I do, monitoring the shadow cast by...

I went on a couple of "professional" speaker websites and came away with too much to post all in one go. Many of these sentences (or sentence groups) have more than one mistake, so don't be shy! Answers—and more speaker sentences—next week. Thanks for stopping by!...

Special Editing Test! These sentences are all from speakers who (say they) charge $10,000 or more per speech. Yeah, right. 1) His radio show, “Engage with Andy Busch” brings top minds together for lively discussions on economics, politics and culture including...

Terrible Titles: Why Eight Student's Legal Case is Pivotal to Educational Reform Officials Appalled By What's Insides These Crates What Women of Color Have to Do to Breakthrough Defense Secretary congradulates female rangers Here's the test! Answers soon! 1) Every...

1. The jacket also features princess seams on the side for a complimenting fit! Huge mistake. Remember the homonym compliment/complement. The way I tell the two apart is by saying “I compliment you,” which lets me remember which spelling is the one with the “I” in the...

Special Editing Test! These sentences are all from speakers who (say they) charge $10,000 or more per speech. Yeah, right. 1) His radio show, “Engage with Andy Busch” brings top minds together for lively discussions on economics, politics and culture including...

1) As it turns out, pontificating on what lies ahead for storytelling — a past time we bookish folk engage in today with some maddening frequency — has a long history. Well, we “bookish folk” need to watch our spelling: it’s pastime, not past time. 2) Regardless of...

As the summer winds down, here's a businesslike quiz to get you in a back-to-business mindset. We've got a little something for everyone, including one headline, though most of these sentences do come from one especially poorly written website, which I visit whenever...

1) Additionally, please ensure that no text or important information appear within 0.25" of the edges of the cover (0.125" from the trim line, and 0.125" of bleed beyond it). The problem with this sentence is "appear." When two nouns are joined by "or," they do not...

Answers soon! Enjoy your summer! 1) As it turns out, pontificating on what lies ahead for storytelling -- a past time we bookish folk engage in today with some maddening frequency -- has a long history. 2) Regardless of gender, each recruit is expected to pass the...

Calling all editors! Got a great save that you'd like to share? We all have great saves, but some are more jump-up-and-down than others. If you have a dodged-a-bullet save you'd like to share, please send it in. I'd like the original sentence and then the corrected...

1) An Iraq War veteran, Biden had planed to run for governor of Delaware in 2016 instead of seeking a third term as attorney general. That's actually a toughie and hard to see, but "planed" should be "planned." 2) Welcome to Yoder's, a Sarasota tradition since first...

Hope your summer is going along as nicely as mine! Clients are happy, I'm happy with my clients, I just bought a beautifully autographed first-edition copy of Booker T. Washington's Up From Slavery...life is good! By the by, if you haven't read Up From Slavery, please...

Hey there, all you cool people! These are pretty easy sentences this week—a little bit of everything and a lot of one thing—just enough to keep you in the swim. 1) An Iraq War veteran, Biden had planed to run for governor of Delaware in 2016 instead of seeking a third...