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What Is the Difference Between an Acronym and an Initialism?
What Is the Difference Between an Acronym and an Initialism?
Last Updated Nov 30, 2023
Do you know the difference between an acronym and an initialism? They are both types of abbreviations, and both terms refer to shortened forms made up of a set of capitalized letters (rather than a shortened word, such as Dr.). However, they have different meanings and work in different ways. To help you nail down […]
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How to Spot a Credible Source
How to Spot a Credible Source
Last Updated Sep 07, 2023
Whether you’re a proofreader, an academic editor, or someone who simply wants reliable information, learning how to spot a credible source is vital. This guide explores everything you need to know: Types of Sources There are many kinds of sources, but they generally fall into three categories: primary, secondary, and tertiary. Primary Sources A primary […]
How to Set Freelance Editing Rates
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What Are Trigger Words? (And How to Use Them in Writing)
Last Updated Feb 06, 2023
Trigger words are a common marketing tool used in business copywriting. In this post, we’ll explain what trigger words are and share our top tips to help you edit them in your clients’ writing. What Are Trigger Words? Trigger words (or power words) are words or phrases that compel the reader to take an action, […]
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What Is Developmental Editing?
Last Updated Jan 30, 2023
Before a manuscript is published, it goes through several stages of editing, and traditionally, each step is conducted separately. Developmental editing (also known as structural editing) is the essential first step that concerns the overall structure and content of a text. Keep reading to learn more about what’s involved in developmental editing and how it […]
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The Inverted Pyramid in Journalism
Last Updated Sep 14, 2022
The inverted pyramid is a handy tool used by journalists and business writers to structure their work. Understanding the inverted pyramid and how it’s used will help you to edit this form of writing. In this post, we explain the basics of the inverted pyramid so that you can use it to help assess your […]
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Proofreading Tips: When Should You Write Out Numbers in Full?
Last Updated Aug 12, 2022
Style guides vary a lot on even the basics of how to write numbers. APA style, for instance, recommends writing out numbers under 10 as words and using numerals for larger numbers. But Chicago style recommends writing out numbers up to and including 100. And MLA style recommends writing out any number that can be […]
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A Guide to Countable and Uncountable Nouns
Last Updated Aug 04, 2022
Common nouns can be either countable or uncountable. But what does this mean in practice? And what does a proofreader need to know about countable and uncountable nouns? In this post, we set out the basics of how these noun types work and some common errors to look out for. What Are Countable Nouns? Countable […]
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Writing Samples to Help You Practice Proofreading
Last Updated Jul 27, 2022
At Knowadays, we love to help you improve your proofreading skills. So today, we’re giving you three short passages of text to practice on. They are written in American English. Just copy and paste each passage into a Microsoft Word document and make any changes you feel are necessary (focusing on clear errors rather than […]
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Is or Are? A Guide to Collective Nouns
Is or Are? A Guide to Collective Nouns
Last Updated Jul 20, 2022
Collective nouns are nouns that refer to a group of people or objects, including words like team, family, and crowd. But are they singular or plural? And how do you use collective nouns in a sentence? These are things you need to know as a proofreader. Read on to find out more. Collective Nouns and […]
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A Proofreader’s Guide to Exclamation Point Use
A Proofreader’s Guide to Exclamation Point Use
Last Updated Jul 01, 2022
Exclamation points, also known as exclamation marks, are used to express excitement, enthusiasm, and other strong emotions. As a proofreader, though, you may need to help clients avoid overusing them or using exclamations in the wrong situation. So, when should exclamation points be used? And when should a proofreader step in to curb a client’s enthusiasm for […]
