2025-12-22 – Weekly Editing News : Comma kills joke, humor in editing

Last week’s discussions in the Editing community revolved around practical strategies and curious observations in our field. Members shared valuable advice on procedural editing checklists and debated the nuances of language evolution, such as the de-hyphenation of “e-mail.” There was also a light-hearted yet insightful conversation about punctuation’s impact on humor. These threads highlighted both the technical and creative aspects of editing, fostering a rich exchange of ideas.


This Week’s Hot Topics

Step-edit checklist for procedures
The community is discussing the essential elements of a step-edit checklist to streamline procedural edits. It’s a great thread for those looking to refine their editing processes.
Read more here

Leveling up my read-aloud ear
Editors are sharing techniques to improve their read-aloud skills, which is crucial for catching errors and improving flow. A practical thread for enhancing verbal review skills.
Read more here

When did “e-mail” lose its hyphen
A fascinating exploration of language change and how it affects our editing practices. The discussion touches on both historical and practical perspectives.
Read more here

Why the blade tool looks like a razor
This thread delves into the design history behind editing software tools. It’s an engaging read for those curious about the interface choices we often take for granted.
Read more here

When a comma kills a joke
A humorous yet educational look at how punctuation can completely alter meaning and humor. It’s a refreshing reminder of the power of precise editing.
Read more here

Best way to lock APA 7 in Word
Editors are sharing tips on how to effectively set APA 7 formatting in Word. Perfect for anyone needing to ensure consistency in academic documents.
Read more here

Switching tools to switch brains
There’s an interesting discussion on how changing tools can influence our mental approach to editing tasks. It’s a must-read for those exploring creative workflows.
Read more here

Need clean conversion from APA to Chicago NB
This thread offers solutions for those struggling with converting documents between these two citation styles. Practical advice for editors working with diverse formatting requirements.
Read more here

Copyedit or copy edit on a resume
A lively debate on the correct term usage in professional settings, focusing on resume writing. It’s an insightful thread for job-seeking editors.
Read more here


Looking forward to another week of engaging conversations and shared expertise. Have a productive week!

Humor pass: read aloud — ‘if I pause, it’s wrong,’ cut the comma. Also, I default to ‘email’ per AP.

‌⁠‍⁠​‍​‍‌⁠‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‌⁠‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‍​⁠​‍​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍⁠​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌⁠​‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠​​‌‍⁠​‌⁠‍‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​⁠‌⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠​​​⁠‌⁠​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍​⁠​‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠‌‌​⁠​‌​⁠​‍​⁠​‍​⁠​‍​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‌​‌⁠​‍‌‍⁠‍‌‍‍‌‌⁠‌​​⁠​⁠‌⁠​⁠‌‍‍​‌‌​‍‌‌​‍​⁠‌‍‌‌‌‌​⁠‍‌​⁠‌‌‌‌‌​‌​⁠⁠​‍​‍‌⁠⁠‌

On humor edits, I use a last-word test: the punchline has to be the final word — if a comma drags anything after it, I recast or swap in a period; @jameson_lee92 I’m with you on email, but I keep “e-mail” when a client’s house style insists.

‌⁠‍⁠​‍​‍‌⁠‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍‌⁠‌‍‌‌‌‍‍‍​⁠​‍​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍⁠​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌⁠​‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠​​‌‍⁠​‌⁠‍‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​⁠‌⁠​⁠​⁠​⁠​​​⁠‌⁠​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍​⁠​‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠‌‌​⁠​‌​⁠​‍​⁠​‍​⁠‌​​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌⁠‌‍‌​​‍​⁠‌‌​‍⁠‌​⁠‍​‌​⁠‌‌‍⁠‌‌⁠​‌‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠​‌‍⁠‍‌​‍‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠​⁠​⁠‌‍⁠‌​‍​‍‌⁠⁠‌