Batten Down the Hyphens Blog

I am a hopeless sucker for those “eat this, not that” articles. I chalk it up to my desire for a quick validation of my food choices (“I may not eat five servings of vegetables a day, but at least … Continue reading →

The daunting task of coming up with a blog post – daunting for me, at least, now that my initial burst of productivity has petered out – reminds me why I am an editor, not a writer. I like to … Continue reading →

Medical writing can be a bit … detached. In many contexts, a formal, dry voice is appropriate. When you’re reporting the methods and results of research, there isn’t room for rhetorical flourishes or personal commentary. This is not to say … Continue reading →

I’m reading Tom Rachman’s The Imperfectionists. It’s a collection of linked stories, each one devoted to a staff member of a fading Italian newspaper. My favorite so far is Herman, the corrections editor: He hits save. It is entry No. … Continue reading →

Google has unveiled a new laptop, the Google Cr-48 notebook. I usually pay no attention to such news, but even I couldn’t ignore the tech-site buzz over this device’s departure from keyboard orthodoxy: It has no caps lock key. Through … Continue reading →

Notice anything odd about the holiday edition of the Dunkin’ Donuts cup? (If you haven’t come across the cup itself, perhaps you are not married to someone who worships at the altar of Dunkin’ Donuts coffee.) It took me a … Continue reading →

When I tell people what I do for a living, I often hear, “Oh, I’d better watch my grammar!” Which in some ways is nice to hear. I don’t think nearly enough people use correct grammar, spelling, or punctuation. (Don’t … Continue reading →

I think about language a lot. It’s not just when I have my editor’s cap on – I find myself pondering whether “that” or “which” is the appropriate word even when I’m reading for pleasure. I’ve even been known to … Continue reading →