Dialects
In these posts, we look at differences you may encounter between UK, US, and Australian English. Find out how to spot and edit errors related to dialect.
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How to Check Unfamiliar Terms in Different English Dialects
How to Check Unfamiliar Terms in Different English Dialects
Apr 01, 2023
Even for fluent speakers, English is not the easiest language to master. English has a rich history, and because of that, many English dialects exist that can differ in spelling, punctuation, and vocabulary. As proofreaders and editors, having an opportunity to work with people from anywhere in the world is great, but it means we […]
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Does Punctuation Go Inside or Outside of Quotation Marks?
Does Punctuation Go Inside or Outside of Quotation Marks?
Mar 25, 2023
As if the differences between UK and US English spelling weren’t tricky enough, several other variations between the two dialects also exist, such as how quotations are written. In addition, the guidelines that dictate whether the punctuation goes inside or outside of quotation marks depend on the dialect you’re writing or proofreading in. While neither […]
British vs. American English: -Ise or -Ize?
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What’s a Colloquialism?
Nov 21, 2022
A colloquialism is an informal word or phrase commonly used in everyday conversation and often specific to a geographic region. For example, the word “y’all” (you all) is commonly used in the southern US, but not necessarily elsewhere in the world. Sometimes, a colloquialism’s popularity is a bit more widespread, like “head over heels” (falling […]
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Proofreading Tips: Noun and Verb Spelling Differences
Nov 25, 2021
Correcting spelling mistakes is key for any proofreader. But certain errors are easy to miss! This is especially true when it comes to noun and verb spelling differences, partly because they often vary by dialect. In this post, for example, we’ll be taking a look at three cases where the noun and verb forms of […]
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Editing Tips: A Rough Guide to English Dialects
Apr 11, 2021
English has a lot of dialects! Our Becoming a Proofreader course covers British, Australian, and American English. These are the three main dialects used internationally, but there are many other English dialects you might encounter as a proofreader. In this post, we look at a few examples. Dialects and Proofreading Why are dialects relevant to […]
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Proofreading Tips: What Is Oxford Spelling?
Apr 08, 2021
As a proofreader, you might come across the term Oxford spelling. But what does this mean? And how should you approach a document if your client specifies using it? In this post, we explain everything you need to know to proofread documents effectively. If you’re not sure which spelling to use for a term, check […]
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Proofreading Tips: A Quick Guide to Canadian English
Nov 22, 2020
Canadian English combines aspects of both American and British English, as well as having its own purely Canadian terminology and usage. We’ve put together a quick guide to Canadian English for proofreaders to highlight general guidelines for working with this dialect. Canadian English Spelling Canadian English usually follows British spelling conventions. For instance: Canadian English: […]
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The Ideal Date
Dec 11, 2018
Hello, reader. You look lovely today. We at Knowadays know this may seem a little forward, but… what would your dream date be? Our dates aren’t terribly romantic, but they’re always formatted impeccably. Yes, today we’re talking about the finer points of formatting dates in writing. Regional Differences The main issue that determines date format […]