Pack Your Editing Parachute

Ever feel as if you’re pushing your feature story out of a fast-moving plane, hoping it lands safely onto your local pages?

It’s tough to let go of a story you’ve worked on for several days (or more). You’re attached to each word. Pesky vague pronouns, shifting verb tenses and too many commas often slip under the radar.

Use a checklist of editing tips before you let a story fly. Common grammar mistakes include:

• Adjective Drift
  Wrong: The property has seasonal creeks and trail access.
  Right: The property has trail access and seasonal creeks.
• Vague Pronoun Reference
  Wrong: Emily annoyed Nancy, but that didn’t stop her from asking for help studying.
  Right: Emily annoyed Nancy, but that didn’t stop Nancy from asking for help studying.

Grammar Girl, a web expert on grammar, offers a complete editing checklist. Download the Grammar Girl’s Editing Checklist (PDF).

Your Personal Parachute

Did you know 3 Ruralite editors sign off on every page of the magazine, including your local pages? Now that’s a parachute.