Oh, my! I would estimate that 10% of all editorial corrections I make at the level of copyediting are connected to the use of hyphens, en dashes, and em dashes. “Though the differences can sometimes be subtle—especially in the case of an en dash versus a hyphen—correct use of the different types is a sign…
A classic problem of English usage. Unfortunately, the commonest advice usually simplifies the matter as follows: Affect is a verb meaning “to change or to make a difference”; effect is a noun meaning “the result of a change.” In fact, both affect and effect can be either a verb or a noun, and there is a much wider range…
I’ve been doing a lot of extra editorial work during COVID-19. I recently came across this startling opinion of a New Grammarian, who would have us write, “Who’s learning from who.” They (sg.) contend that the interrogative pronoun is always who, uninflected for case, and that it is only the relative pronoun who(m) that is…