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The English language’s waters can be muddy. So too can the difference between this pair of words: literally and figuratively.  Literally and figuratively aren’t the same thing, despite what some people may think. Literally used to denote a literal, or letter-by-letter, meaning. People didn’t start to use literally in a figurative sense until about 200 […]

Affect and effect are examples of homophones – two words that sound alike but have different meanings and spellings. People frequently confuse the two words because we often use affect and effect in similar contexts.  This blog post will explore the difference between affect and effect and help you know which one to use – […]

Are you confident when it comes to citing Shakespeare? Shakespeare’s plays are so influential that many style guides have special rules for citing them. As a proofreader, you’ll need to look out for citations like these when working on academic writing and make sure they have been added correctly.  If you’re not sure how to […]

The present perfect tense is one of the most common verb tenses in English, and despite the name containing the word present, it describes actions relating to both the past and present. Does it sound confusing? It doesn’t have to be! Read on for how to recognize and use the present perfect tense. How to […]

If you’re a new or aspiring proofreader, you’re probably wondering how you’ll tackle your first proofreading job. In this post, we’ll show you how to succeed at your first freelance gig by: Making sure to define, and then stick to, your client’s brief. Having confidence in your skills as a proofreader. Using checklists to help […]

Canadian English combines aspects of both American and British English, as well as having its own purely Canadian terminology and usage. We’ve put together a quick guide to Canadian English for proofreaders to highlight general guidelines for working with this dialect. Canadian English Spelling Canadian English usually follows British spelling conventions. For instance: Canadian English: […]

If you’re a freelance writer looking to get published, you’ll be excited to know that there are many magazines that accept submissions from freelancers. Whether you’re interested in writing fiction, lifestyle pieces, travel essays, or investigative journalism, there’s likely a magazine out there eager for your expertise. In this blog post, we’ll cover a broad […]

Rhetorical devices are everywhere, so as an editor, you’ll need to know what to do when you encounter them. But do you know your alliteration from your anaphora? How about the difference between epanalepsis and epistrophe? If it’s all Greek to you, don’t panic – just read our guide to 12 rhetorical devices and how […]

The Associated Press Stylebook is the go-to style guide for many writers, news outlets, and businesses. And if your clients use AP style, you’ll need to know how it works. With that in mind, here we’ll look at what proofreaders should know about dates in AP style, including: The basic date format (and when you […]