Dave Nelsen
@thegrammargeek.bsky.social
Copy editor, proofreader, deputy editorial manager at Dragonfly Editorial. Oxford comma agnostic. What you learned in ninth-grade English might be wrong. He/him.
So there are currently … seven and a half?
October 22, 2025 at 1:09 AM
So there are currently … seven and a half?
Unsurprisingly, the top lookup on Merriam-Webster this morning is “obliterate.” It means “to remove from existence : destroy utterly all trace, indication, or significance of.”
It is not a direct synonym of “damage.”
It is not a direct synonym of “damage.”
June 22, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Unsurprisingly, the top lookup on Merriam-Webster this morning is “obliterate.” It means “to remove from existence : destroy utterly all trace, indication, or significance of.”
It is not a direct synonym of “damage.”
It is not a direct synonym of “damage.”
“Enough Is Enuf” by Gabe Henry is filled with fascinating facts, but this might be my fave:
The Chicago White Stockings baseball team became the White Sox because a writer for the Chicago Tribune (which championed simplified spelling) used “White Sox” in headlines to save space. The nickname stuck.
The Chicago White Stockings baseball team became the White Sox because a writer for the Chicago Tribune (which championed simplified spelling) used “White Sox” in headlines to save space. The nickname stuck.
June 19, 2025 at 5:22 PM
“Enough Is Enuf” by Gabe Henry is filled with fascinating facts, but this might be my fave:
The Chicago White Stockings baseball team became the White Sox because a writer for the Chicago Tribune (which championed simplified spelling) used “White Sox” in headlines to save space. The nickname stuck.
The Chicago White Stockings baseball team became the White Sox because a writer for the Chicago Tribune (which championed simplified spelling) used “White Sox” in headlines to save space. The nickname stuck.
Lawyers filed a 36-page memo supporting their motion to dismiss. Trouble is, the court had set a 30-page limit. So, the lawyers switched the font from 13-pt. Book Antiqua to 12-pt. Times New Roman and resubmitted the memo.
My only question is, who TF uses 13-pt. Book Antiqua as their default font?
My only question is, who TF uses 13-pt. Book Antiqua as their default font?
June 16, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Lawyers filed a 36-page memo supporting their motion to dismiss. Trouble is, the court had set a 30-page limit. So, the lawyers switched the font from 13-pt. Book Antiqua to 12-pt. Times New Roman and resubmitted the memo.
My only question is, who TF uses 13-pt. Book Antiqua as their default font?
My only question is, who TF uses 13-pt. Book Antiqua as their default font?
I haven’t thought much about the GIF pronunciation debate lately (I’m a hard “G” guy myself), but it popped into my head today when I had to access this website for work.
May 14, 2025 at 8:02 PM
I haven’t thought much about the GIF pronunciation debate lately (I’m a hard “G” guy myself), but it popped into my head today when I had to access this website for work.
It’s International Jazz Day! Every day is jazz day in the Dave Cave (that’s my basement, where I work). I kicked off the day by listening to “Phoenix” by Lakecia Benjamin and “Coltrane’s Sound” by John Coltrane. #InternationalJazzDay
April 30, 2025 at 5:29 PM
It’s International Jazz Day! Every day is jazz day in the Dave Cave (that’s my basement, where I work). I kicked off the day by listening to “Phoenix” by Lakecia Benjamin and “Coltrane’s Sound” by John Coltrane. #InternationalJazzDay
One of the highlights of #ACES2025 was, of course, seeing my #EdiBuddies in person. Thanks, @nadiageageapupa.bsky.social, for being my T-shirt buddy!
April 7, 2025 at 4:59 PM
One of the highlights of #ACES2025 was, of course, seeing my #EdiBuddies in person. Thanks, @nadiageageapupa.bsky.social, for being my T-shirt buddy!
Loved @petersokolowski.bsky.social’s #ACES25 session, “The First English Dictionary: A Cabinet of Curiosities.” It’s like watching a more intelligent, fit, better-dressed, engaging version of me.
April 4, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Loved @petersokolowski.bsky.social’s #ACES25 session, “The First English Dictionary: A Cabinet of Curiosities.” It’s like watching a more intelligent, fit, better-dressed, engaging version of me.
Traditionally, you EXACT revenge, you don’t ENACT revenge. I guess you *could* enact revenge; i.e., it kind of makes sense. Still, I’d expect a professional editor to get it right.
(I know, I’m a fool for thinking a professional editor was involved, considering they left out the word “game.”)
(I know, I’m a fool for thinking a professional editor was involved, considering they left out the word “game.”)
March 12, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Traditionally, you EXACT revenge, you don’t ENACT revenge. I guess you *could* enact revenge; i.e., it kind of makes sense. Still, I’d expect a professional editor to get it right.
(I know, I’m a fool for thinking a professional editor was involved, considering they left out the word “game.”)
(I know, I’m a fool for thinking a professional editor was involved, considering they left out the word “game.”)
Today I heard Jake Steinfeld get interviewed on a podcast. He said, “I don’t get political. I’m not for red or blue; I’m for red, white and blue.”
He then praised Fox News, disparaged the CA governor and the LA mayor, and said he’s excited about the Trump admin.
Sir, I think you do get political.
He then praised Fox News, disparaged the CA governor and the LA mayor, and said he’s excited about the Trump admin.
Sir, I think you do get political.
January 20, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Today I heard Jake Steinfeld get interviewed on a podcast. He said, “I don’t get political. I’m not for red or blue; I’m for red, white and blue.”
He then praised Fox News, disparaged the CA governor and the LA mayor, and said he’s excited about the Trump admin.
Sir, I think you do get political.
He then praised Fox News, disparaged the CA governor and the LA mayor, and said he’s excited about the Trump admin.
Sir, I think you do get political.
A new waffle maker and the latest edition of “The F Word” by @jessesword.com. It’s a happy holiday indeed!
December 25, 2024 at 5:12 PM
A new waffle maker and the latest edition of “The F Word” by @jessesword.com. It’s a happy holiday indeed!
Today (Wednesday, December 11) is your last day to get early-bird pricing for next year’s conference of ACES: The Society for Editing. If you miss this event, you’ll miss my session, “The Parlance, Process, and Pitfalls of Proposal Editing,” and that would be a shame.
December 11, 2024 at 3:48 PM
Today (Wednesday, December 11) is your last day to get early-bird pricing for next year’s conference of ACES: The Society for Editing. If you miss this event, you’ll miss my session, “The Parlance, Process, and Pitfalls of Proposal Editing,” and that would be a shame.
I registered for #ACES2025 today, the same day that ACES sent us photos from #ACES2024. Here’s a shot of @nicolewayland.bsky.social and me, along with some people whose names I don’t know, paying close attention to one of the many helpful sessions.
December 4, 2024 at 11:42 PM
I registered for #ACES2025 today, the same day that ACES sent us photos from #ACES2024. Here’s a shot of @nicolewayland.bsky.social and me, along with some people whose names I don’t know, paying close attention to one of the many helpful sessions.
ALWAYS check the links before going to print.
November 25, 2024 at 2:41 PM
ALWAYS check the links before going to print.
A few years ago, Merriam-Webster added an entry for “dad joke.” Why does “dad joke” gets its own entry? Because it’s not simply a joke told by a dad. In other words, someone could look up the definition of “dad” and the definition of “joke,” but the definition of “dad joke” wouldn’t be APPARENT.
November 13, 2024 at 5:07 PM
A few years ago, Merriam-Webster added an entry for “dad joke.” Why does “dad joke” gets its own entry? Because it’s not simply a joke told by a dad. In other words, someone could look up the definition of “dad” and the definition of “joke,” but the definition of “dad joke” wouldn’t be APPARENT.
I had no idea that the guy who hosted Fear Factor was related to one of baseball’s all-time greats.
November 5, 2024 at 8:37 PM
I had no idea that the guy who hosted Fear Factor was related to one of baseball’s all-time greats.
Look at my sweet new shirt!
Fellow editors: If you’re planning to attend the 2025 in-person #ACES conference, would you wear one of these with me in solidarity? I had it custom made, but I could easily set up a group order if there’s interest. Holla at me!
Fellow editors: If you’re planning to attend the 2025 in-person #ACES conference, would you wear one of these with me in solidarity? I had it custom made, but I could easily set up a group order if there’s interest. Holla at me!
September 25, 2024 at 9:24 PM
Look at my sweet new shirt!
Fellow editors: If you’re planning to attend the 2025 in-person #ACES conference, would you wear one of these with me in solidarity? I had it custom made, but I could easily set up a group order if there’s interest. Holla at me!
Fellow editors: If you’re planning to attend the 2025 in-person #ACES conference, would you wear one of these with me in solidarity? I had it custom made, but I could easily set up a group order if there’s interest. Holla at me!
That’s a pretty specific sub-genre. How much military history has taken place in this guy’s spare time?
September 22, 2024 at 2:39 AM
That’s a pretty specific sub-genre. How much military history has taken place in this guy’s spare time?
It’s here, it’s here! My copy of “The Conscious Style Guide” by @karenyin.bsky.social arrived today, and I can’t wait to dive in.
June 1, 2024 at 9:28 PM
It’s here, it’s here! My copy of “The Conscious Style Guide” by @karenyin.bsky.social arrived today, and I can’t wait to dive in.
The day has come. AP Stylebook has officially switched from Webster’s New World to Merriam-Webster. You can now search Merriam-Webster directly from the AP Stylebook homepage.
Anyone else geeking out about this? Just me?
Anyone else geeking out about this? Just me?
May 29, 2024 at 4:19 PM
The day has come. AP Stylebook has officially switched from Webster’s New World to Merriam-Webster. You can now search Merriam-Webster directly from the AP Stylebook homepage.
Anyone else geeking out about this? Just me?
Anyone else geeking out about this? Just me?
This newspaper snippet reminds me of an editor I once worked with. She was told to remove all unnecessary instances of “that.” She didn’t want to think too much about it, so she deleted every “that.”
It made her life slightly easier, but it resulted in sentences like this.
It made her life slightly easier, but it resulted in sentences like this.
May 9, 2024 at 6:05 PM
This newspaper snippet reminds me of an editor I once worked with. She was told to remove all unnecessary instances of “that.” She didn’t want to think too much about it, so she deleted every “that.”
It made her life slightly easier, but it resulted in sentences like this.
It made her life slightly easier, but it resulted in sentences like this.
Is this supposed to be a pun?
Yeah, I understand that cats meow, but is “meow” supposed to sound like another word? A better (but still bad choice) might have been “Affordable pet surgery? We’ll take it right meow.”
This is why no one buys newspapers anymore! (Not really.)
Yeah, I understand that cats meow, but is “meow” supposed to sound like another word? A better (but still bad choice) might have been “Affordable pet surgery? We’ll take it right meow.”
This is why no one buys newspapers anymore! (Not really.)
April 15, 2024 at 3:01 AM
Is this supposed to be a pun?
Yeah, I understand that cats meow, but is “meow” supposed to sound like another word? A better (but still bad choice) might have been “Affordable pet surgery? We’ll take it right meow.”
This is why no one buys newspapers anymore! (Not really.)
Yeah, I understand that cats meow, but is “meow” supposed to sound like another word? A better (but still bad choice) might have been “Affordable pet surgery? We’ll take it right meow.”
This is why no one buys newspapers anymore! (Not really.)
For three months in 2002, I worked as a financial assistant in the UW-Milwaukee Department of Enrollment Services. In that time, I contributed $48.65 to my state-sponsored retirement plan. To this day, I receive quarterly statements. My current balance: $1,083.22.
April 11, 2024 at 1:34 AM
For three months in 2002, I worked as a financial assistant in the UW-Milwaukee Department of Enrollment Services. In that time, I contributed $48.65 to my state-sponsored retirement plan. To this day, I receive quarterly statements. My current balance: $1,083.22.
April 6, 2024 at 4:45 AM