Service Clarity

Explanation / Example Address punctuation errors that prevent clear expression However the principal players agreed becomes However, the principal players agreed (The comma changes the meaning of however)

Consistent use and spelling of terms and words Continuity and correctness

Adrenaline, adrenalin or epinephrine? Flag sections where internal logic needs to be checked, where facts are contradictory, or where timelines dont work Flag sections that are unclear Check that book titles are italicized, not underlined, foreign words are italicized, boldface reserved for headings and terms in special instances, etc. The city, or the City of Toronto Check for correct use of commas, hyphens (-), em dashes (), en dashes (), ellipses (), quotation marks, and end punctuation (period, question mark, exclamation point) Go to page 60 Or go to p. 60 Ensure that what you say is on p. 60 is on p. 60 Correct use of articles, prepositions, singular and plural forms, tenses and other inflectional endings, subject-verb agreement I default to Chicago Manual of Style Ensure correct grammar and sentence structure Check for correct usage, such as there, theyre, or their; your or youre

Conventional use of italics or boldface

Correct use of capital letters Correct use of punctuation

Cross-references checked for accuracy and consistency English checked for correct standard usage Footnotes or endnotes styled according to preferred style guide Grammar and usage

Language Americanized Numbers presented consistently Punctuation conforms to preferred style guide

Center or centre; while or whilst; favorite or favourite Spell out numbers or use numerals? Chicago style recommends using the serial comma Apply American or European quotation style accordingly American: End punctuation goes inside double quotation marks. European: End punctuation goes outside single quotation marks. Consistent use of dashes

Recasting sentences

Address wordiness or awkward sentence constructions Due to the fact that there were unforeseen circumstances becomes Due to unforeseen circumstances