Editing and proofreading resources

Every once in awhile, I like to update my resource list. Here are eight resources that I’ve found helpful. One of my rules for editing and proofreading (and for anything in life, really) is to never stop learning. Educating yourself is the most important tool to be the best wordsmith you can be.

FREE RESOURCES:

• merriam-webster.com is the online dictionary that I use, unless a client requests otherwise. It’s a good dictionary and also has word games to up your vocabulary knowledge. I subscribe to their word of the day email as well.
• https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar is a great resource for grammar items you may have questions about that the dictionary hasn’t answered. Grammar Girl Mignon Fogarty also provides great resources. I’ve gone down that rabbit hole more times than I care to admit.

PAID RESOURCES:

A few of these are separate style guides. Which one you use depends on your personal style/needs and/or what your client(s) wants you to use. I suggest at least familiarizing yourself with the AP Stylebook and the Chicago Manual of Style and their differences. I provide the link to each organization’s website where you can explore on your own, as well as the link to their Twitter account which is often a wonderful free resource.

• AP Stylebook offers print and digital versions of their book. They announced within the past year that they are not printing their editions as frequently as they used to; however, the online stylebook would be maintained and kept up to date. Their Twitter account has frequent tips and announces live chats or presentations about changes being made to the stylebook. Following https://twitter.com/APStylebook is an easy way to stay in the know.
• https://www.chicagomanualofstyle.org/home.html offers different subscription packages for individuals and groups. They also offer resources for librarians and teachers and another set of resources for students. Their Twitter account (https://twitter.com/ChicagoManual) is fairly active as well, offering helpful tips and notes.
• https://apastyle.apa.org/ is the American Psychological Association’s style guide. More than a few clients have asked me to use this guide (not all of them medical editing jobs). https://apastyle.apa.org/blog is a good free resource to help you out in a pinch. https://twitter.com/APA_Style is their Twitter account which has frequent tips as well.
• https://style.mla.org/ is the Modern Language Association’s style guide. Many colleges and universities use this style guide. Like the above style guides, their Twitter account (https://twitter.com/mlastyle) offers frequent tips and tricks.
• ACES: The Society for Editing (https://aceseditors.org/) is an international society that includes many disciplines and vehicles. They have several conferences throughout the year that are quite informative. They have chats twice a month about various subjects on their Twitter account https://twitter.com/nebaces.
• I would be remiss if I didn’t mention Strunk and White’s The Elements of Style. It’s a handy book that speaks to keeping writing concise.

There are so many resources available to editors, proofreaders, writers, etc., that trying to choose can be overwhelming. I suggest reading through their websites and see which best applies to you and your work. You can always add more resources as you continue your career. I also created my own style guide and keep it handy to make sure that I am consistent within my own writing and editing practices.

What is an indispensable resource for you?