The Nitpicker’s Nook is a monthly collection of language-related articles, interviews, and blog posts from around the Web. If you read something that would make a good addition, email your suggestion to [email protected].
By Robin Marwick
- What makes our form of English unique? According to James Harbeck, “The core of Canadian English is a pervasive ambivalence.” (BBC Culture)
- Many freelancers struggle with setting prices for projects. Too high, and you may not get the job; too low, and you may end up working for free. In this two-part post, Richard Adin covers how to calculate a price that works best for you. (An American Editor)
- Meanwhile, Jake Poinier lists some “fudge factors” you may want to keep in mind when calculating those quotes. (Doctor Freelance)
- Although writers and editors want the same thing—the best manuscript possible—they don’t always see eye to eye on how to achieve it. Jeannette de Beauvoir suggests that bridging the gap is a matter of communication. (Copyediting.com)
- John E. McIntyre recently reposted his macro-editing checklist; it’s a great list of big-picture items for editors to keep in mind, including focus, structure, organization, credibility, and tone. (The Baltimore Sun)
- On a micro level, this post by Beth Hill on the many possible ways to change a sentence for the better is equally useful. (The Editor’s Blog)
- Chuck Wendig’s post on 10 mistakes new writers make is profane, funny, and entirely accurate. (Terrible Minds)
- And finally, a kind BoldFace reader sent in this example of one global search and replace gone terribly wrong. Thank you, Sara Scharf! (Language Log)
Robin Marwick is a Toronto-based freelance editor, medical writer, content strategist, and dog lover.
This article was copy edited by Valerie Borden.
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