Book Review: The Story of Be: A Verb’s-Eye View of the English Language by David Crystal

(Oxford University Press, 2017) By Christine Albert Some words are so familiar that it feels as though we instinctively know what they mean. And when we don’t, we use a dictionary to read its definition and determine how it can be placed alongside other words to form cohesive narratives. But how often do we think … Continue reading Book Review: The Story of Be: A Verb’s-Eye View of the English Language by David Crystal

Book Review: Make It Happen, by Kari Chapin

(Chronicle Books) By Christine Albert Time is a commodity that often seems to be in short supply. Recognizing the need for professionals to learn not only how they’re using their time, but also how to work more efficiently, Kari Chapin created Make It Happen: A Workbook and Productivity Tracker for Getting Stuff Done. A business … Continue reading Book Review: Make It Happen, by Kari Chapin

Promoting accessibility in editorial businesses

By Christine Albert As a student enrolled in an editing program, I’m often asked to reflect on issues that may arise when working with clients. The discussion and module notes invariably focus on respect, clear communications, and diplomacy—about how the language of our queries and comments can affect authors. Yet, accessibility is rarely discussed, and … Continue reading Promoting accessibility in editorial businesses

The Word On The Street Toronto festival confirms printed books and literacy never go out of style

By Deepi Harish After a decade of calling Queen’s Park home to The Word On The Street Toronto Book & Magazine Festival, organizers have moved the festival to the Harbourfront Centre. In 2014, the International Festival of Authors (IFOA) announced its new partnership with The Word On The Street Toronto. The Harbourfront Centre has always … Continue reading The Word On The Street Toronto festival confirms printed books and literacy never go out of style

Revisiting Betsy Lerner’s The Forest for the Trees

By Alanna Brousseau “No matter how beleaguered the world of editing has become,” writes Betsy Lerner in The Forest for the Trees: An Editor’s Advice to Writers (2010), “no matter how short a book’s shelf life in today’s market, no matter how Kindled, downloaded, or digitized, none of us can ever forget the feeling of … Continue reading Revisiting Betsy Lerner’s The Forest for the Trees

Book review: Making a Point: The Pernickety Story of English Punctuation, by David Crystal

(Released October 2015) By Nicole North This latest book by world-renowned linguistics authority David Crystal showcases his talent for instructing writers of English while entertaining them with great wit and a punchy narrative style. Punctuation is the focus of Making a Point, and Crystal gives a detailed and straightforward history of its use as well … Continue reading Book review: Making a Point: The Pernickety Story of English Punctuation, by David Crystal