Jill E Duffy

Editing pet peeve: the goofy obsession with the Oxford comma. Oxford enthusiasts—whom I often refer to as "Oxfordnistas"—insist that the serial comma is the ultimate arbiter of clarity and slayer of ambiguity. And they demonstrate this overstated power through a series of reductionist—albeit humorous—memes. Below on the left is one such example. Again, this meme assuredly suggests a moment where a lack of a serial comma may confuse readers. Rather than express a list of the three, the Oxford-less sentence seems to imply an appositive suggesting the exotic dancers are, in fact, Stalin and JFK. But what happens if you change strippers (plural) to stripper (singular). One good contrived strawman argument deserves another, right? On the right is the counterpoint. Here, the sentence with the Oxford comma introduces ambiguity. Is that JFK on stage three collecting singles, or is somebody else? The trick is simple: When in doubt, rewrite. "We invited JFK, Stalin and the strippers." See how this is clearly a list of three? See how I didn't need the comma to do so? Ultimately, the Oxford comma is a stylistic convention, so it is a matter of personal preference. You can also write, "We invited JFK, Stalin, and the strippers." That *also* works. Either way, stop pretending that your prescriptivist take on the Oxford comma is holy writ. #Oxfordcomma

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Many writers and editors think the Associated Press Stylebook is against using the serial (Oxford) comma. That’s not true. AP style *does* recommend using the serial comma in complex lists. For example, if one of the items in a list contains a conjunction, AP style calls for a serial comma. Like this: Fritz enjoys snacking on bananas, cheese and crackers, and ice cream. Additionally, if the items in the list are long, AP style calls for a serial comma. Like this: Helen changed the car’s worn tire before embarking on her big road trip, Raul shined the fenders until he could see his reflection in them, and Sara double-checked all fluid levels. AP does not recommend using a serial comma in a simple list: Dante bought strawberries, sliced turkey and rye bread. This is in contrast to most other style guides, including The Chicago Manual of Style, which calls for a serial comma in all lists. To learn more differences between AP style and Chicago style, check out Dragonfly Editorial’s field guide on this very topic. It’s titled “AP Style and Chicago Style: 15 Major Differences,” and the link is in the comments.

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It’s important for both writers and editors to understand the nuances of the phrase "to have" and its past participle "had," as they reveal deeper connections between subjects and actions. https://lnkd.in/e4QXnABb #Writing #Editing #Usage #Language #CopyEditing #RightTouchEditing

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The Power of a Pitch "Publishing credentials, well-researched comp titles, and a bit of personalization will certainly help your case, but your pitch is currency." https://buff.ly/3Yv3wqF #writerscommunity #writingcommunity #writerslife #amwriting

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The Midpoint (Secrets of Story Structure, Pt. 7 of 12) via Helping Writers Become Authors #amwriting #writetip #nanowrimo #pubtip https://lnkd.in/ewEiumuZ

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This is probably an unpopular opinion, but I abhor when people try to drag me/other writers into a Oxford comma versus non-Oxford comma debate. Here's why: 1. It further reduces the work that we do down to matters of punctuation. While I am very much a grammar nerd, I realize it's not the most important thing; useful, usable content is, as well as all of the strategy that gets us to that place. 2. Consistency is most important. Your org has probably already decided whether to follow AP Style or Chicago Manual, or at least made a decision about serial commas. Follow it, instead of wasting time arguing about it. Use the extra time you've saved to learn what UX writers/content designers actually do, beyond writing strings. 3. The choice is very dependent on the medium. If you're writing for apps, the less characters you can use, the better. Therefore, no Oxford comma is often your best bet. If you're writing long-form content, then you'll likely have more room for serial commas. 4. As mentioned below, it's all about clarity. Rules are meant to be broken if they don't make sense. Some UXers try so hard to fit the content into patterns that they forget that useful and clear content is most important for users. They probably won't even notice that you broke your patterns, unless they're also a UX writer or a proofreader. If you want to have a debate with a writer about punctuation — ask them their opinion about spaces before and after an em dash. That'll show 'em you truly get them.

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'When the board expressed the need for a copy editor, Elsevier's response, they said, was "to maintain that the editors should not be paying attention to language, grammar, readability, consistency, or accuracy of proper nomenclature or formatting."' https://lnkd.in/gGR6iXAY

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'When the board expressed the need for a copy editor, Elsevier's response, they said, was "to maintain that the editors should not be paying attention to language, grammar, readability, consistency, or accuracy of proper nomenclature or formatting."' https://lnkd.in/gGR6iXAY

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My newest article on my publishing Substack shows authors how to get a strong start at gathering reviews from your release team and through pro reviewing sites. https://lnkd.in/gF7dA_7r

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New pub: Myths of Origins: Literary and Cultural Patterns Myths of Origins explores the timeless power of origin myths in literature, spanning from ancient texts to contemporary works. This collection of essays delves into the six foundational models of beginnings in Western literature, examining how these frameworks shape narratives across eras. https://lnkd.in/eXDG9Cgu

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New pub: Mother Tongues and Other Tongues How do self-translation and other translingual practices mold the Sinophone poetic field? How and why do contemporary Sinophone writers produce (new) lyrical identities in and through translation? How do we translate contemporary Sinophone poetry? By addressing such questions and bringing together scholars, writers, and translators of poetry Mother Tongues and Other Tongues offers unique insights into Sinophone Studies, while sparking a transdisciplinary dialogue with Poetry Studies, Translation Studies and Cultural Studies. https://lnkd.in/efS-yYky

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We all write content. This may include books, articles, marketing material, emails, memos, contracts, policies, and other documents. Plain language is valuable in all writing. Get your copy of the ISO #PlainLanguage Standard today. bit.ly/42PqTdA

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7 Ways to Eliminate Wordiness in Your #authorsoftwitter #writer #writingcommunity #amwriting #inventingreality

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