Editor's Corner

The other day, Joe Biden announced that he’s running for president in 2020. No comment from me about the politics, but I’m here to tell you about the uproar he caused in the world of grammar and punctuation. Here is his tweet:

So, what is it, exactly, that caused the punctuation police to go bonkers? Most of the conversation was about the overuse of the ellipses, though his attempted em dashes are a mess, too. First, a suggested rewrite of the tweet with more appropriate punctuation:

“The core values of this nation—our standing in the world, our very democracy, everything that has made America, America—are at stake. That’s why I’m announcing my candidacy for president of the US.”

But let’s talk about the ellipsis (also called the “suspension point”) and why it might irritate people with its overuse. Here is an excerpt from an article at Quartz Obsession (thank you, Joni!):

An ellipsis is defined as a mark indicating a pause, or “the omission of one or more words that are obviously understood but that must be supplied to make a construction grammatically complete,” according to Merriam-Webster. It can also imply a “sudden leap of one topic to another.”

Dashes can be employed to a similar effect. But, as Katy Waldman writes in Slate, “dashes—useful and lovely though they are—are not … ellipses. They excel at representing interruptions, trains of thought abruptly shorn off. Meanwhile, an ellipsis trails away gradually, delicately, all hesitance and apprehension.”

A symbol of hesitancy, apprehension, indecision, and more to come sounds tailor-made for the internet. As instant chat became more popular in the ’90s, designers began to use the ellipsis as a “typing awareness indicator.” While intended to reassure the person on the other side that a response was forthcoming…its unintended effect was an intense anxiety when a response was taking too long….

In actual text, ellipses have over time come to be misused to indicate…well, it’s unclear. “Hesitation, confusion, and apathy — they’re the most passive-aggressive of all the punctuation marks,” writes Paris Martineau for the Outline. It’s because ellipses can often be read to imply that something is missing or unspoken that their overuse drives readers crazy. “Leaving something unsaid at the end of a sentence is invariably full of potential danger,” linguist David Crystal tells Martineau.

The result of the discussion was that you don’t want to run for president and fill your statement with symbols of omission. Of course, we can also apply that to our own professional writing and make sure to use punctuation according to the standard rules and regulations. Punctuation marks have meaning. We shouldn’t throw them around like confetti. It makes people anxious.

If you’re interested in more facts about the ellipsis or you want to read the entire article, it is here.

Kara Church

Technical Editor, Advisory

619-542-6773 | Ext: 766773

Symitar Documentation Services

Kara Church

Technical Editor, Advisory

619-542-6773 | Ext: 766773

Symitar Documentation Services

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Although this isn’t technically a writing issue, it is a communication issue, and it is definitely a workplace issue. Several people have asked me to discuss the proper mode of written communication between work colleagues. The question actually is, when is it appropriate to use IM (or Skype®) and when is it appropriate to use email? The short answer is that IM is best used for short, quick conversations when you’re in a hurry. It can be disruptive, however, so when you are not pressed for time, email is usually the better option because it allows the recipient to answer at his or her convenience.

The long answer is provided in an article written by CBS News. It’s so long, that I took the liberty of abbreviating it for your convenience.

Instant messaging is best used when

• It’s a simple question requiring a simple answer. You might use IM to ask, "What time is that conference call?"
• Timeliness is the key factor in the communication. If you’re on a conference call and you want to give some information to the meeting leader without interrupting the speaker, send an IM.
• You already have a working relationship and have developed some short-hand. Both parties know what’s going on and don’t need a lot of context.
• Informality is appropriate. You probably shouldn’t IM the CEO.
• It’s just the two of you. While you can IM with multiple participants, more than two people can get a little confusing.
• You can truly multitask. If you spend a lot of time on the phone, IM is a great way to get informal information to people.
• Both parties are working at the same time. The implication is that both parties are working, and it isn’t a big deal for the other person to respond immediately. If you’re not available and don’t want to be interrupted, set your status appropriately.

On the other hand, email can be the best option when

• The answer actually requires thought or detail. One well thought out email can replace multiple panicky instant messages.
• Documentation is important. Email gives you an easy-to-access history to verify your past correspondence.
• You need to position the request, the information you’re sending, and who the heck you are. It’s only polite to introduce yourself and what you’re asking for before intruding on someone’s work day. Carefully laying out your request also makes it much easier for the other person to respond appropriately.

Enjoy your day!

Donna Bradley Burcher | Senior Technical Editor | Symitar®

8985 Balboa Ave. | San Diego, CA 92123 | Ph. 619.278.0432 | Extension: 765432

Symitar Documentation Services

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Good morning!

This is part of a longer article about Greek words, from Daily Writing Tips. Last week, I talked about pandemics and epidemics, this week I have some more words with Greek roots. For the full article and list, see Daily Writing Tips.

1. acrobat
This circus performer who demonstrates feats of physical agility by climbing to the very top of the rope gets his name from the Greek words “high” and “walk,” with the sense of “rope dancer” and “tip-toe.”

2. bacterium
From a Greek word that means “stick” because under a microscope (another Greek word), some bacteria look like sticks.

3. cemetery
The Greek word koimeterion meant “sleeping place, dormitory.” Early Christian writers adopted the word for “burial ground,” and that’s why college students stay in the dormitory and not in the cemetery. [KC–And in modern Greece, the cemetery is called a

νεκροταφείο (pronounced nekro-ta-fee-o), and yes, you probably recognize the prefix “necro,” as in necromancy or necropolis.]

4. dinosaur
You may have heard this one before. Our word for these ancient reptiles is a modern (1841) combination of the Greek words for “terrible” and “lizard.

5. hippopotamus
The ancient Greeks called this large, moist African animal a hippopótamos, from the words for “horse” and “river.” In other words, river horse.

6. rhinoceros
Continuing our African theme, this large, dry African animal is named after the Greek words for “nose” and “horn.” Horns usually don’t grow on noses.

7. economy
The Greek word for “household administration” has been expanded to mean the management of money, goods, and services for an entire community or nation. But “economical” still refers to personal thrift.

8. planet
The ancient Greeks get blamed for everything wrong with astronomy before the Renaissance, but they were astute enough to notice that while most stars stood still, some wandered from year to year. The word planet comes from the Greek word for “wandering.”

9. grammatical
Speaking of grammar, the Ancient Greek word grammatike meant “skilled in writing.” Now it means “correct in writing.”

10.syntax
A combination of Ancient Greek words that mean “together” and “arrangement.” Syntax is how words are arranged together.

Kara Church

Technical Editor, Advisory

619-542-6773 | Ext: 766773

Symitar Documentation Services

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My dear friend Edith, whose first language is German, always has a new question about English for me when I see her. During our last dinner, she asked me why the “eo” in people and the “oe” in subpoena were pronounced with a “long e” sound, but the “o” is there without a squeak.

I looked around for some helpful hints on spelling and pronunciation, and I found this: “When there are two vowels together in a word, and they are immediately next to each other, you usually pronounce only the first vowel, which is their long vowel sound.” Here are a few examples:

• Boat: only the “o” is pronounced (with a “long o” sound)
• Bait: only the “a” is pronounced (with a “long a” sound
• Increase: only the “e” is pronounced (with a “long e” sound)

Unfortunately, there are a zillion exceptions to that rule. English is a combination of so many languages that we have the same sound for many combinations of letters. So, rather than get too far afield from the original “eo” and “oe” that sound like a “long e,” let’s look at something else I found.

I saw an article in Daily Writing Tips called The Six Spellings of “Long E.” While this didn’t address either of Edith’s examples, it did show six other combinations of letters that make the “long e” sound. Instead of pasting it all here, I have digested it, and now I am returning it to you (like a mamma bird) in a tabular format, with examples of my own. We will call this The Eight Spellings of “Long E.”

And lastly, this little bit on the word subpoena: some say the “b” is silent in American English but pronounced in British English. The “oe” is left over from the Latin. And from Merriam-Webster, we have this etymology:

If you think you recognize the sub- in subpoena as the prefix meaning "under, beneath, below," you’re on target. Subpoena arrived in Modern English (via the Middle English suppena) from the Latin sub poena, a combination of sub and poena, meaning "penalty." Other poena descendants in English include impunity ("freedom from penalty"), penal ("of or relating to punishment"), and even punish. There is also the verb subpoena, as in "Defense lawyers have subpoenaed several witnesses to the crime."

Kara Church

Technical Editor, Advisory

619-542-6773 | Ext: 766773

Symitar Documentation Services

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Hello everyone! I hope this finds you in good health. One of the disaster recovery specialists in our department sends us monthly preparedness information, and something he sent during flu season caught my eye. It was a tip of the week about endemics, epidemics, and pandemicsit doesnt get more exciting than that!

Today lets have a look at these words, where they are from, and the differences between them.

• endemic (adj.): a disease with a constant presence in a region. From Greek en "in" + dmos "people

  Example: In North America, winter colds and flu are endemic; in large areas of Africa, malaria is endemic.

• epidemic (adj.)

A sudden outbreak where the tally of new cases exceeds expectations for an infectious disease in a given region. From Greek epi "among, upon" + dmos "people, district.

Example: The article said that between 1988 to 1990, California experienced its worst measles epidemic in decades. The cause? People not getting the measles vaccine for their children.

• pandemic (adj.)

A disease that exceeds expected case levels but may also spread over many countries or continents. From Greek pan- "all" + dmos "people"

Example: At first, the Black Plague seemed to be contained to a certain area of Asia, but by 1353 they estimate this pandemic killed up to 200 million people in Europe and Asia.

On that note, I hope you all have a very jolly day!

Spread of the Black Death (named for the lymph nodes that became

black and swollen after bacteria entered through the skin)

Kara Church

Technical Editor, Advisory

Symitar Documentation Services

Which of the following sentences do you think is correct?

• Please call me once you finish working.
• Please call me after you finish working.

Trick question. They’re both correct. The word you choose (once or after) depends on how big a hurry you are in to get that phone call. If you want the phone call to occur immediately after you finish working, the correct choice is once. If you just want the phone call to occur sometime after you finish working, the correct choice is after. Once is more urgent.

In both cases, the words are being used as conjunctions. Here are the definitions:

• once: at the moment when: as soon as
• after: at a later time than something else happens

Most people use the words interchangeably, and it usually doesn’t make much difference. But since we know the distinction, we can be more precise. Didn’t someone once say that precision is next to godliness? If they didn’t, they should have.

Now, here’s an interesting twist: not only can once and after both be used as conjunctions, they can also both be used as adverbs. But as adverbs, the definitions are not close in meaning, so there’s no chance of accidental misuse:

• once: one time and no more
• after: following in time or place

Here are some examples of the adverbs in a sentence:

• We saw that band perform once.
• We arrived shortly after the band started playing.

Ah, English. It’s like my crazy uncle Cecile: irregular, inconsistent, and a sometimes a little confusing.

Donna Bradley Burcher | Senior Technical Editor | Symitar®

8985 Balboa Ave. | San Diego, CA 92123 | Ph. 619.278.0432 | Extension: 765432

Symitar Documentation Services

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Dear Editrix,

What’s the difference, if any, between new and brand-new?

Sincerely, a Blessing from Monett

Dear Mr. Blessing,

What an interesting question and I am happy to tell you that I found some interesting answers! First, apparently there are people out there who would ask, “What’s the difference between bran new and brand-new?” To those people I say, “It is brand-new with a ‘d’ at the end. If your bran is new, well, maybe you are trying a different type of cereal.”

And as for new versus brand-new, here’s the general explanation from Merriam-Webster:

• new: having originated or occurred lately: not early or long in being: recent, fresh, modern—opposed to old
• brand-new: fresh from the manufacturer: conspicuously new and unused: recently introduced

And being a smart aleck, I had to look up brand spanking new, and the age of this expression was a surprise to me. From The Grammarist:

The phrase brand spanking new means to be entirely new or recently created, and was first recorded in 1860. It evolved from the compound word brand-new and the phrase spick-and-span. Also, spanking, while the main definition is to hit someone on the butt, can also mean to move quickly. So, one might say that a brand spanking new object was created quickly or appeared very fast. In truth, no one knows quite how it was coined or what it originally referred to.

Lastly, I found these little tidbits for differentiating the new and the brand-new:

• If there can be anything newer than new, it is brand-new.
• If you buy a brand-new TV, it remains so as it is delivered to you in packed condition, but once you have opened and installed in your home or office, it is just a new TV and not a brand new one.
• An unsold car in a showroom is brand-new, but it becomes just new once you have bought and used it for a few days.
• Brand-new indicates a product that is in original packing and unused condition.

Kara Church

Technical Editor, Advisory

Symitar Documentation Services

This weekend promises to be interesting and full of colorful flowers at Art Alive, the San Diego Museum of Art exhibition where local folks create interpretations of the museum’s art out of flowers and plants; it’s pretty amazing in some cases.

In honor of the colors I will see, I am sharing a Grammar Girl article about the color red and some of the idiomatic phrases that go with it. Here are some excerpts from her article, but to read about “red herrings” and “painting the town red,” you’ll have to go here.

Red Tape

Why do we call bureaucracy “red tape”?

It turns out it’s pretty simple. In the 1500s, Charles V, the king of Spain and the Holy Roman Emperor, started tying red string or ribbons, also known as “tape,” around administrative documents that were especially important and needed quick attention. It worked well, and the practice quickly spread to other royal courts throughout Europe.

You can think of the first example in the Oxford English Dictionary, from 1658, as foreshadowing how red tape would come to be something of a problem because it’s about a red-taped bundle being lost:

A Little bundle of Papers tied with a red Tape, were lost on Friday last was a seven night, between Worcester-house and Lincolns-Inn.

Whoever those belonged to was already having his or her project derailed by a problem with red tape! Or at least related to a red-taped bundle.

Red Letter Day

Another phrase with the word “red” that has a relatively straightforward origin is “red letter day,” which means a grand or special day, as in “Aardvark caught four trout down at the lake. It’s a red letter day!”

We use this phrase because special days have been written in red on calendars going all the way back to the Roman Republic. Later, special days such as saints’ days were written in red on early Christian calendars, and today secular holidays are also sometimes printed in red on calendars. It’s all about the calendars!

Red-Handed

Red-handed…means you caught someone in the act of doing the crime or that the guilt is obvious, but originally it meant specifically catching a murderer with blood on his hands, which is a very literal sense for “red-handed.” It’s only more recently that it’s taken on a more metaphorical meaning.

It goes back to Scottish law in the 1400s and the shorter term “red hand.” According to the Oxford English Dictionary, a clearly guilty criminal was said to have been taken “with red hand,” and someone who wasn’t so obviously guilty could be said to have been taken “without red hand.”

Here are a couple of paintings as floral arrangements from the 2018 Art Alive:

Kara Church

Technical Editor, Advisory

Symitar Documentation Services

Today’s article, from The Grammarist, made me laugh when I first opened it, because it says, “foaled and fold are two commonly confused words.” Really? I don’t think I’ve ever been talking about doing laundry and accidently referred to birthing horses instead…but maybe that’s just me.

After reading the article, though, I found the discussion of homophones educational, so I thought I’d share it with you. I hope you find it interesting and that you never get the laundromat and the barn confused!

Foaled and fold are two commonly confused words that are pronounced in the same way when spoken aloud but are spelled differently and have different meanings, which makes them homophones. Homophones exist because of our ever-changing English language, and are a challenge for those who wish to learn to speak English. The way the spelling and definitions differ can be confusing when attempting to learn vocabulary correctly.

Proper pronunciation of spoken English may help the listener distinguish between homophones; the words affect-effect are a good example. However, pronunciation is usually more ambiguous, as English pronunciation may vary according to dialect, and English spelling is constantly evolving.

Pronunciation may change even though the spelling doesn’t, producing two words that are pronounced in the same manner but have different meanings such as night and knight. English words are also spelled according to their etymologies rather than their sound. For instance, the word threw is derived from the Old English word thrawan, and the word through came from the Old English word thurh.

Homophones are confusing words and are commonly misspelled words because of the confusion that arises from words that are pronounced alike but have very different usage and etymology. A spell checker will rarely find this type of mistake. Even a participant in a spelling bee will ask for an example of a homophone in a sentence, so that she understands which word she is to spell by using context clues.

Foaled is the past tense of the verb to foal, which means to give birth to a foal. Obviously, the verb foal is only used when speaking about a mare that gives birth. The noun foal means a young horse or other equine animal. The word foaled is derived from the Old English word fola, meaning young horse. Related verbs are foal, foals, foaling.

Fold means to bend something in on itself, to crease paper or fabric, or to close up shop or cease playing a hand of cards, especially in the game of poker. Fold is used as a verb or as a noun to mean a crease or curve in something, or a penned area used to hold livestock. The word fold is derived from the Old English word falden meaning to bend back on itself. Related verbs are folds, folded, folding.

Kara Church

Technical Editor, Advisory

Symitar Documentation Services

Today, I’d like to share the best writing advice that I ever received: know your audience.

As a writer, your job is not to empty your entire brain onto the page with every document (or email or presentation) you write. Always start by asking two questions.

Question #1: What Does the Reader Already Know?

Who is the intended reader? Consider questions such as the following:

• What is this person’s job?
• How much experience does this person have?
• What education and training does this person have?

Some writers find it helpful to picture a real person (a coworker, a friend, or a family member) and write specifically for him or her.

Question #2: What Does the Reader Need to Know?

In other words, what are the reader’s goals? If you’re writing an airport paperback, the reader’s goal might be fending off boredom while waiting for a plane. However, in a business setting, the reader’s goal is something more concrete, like backing up important data, generating a report, or connecting a laptop to a video projector.

Even if you’re not writing step-by-step instructions, the information you provide has to be useful in some way. If the reader is not better equipped to do his or her job after reading your document, it probably wasn’t worth writing in the first place.

Start Writing

After you’ve identified what the reader already knows and what the reader needs to know, write to fill this gap—no more, no less. I have found that once my projects have such a well-defined scope, the actual writing process tends to go smoothly.

My Last Post

In January, I was promoted from technical editor to technical writing supervisor. Therefore, this Editor’s Corner post (my 83rd!) will be my last.

Thank you for reading. I hope you learned something and had some fun along the way. The other editors will continue to post on our current Tuesday and Thursday schedule.

About Editor’s Corner

Editor’s Corner keeps your communication skills sharp by providing information on grammar, punctuation, JHA style, and all things English. As editors, we spend our days reading, researching, and revising other people’s writing. We love to spend a few extra minutes to share what we learn with you and keep it fun while we’re doing it.

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Ben Ritter | Technical Writing Supervisor | Symitar®
8985 Balboa Avenue | San Diego, CA 92123
619-682-3391 | or ext. 763391 | www.Symitar.com

Symitar Documentation Services

NOTICE: This electronic mail message and any files transmitted with it are intended
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