by Sharon Ernst | Mar 17, 2026 | Proofreading and Editing
Originally published in 2021 with the launch of our free proofreading course. Updated in 2026 to keep offering proof proofreading matters! Proofreading shmoofreading, blah, blah, blah… If that’s your attitude toward this critical communication tool, read on to learn how typos can cost businesses millions of dollars—and even damage careers. Plus you’ll learn how our free proofreading course can help YOU avoid such costly mistakes! How Proofreading Protects Your Brand…and Bottom Line Proofreading is important to you as an...
by Sharon Ernst | Nov 12, 2024 | Proofreading and Editing
Although my oldest (who is in his 30s) disagrees with me about the importance of this because–he says–rules are changing, I am sticking with my principles and training for now. And I want to make sure we all know how to capitalize correctly. So let’s take a quick dive into the rules you need to know… How to capitalize correctly Although it might not happen too often, there might be times when you will write headlines, titles, headings, subheadings and the like as part of your writing at work–or you might be...
by Sharon Ernst | Oct 29, 2024 | Proofreading and Editing
OK, I admit it. I couldn’t have described a comma splice a month ago. I knew there was a mistake that needed fixing when I saw one, but I didn’t know what it was called. Now I do because I refreshed myself on my copyediting. You could too with a proofreading class. Let’s save you from that same embarrassment, shall we? A comma splice happens when you have two sentences running together as one. In grammar speak, it’s when you have to independent clauses together as one sentence. But I think it’s easier to understand if I say it’s two...
by Sharon Ernst | Sep 13, 2024 | Proofreading and Editing
Last time, I showed you an example of word puking from a restaurant website. It was a whole lot of fancy words that said essentially nothing that would help the reader understand what kind of food or experience they could expect. This time we have a run-on sentence—71 words—that does say something, but the reader gets lost in it because it is so darn long and confusing. Here’s the sentence, with brand names removed: The auto industry has paid lip service to digital sales for years, but with the growth of ABC’s direct sales model and...
by Sharon Ernst | May 23, 2024 | Proofreading and Editing
A newsletter reader asked for advice on when to use exclamation points. An editor, she said many of the younger writers she works with use too many. And she’s looking for guidance, asking “What’s an appropriate use for exclamation points?” Gulp. I might not be the right person to ask. I too am an exclamation-point-loving fiend, despite no longer being young. (Although for all other punctuation, I do offer a free proofreading course.) But it’s a good question! This kind of punctuation is similar to emojis, in my opinion, which I am...
by Sharon Ernst | Mar 4, 2024 | Proofreading and Editing
With the recent request that I give more advice on the proper use of commas, I decided to do the occasional Comma Challenge since I see so many errors in my day-to-day life. Here’s the first. How does it work? I’m glad you asked! Below you’ll see seven sentences with comma errors. Your job? Find the mistake. Then check with the answers below, where I’ve made the correction and given the reason for it. Have fun! The Comma Errors Seriously, this project is really fun and easy, you should try it. If you’ve been thinking of trying a...
