Posts in category: Style on the Go archive

March 19, 2009: Issue 282

We’re already working on holiday projects, so let’s talk about a lovely gift to give our readers this year: Banish’tis the season from our copy. It was a cliché before any of us were born.

Here are more expressions and treatments that have been overused:
• anything 101
• color printed in different colors
• color your world
• couldn’t be happier
• fast-forward to …
• labor of love
• outside the box
• postage-stamp-size
• puns on the word suite

When you try to come up with clever wording, the first thing that occurs to you is usually a cliché; that’s precisely why it pops up first. Take a minute more and move down your mental list. You’ll probably find something much fresher.

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April 2, 2009: Issue 283

If something is transparent, light passes right through it. Objects on the other side are clearly visible.

If something is translucent, some light passes through. Objects on the other side are partially visible but not necessarily discernible.

If something is opaque, it blocks light. Objects on the other side are not visible.

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February 26, 2009: Issue 279

Capitalize Earth when it refers to the planet where we live:

These Earth-friendly ideas can save you money.
Taste testers pronounced our flying saucer cookies the most delicious on Earth.

Lowercase earth and related words when they refer to dirt, land masses, or the physical realm of existence:
Landscapers removed nearly a ton of earth.
The colors of earth and sky come together in the soothing master suite.
I have no earthly idea where the last flying saucer cookie went.

Has your database launcher quit working? When you drag the launcher icon into your dock, you create an alias. You have to keep the actual launcher somewhere on your hard drive or the alias will have nothing to link to. Contact a CE if we need to send you the launcher again.

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March 5, 2009: Issue 280

Please open this PDF for a special illustrated issue. Our thanks to Katie Leporte and to Jim Halpert.

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February 5, 2009: Issue 276

Capitalize a title when it comes immediately before a person’s name, describes a designated authority, and is not set off by commas:
President Barack Obama
Pope Benedict XVI
Professor Patricia Prijatel

Don’t capitalize a title that comes after a person’s name:
Barack Obama, president of the United States

Don’t capitalize a title that stands alone:
the 266th pope

Don’t capitalize a title set off by commas, even when it comes before a name:
a Drake University professor, Patricia Prijatel

Don’t capitalize job descriptions:
architect Stephen Herlong
dietitian Jeannette Jordan
chef Cat Cora

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February 12, 2009: Issue 277

The U.S. Congress has given you four more months to get ready for the change to digital television. But here in SIM, the switch to our new schedule database is rolling along on schedule. Old production and publishing spreadsheets have already gone the way of analog TV signals, and more documents will soon follow.

Beginning with fiscal 2010 (that’s anything that goes on sale July 1 or later), tracking documents, routing slips, and MIC job jacket forms will all be generated from the database. You will not be able to do your job without learning to use the database. No legislative body is going to step in and change that.

All staffers should have met with a CE to learn to use the database and create these new documents. If you haven’t, or if you need a refresher, let one of us know immediately. Freelance editors and designers will need to use the database, too. Talk to your primary staff contact about getting access.

The 15 minutes you invest in learning to use this system will save you hours in the coming year. We promise.

The guy who started it all: Anyone who’s already using the database knows how much it streamlines our work. For that we can thank Dan Johnson, who has been innovative and responsive beyond belief in setting up this technology. We’re awarding Dan a Special Achievement Eebie for his efforts.

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February 19, 2009: Issue 278 

Alex Rodriguez admits he used steroids. Christian Bale admits his tirade was out of line. Barack Obama admits he “screwed up” some Cabinet picks.

These examples show why the word admit often carries a negative connotation, suggesting wrongdoing or a reluctance to acknowledge facts. Be careful of admit in situations where it might imply a value judgment:
She admits she has high blood pressure.
He admits he has struggled with depression.
They admit they looked for bargains.

In all these cases, if attribution is necessary at all, acknowledge or just plain say is a better choice.
She has high blood pressure.
He acknowledges he has struggled with depression.
They say they looked for bargains.

When admit is the right word, it doesn’t need the preposition to before a gerund:
I admit going on too long on this topic.

In memoriam: Blossom Dearie died February 7. Obituaries in The New York Times and The Des Moines Register outlined her career as a jazz singer. But neither mentioned the reason anyone who was a child in the 1970s will instantly recognize her voice: She sang “Unpack Your Adjectives” for Schoolhouse Rock.

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December 31, 2008: Issue 271

When you break into a chorus of Auld Lang Syne at midnight, you probably won’t be worried about how to spell this old Scottish phrase.

But next time you write it, avoid the common mistake of throwing an aposotrophe-s (or s-apostrophe) at the end of lang. This error arises from the belief that auld lang syne translates to old times’ sake. The phrase actually means old long ago.

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Issue 273 January 15, 2009

Speaking of our friend The Count, we’d all do well to emulate him whenever we run across a number.

If we promise seven tips or 11 slides or 23 pages, count them. Do this at every stage, whether you’re looking at a video, a Web page, or a print layout. Don’t assume the number is right just because it’s already been through editing and copy editing. Things change. With a shift in layout, “Our Five Favorite Fabrics” can quickly become six or four.

Ditto for page numbers. Issue maps change as ad close nears, and internal page references should be checked along with folios.

Instead of counting sheep: We could all use a little soul-soothing right now. Try this.

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 January 22, 2009: Issue 274 

“Nearly 6 inches of snow fell on the city today. Expect 4 more inches of the white stuff overnight.”

We cringe when weather forecasters talk this way—not just because we hate shoveling. We also hate convoluted terms where a simple one will do.

Don’t be afraid to repeat words. There’s no good synonym for “snow” in English, so it’s best to say the word again.

This concept is especially important in writing for the Web. No one is likely to do a Google search for “orange orb” or “fenestration.” Say “pumpkin” or “window” as many times as you need to.

Another thing not to fear: Don’t worry if your masthead isn’t back to you by your Meredith Imaging Center date. We hold mastheads until we get desktop operator and color quality analyst credits from the MIC. As long as your masthead is with CEs by deadline, you’re fine.

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