 Sometimes when I’m copy editing, half of my edits are taking commas out
and the other half are putting commas in. In the final draft, the commas I deleted are not gone. They are simply existing in a more welcoming sentence. This got me thinking about the words that the new administration has dictated be removed from government websites and that instead of allowing these words to disappear, I wanted to capture them. The words aren’t gone. They are existing here in this little post of resistance. Sit by the fire, gender identity, and I’ll make you a cup of tea. Diversity, equity, and inclusion will be stopping by for cake. Racial equity is resting in the guest room. Climate change, you’ve sure been busy wreaking havoc for something that doesn’t exist. The spring migration is starting, and I’ve put out some birdseed. Sit on the porch and watch for a while. Chill. Like, literally. Regroup and reset, environmental justice. There is work for you still. I will shelter these words. Tend to them. Keep them safe and strong. These words are not gone. They are simply resting for a while in a more welcoming space. Join me in rescuing some words today?
0 Comments
 As a freelance medical editor, I create a style sheet for each new job. The style sheet is where I keep track of preferred spellings of medical terms and usage notes specific to the field or client. The “misspellings” I’ve pulled from my style sheets here include easily confused, incorrectly capitalized, and misused words. I recognize that different fields apply different styles. The preferred spelling or usage I've listed is according to the AMA Manual of Style and/or Merriam-Webster’s unabridged dictionary (if these sources diverge, I’ve given the AMA style, which I refer to most). Here are a few medical misspellings to add to your style sheet. If you use PerfectIt software when editing, you can customize your style sheet by adding the misspelling as a spelling variation or phrase to avoid. A to Z
Editor > Spellchecker Note that I have Grammarly turned on as I write this, and not all the words I've labeled as misspellings are underlined in red. If you write or edit in the medical field, it's important to supplement your spellchecker with medical-specific terms and to know the specifics of AMA style. If you need a medical editor to give your documents a final read for clarity, consistency, and style, please get in touch. Communicating science well—for healthy people and a healthy planet
|