Whether it’s your own writing, the nth look-through, or you’re doing all of the editing stages on a file, there comes a time when your eyes just can’t see what’s actually on the page anymore. Your brain compensates and autocorrects; that is NOT what we’re hoping for! Refresh your eyes and see what’s actually on the page by using these “brain hacks” that “special education” teachers shared with me. The audio below explains how and why these hacks work:
Continue reading Brain Hacks for Editing Work That’s Too-FamiliarCategory Archives: Word-Wrangling Wednesdays
Using ChatGPT to Write Wildcard Searches
Over on the Right Angels and Polo Bears blog, I’ve been testing the hot new AI out for editing. While it’s true that generative pretrained translators (GPTs) are advancing so fast that my post may be out of date by the time I edit it, the verdict remains that AI isn’t ready to take over copyediting jobs. In this post I find it can’t even write a useful Find & Replace sequence using wildcards. I’m sad about that, because writing those can be a brain twister!
Continue reading Using ChatGPT to Write Wildcard Searches
Q&A: How to edit Modern Comments
Q:The edit comment button has disappeared!
A:Look in the meatball menu.
Continue reading Q&A: How to edit Modern Comments
Q&A: Tracked Changes are hard to look at. Can’t we use something else?
QI find it hard to look at tracked changes; can editors use another method?
AIt’s an interesting question, and one that gives me feels, it seems. TL;DR — No! Don’t make other professionals put up with awkward kludges to assuage some initial discomfort. You get used to it, and let me share some better ways to ease the pain.
Why Publishing Pros Use Track Changes
Continue reading Q&A: Tracked Changes are hard to look at. Can’t we use something else?
Remove Time Stamps from Changes and Comments
Did you work in the wee hours? Did you scramble to finish right before deadline? Do your tracked changes and comments reveal more than you feel is professional about your work habits? If clients can’t let this go or it’s bothering you too much, try this tiny macro that Samantha Pico commissioned that will go into the background coding and remove the time stamps, and only the time stamps from all tracked changes, leaving your beautifully branded user tag in place.
Macro that erases time stamps in Word
Continue reading Remove Time Stamps from Changes and Comments
For Your Eyes Only: Formatting That Boosts Editing
One thing that makes Amy Schneider such a darned fast editor is that she formats manuscripts to make editing easier. It’s weird-looking, but it’s temporary. With just a few clicks, Amy uses Styles to change what is on her screens (and she uses four) to suit her needs, and then back to the publishers’ submission requirements when she’s done.
Quickly Recreate a Custom Ribbon after Catastrophic Failure
Suddenly, my custom ribbon stopped working! We don’t ask Word why it does things, we just fix it or find a workaround. I found a quick way to copy over all my favourite functions onto a new custom ribbon, and ditch the one that was making Word crash every time I clicked on it. It’s as easy as drag and drop from the old ribbon to the new, once you’re into the “Customize ribbon” interface. I hope you never need it, but when you do, you can watch the solution, here!
Continue reading Quickly Recreate a Custom Ribbon after Catastrophic Failure
Upcoming Word Courses for Editors!
You already know Word. You feel pretty comfortable using it to edit manuscripts. Now it’s time to make the most of it! This is the advanced class you’ve been asking for.
Join colleagues for five self-paced lessons then meet up live once each week and chat in Slack about successes and challenges. Get real-time help with the features.
Class starts
Jan 19, 2023
What this Word Class Covers
- Customizations to the Word workspace
- Ways to use the tools you know in new ways for more efficiency
- Tools & tricks in Word to help you see the words like new
- Optimal workflows
- Rescue steps for files that are malfunctioning
See the full lesson list on the course site.
What You Need
- Word 365 or 2019 (or 2016 in a pinch)
- Mac or Windows computer (course covers both)
- Web browser for demos, lessons & live Zoom meetings
- Slack (free) for ongoing class chat and support during the course
- Enroll & mark your calendar for Jan 19, 2023!
We’ll vote on the best meeting time for Thursdays, then set it. Can’t make a live session? No worries! All material is available when you are.
Need to learn more about the essential Word features and tools? Open the next course, below.
Join fellow editors in this 4-week course on the essentials of Word for editors, starting Jan 19th, 2023. Hit the editing desk at full speed!
Class starts
Jan 19, 2023
Requirements
- Mac or Windows computer
- Internet access
- Video watching & docx file download ability
- MS Word 365 (or as old as Word 2019*)
- Free Slack account
- No editing experience required!
*Not much has changed since the 2016 version of Word, beyond how it looks. Users of older versions of Word will get a lot out of this course too.
What you’ll learn
Beyond the basics of:
- Track Changes
- Styles
- Find & Replace (with RegEx & Wildcards)
See the full course syllabus at Archer Editorial Training!
How it works
Each week at noon Eastern on Thursday, we’ll gather in our exclusive Slack channel to check in, problem solve, and talk about that week’s lesson. The lessons are available for you to view, review, and complete at any time.
Each lesson has a short reading, a video demo or two (for Mac and Windows, both), and an exercise. There is no grading, only learning opportunities. We concentrate on using the tools, not on the language of the materials.
There will be one wrap-up check-in after the 4th lesson, to address any lingering questions or insights.
Can’t make the time slot?
Not to worry! The course materials are always available on Archer Editorial Training and our course Slack channel will be available any time. Instructor support lasts throughout the course and lesson access never expires! The instructor will check messages and posts daily.
Q&A: Can I make a list of in-text citations without a macro?
QIs there a way to make a list of all in-text citations without using a macro?
AYes, with a wildcard search!
Great question. Many editing checks could be done with such a list, and creating one is easy:
Continue reading Q&A: Can I make a list of in-text citations without a macro?
Q&A: How can I tell what section of a document I’m in?
QI’m working in a document with dozens of headings and subheadings. I want to check which section I’m working in without having to scroll back up to find the heading. Is that possible?
Continue reading Q&A: How can I tell what section of a document I’m in?