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June 8, 2006: Issue 142

The phrase “such as” introduces a specific example:
A vintage piece, such as this 1948 dresser, adds instant character.
He’s a fan of midcentury touches, such as the low-slung sofa in the family room.

The word “like” introduces a comparison:
She searched for a vintage dresser like her neighbor’s.
He bought a midcentury sofa like the low-slung model in Lucy and Ricky Ricardo’s apartment.

Note that “such as” includes the words that follow. A 1948 dresser is a vintage piece; a low-slung sofa is a midcentury touch. “Like,” on the other hand, excludes the words that follow. She wasn’t actually looking for her neighbor’s dresser; he didn’t buy the sofa from the I Love Lucy set.

INDESIGN TIP: To read copy in a text-only window, click inside a text box, then go to the Edit menu and select Edit in Story Editor, or just type apple-y. To return to the layout, go to the Edit menu and select Edit in Layout, or type apple-y again. (You can choose the colors, font, and type size for this window. Go to the InDesign menu and select Preferences, then Story Editor Display.)

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May 25, 2006: Issue 140

“Renown” can be a noun or a verb, but not an adjective. The adjective is “renowned.”

incorrect: a renown painter
correct: a painter of renown
correct: a renowned painter

And please note there’s no “k.” These words are not related to the word “know.”

ON BHGstylebook.com: Find a list of words that commonly cause problems.

UPDATE: Here’s a change in SIM style: “Microwave” is now acceptable as a synonym for “microwave oven.” You can stick with the two-word term if you prefer, but you don’t have to.

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May 18, 2006: Issue 139

Use italics, not quotation marks, to set off unspoken thoughts.

incorrect: “I might hate pink polka-dot walls in a month,” she thought.
correct: I might hate pink polka-dot walls in a month, she thought.

incorrect: “I thought the place was perfect,” he says. “I told myself, ‘It just needs a few minor repairs.'”
correct: “I thought the place was perfect,” he says. “I told myself, It just needs a few minor repairs.”

Open this PDF for a special illustrated version of this issue.

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May 11, 2006: Issue 138

We know grammar books and dictionaries often conflict, so here’s a rundown on our hierarchy.

This SIM Stylebook is our primary reference. If you find a style rule or a spelling here, abide by it. Our stylebook outranks every other reference on our shelves or online.

For style issues not addressed here, try the third edition of Words into Type first, then The Chicago Manual of Style.

To find spellings not listed here, look first in Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, 11th Edition, then inWebster’s Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged.

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May 4, 2006: Issue 137

When homeowners ask to be anonymous, don’t quote them directly. Paraphrase their statements.

incorrect: “The breakfast nook is so cozy, I use it for two or three meals a day,” the homeowner says.
correct: The breakfast nook provides a cozy spot for two or three meals a day.

When possible, rephrase to downplay the fact that we’re not naming the owners.

acceptable: The homeowners asked for a family room that could accommodate their three active children, so the designer created        separate zones for homework, play, and TV viewing.
preferred: Separate zones in the family room—for homework, play, and TV viewing—
accommodate three active children.

An option when homeowners are concerned about privacy is to use a woman’s maiden name to identify her. Phrase first references to avoid attaching that name directly to her husband (because it was never his name).

incorrect: Mary and Phillip Jacobs
correct: Mary Jacobs … Mary and her husband, Phillip

REMINDER: Always spell out “and” in Better Homes and Gardens. Never use an ampersand.

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April 20, 2006: Issue 135

Every magazine must include a postal ID statement, preferably on the last page. If there’s an ad on that page, the statement can run on the first page of the table of contents. (Before moving the postal ID from the last page to the TOC, please discuss it with your copy editing liaison.) The statement must appear in at least 6 point type.

These statements contain legal information that must run in every issue. Their placement is dictated by U.S. Postal Service rules.

ON BHGStylebook.com: Find boilerplate language for postal ID statements. Find a list of ISSNs.

FUN FACT: The Des Moines Public Library subscribes to 495 magazines.

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April 6, 2006: Issue 133

We’ve simplified our rule on capitalizing rose names.

Generally, lowercase rose types:
floribunda rose
hybrid tea rose

Capitalize any part of the rose name that is a proper name:
David Austin roses
English roses

Also capitalize when necessary to avoid confusion:
Use Old Garden roses to create a beautiful arrangement.

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March 23, 2006: Issue 132

For quotation attribution, nothing beats plain old “says.” Flowery attributions (“chuckles,” “recalls,” “exclaims,” “proclaims”) steal focus from the quote. Let the speaker speak, and get out of his or her way.

Here’s what William Strunk Jr. and E. B. White say in The Elements of Style:

Inexperienced writers not only overwork their adverbs but load their attributes with explanatory verbs: “he consoled,” “she congratulated.” They do this, apparently, in the belief that the word “said” is always in need of support, or because they have been told to do it by experts in the art of bad writing.

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March 9, 2006: Issue 130

When something suits a particular situation, it “fills the bill.” It does not “fit the bill.”

Think “bill” as in theater, not as in accounting. The origin of this expression is in vaudeville, when producers who wanted to round out a show looked for someone who would complement the other acts to fill the bill for the evening.

Other commonly confused expressions:

bated breath (not baited)
champ at the bit (not chomp)
deep-seated (not deep-seeded)
row to hoe (not road)
toe the line (not tow)

MICROSOFT WORD TIP: When you’re working with Track Changes activated, you can get a quick look at clean copy by going to the window at the left side of the Reviewing toolbar and selecting Final. When you’re ready to see the color-coded type and strikethroughs again, select Final Showing Markup. (Any changes you make in Final mode will be tracked when you switch back to Final Showing Markup.)

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March 2, 2006: Issue 129

Having trouble figuring out which directional to use in a caption? Check out our new illustrated examples.

And while we’re discussing directionals, here are a few reminders.

Always use commas to set off directionals embedded in text.
incorrect: The ebony side table above was a flea-market bargain.
correct: The ebony side table, above, was a flea-market bargain.

Use commas inside directionals only when they are three words or longer.
correct: ABOVE LEFT: The ebony side table was a flea-market bargain.
correct: OPPOSITE, TOP LEFT: The ebony side table was a flea-market bargain.
correct: The ebony side table, above left, was a flea-market bargain.
correct: The ebony side table, opposite, top left, was a flea-market bargain.

When a caption is printed over a photo, use “this photo” (not “this page”).

Omit the directional when a caption refers to a single photo and the relationship is clear from position.

JUST FOR FUN: Next time you’re grumbling about grammar rules that seem arbitrary and unnecessary, take a look at where we’d be without them.

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