Between You & Me

1. Becoming a "Comma Queen" is an Unexpected Journey

Except for writing, I have never seriously considered doing anything else.

Unconventional path. The author's career trajectory was far from a straight line to The New Yorker. Her early jobs included checking feet at a public pool, working at a costume company, and even driving a milk truck. These diverse experiences, though seemingly unrelated, contributed to her broad knowledge base.

Finding her element. Despite detours, a love for language and reading persisted. Discovering the word "synecdoche" in a John McPhee piece sparked an "ecstatic" feeling, highlighting her deep connection to words. Landing a job in The New Yorker's editorial library, despite initially failing a typing test, felt like finding her true calling.

More than rules. The job of a copy editor, or "page OK'er," at The New Yorker is described as drawing on one's entire life experience. It's not just about knowing rules but applying a wide range of knowledge to the text. This role, which she's held for over twenty years, became her primary focus and passion.

2. Spelling is Tricky, Evolving, and Undermines Authority

A misspelling undermines your authority.

English isn't phonetic. Unlike languages like Italian or Spanish, English spelling is notoriously inconsistent due to its mixed origins (Germanic, Latin, French, Greek, etc.) and silent letters. This makes mastering orthography difficult, even with tools like spell-check.

Spell-check limitations. While spell-check catches typos, it fails with homophones (words that sound alike but have different meanings and spellings) because it lacks context. Examples include "peddle" vs. "pedal" or "horde" vs. "hoard." Autocorrect can be even worse, changing intended words into nonsensical ones.

Dictionaries as guides. Relying on dictionaries, like the various Webster's editions used at The New Yorker, is crucial. Noah Webster's historical efforts to standardize American English spelling, though not always successful (e.g., "tung" for "tongue"), laid the groundwork for modern usage. Understanding etymology can also help, as with "iridescent" from "Iris."

3. Grammar Rules Often Require Interpretation, Not Just Mechanics

A lot of the decisions you have to make as a copy editor are subjective.

Beyond strict rules. While grammar provides structure, applying it often involves judgment calls. The choice between "that" and "which," for instance, depends on whether the clause is essential (restrictive) or adds extra information (nonrestrictive). This requires interpreting the writer's intended meaning.

Restrictive vs. Nonrestrictive.

• Restrictive clauses are essential to the noun's meaning and don't use commas ("The book that you ordered is out of print").
• Nonrestrictive clauses add supplementary information and are set off by commas ("This year, which has been dry, was bad for crops").
• The distinction can be subtle and depends on context and interpretation.

Dangling participles. Another area requiring judgment is the dangling participle, where a participial phrase doesn't clearly modify the sentence's subject ("Walking down the corridor, the squeak of soles made him nervous"). Fixing it might involve rewriting the sentence, and sometimes, leaving the "flawed" version might even serve the writer's stylistic intent.

4. Pronoun Usage, Especially Gender, Presents Complex Challenges

Perhaps the most intractable problem hovers around the conventional use of the masculine pronoun to include the feminine when the antecedent is mixed (he or she) or unknown or irrelevant.

English lacks epicene pronouns. Unlike some languages with grammatical gender for nouns, English primarily retains gender in third-person singular pronouns ("he," "she," "it"). This creates a problem when referring to a singular antecedent of unknown or mixed gender (e.g., "everyone").

The "Pronoun Problem". Traditionally, the masculine "he" was used generically, but this is now widely seen as sexist. Numerous attempts to invent gender-neutral singular pronouns (like "heesh," "ne," "ze") have failed to gain widespread adoption, often sounding artificial or "intergalactic."

Makeshift solutions. Current approaches include using "he or she" (often cumbersome), or the increasingly common, though grammatically non-agreeing, singular "their" ("Everyone should bring their own lunch"). The author finds the singular "their" grammatically incorrect but acknowledges its prevalence in speech and some writing. Personal experience with a sibling's gender transition highlighted the deep-seated nature of pronoun usage.

5. "Between You and Me" is Correct Due to Grammatical Case

Just between you and me, I suffer, and the whole body of the English language shudders, when, say, a shoe salesman trying to gain my trust leans forward and says, “Between you and I . . .”

Understanding grammatical case. English pronouns change form based on their function (case) in a sentence. The subjective (nominative) case is for subjects ("I," "he," "she"), while the objective (accusative) case is for objects ("me," "him," "her").

Prepositions take objects. Prepositions like "between," "to," "for," and "in front of" are followed by nouns or pronouns in the objective case. Therefore, the correct form is "between you and me," "to Sally and me," "for Teddy and me," or "in front of Penny and me."

Common mistake. The error "between you and I" is often made by educated speakers trying to sound formal, mistakenly thinking "I" is more refined than "me." However, putting yourself first ("between me and you") often reveals the correct pronoun more clearly. The mistake is widespread but grammatically incorrect, akin to using two-ply toilet paper in a one-ply system.

6. Commas Clarify Meaning and Add Rhythm, Despite Controversy

The comma was refined by Aldo Manuzio, a printer working in Venice, circa 1490.

Purpose and schools of thought. The comma was invented to prevent confusion by separating parts of a sentence. Two main approaches exist: using commas to mark pauses for reading aloud (by ear) or using them to clarify grammatical structure. These approaches can lead to different punctuation styles.

The serial comma. The comma before the final "and" in a list ("apples, bananas, and oranges") is a point of contention. Proponents argue it prevents ambiguity ("We invited the strippers, JFK and Stalin"), while opponents see it as redundant or unnecessary, especially in fast-paced writing like journalism. The New Yorker uses a "close" style, often employing the serial comma.

Subject-verb separation. A common mistake, seen even in classic writers like Dickens, is placing a comma between the subject and its verb or the verb and its object. Modern style generally avoids this, as it disrupts the core structure of the sentence. While some writers use commas for rhythmic effect, clarity is paramount.

7. Hyphens Lead a Double Life and Require Judgment

The hyphen leads a double life: it is used not just to break words into syllables but to tie two or more words together, in the formation of compounds.

Word breaks. Hyphens are used to break words at the end of a line, ideally following phonetic or meaningful units. Computers sometimes make errors here, especially with words that have different meanings based on their structure ("ca-shier" vs. "cash-ier").

Compound words. Hyphens also connect words to form compound modifiers ("school-bus driver," "bright-red car"). This usage requires judgment, as compounds evolve over time, often starting as two words, gaining a hyphen, and eventually becoming one word ("today," "ringtone").

Rules and exceptions. While rules exist (e.g., no hyphen after adverbs ending in "-ly"), many cases are subjective. Phrases like "bad hair day" or "blue stained glass" can be debated. The goal is always clarity, ensuring the hyphen helps prevent misreading rather than adding confusion. The diaeresis (two dots over a vowel) is another mark used to separate syllables in words like "coöperate," though it is largely obsolete outside of The New Yorker.

8. Dashes, Semicolons, and Colons Have Distinct Personalities and Uses

Punctuation is a deeply conservative club.

The dash family. Dashes come in different lengths (em dash, en dash) and serve various purposes:

• Introducing an amplification or explanation (like a colon).
• Setting off parenthetical phrases (like commas).
• Indicating lists or dialogue.
• Creating dramatic pauses or abrupt stops.
  The em dash (—) is the most versatile, while the en dash (–) is typically used for ranges (dates, scores) or connecting compound terms.

The semicolon. This mark links independent clauses that are closely related. It can often be replaced by a comma and a conjunction, but the semicolon creates a more formal or nuanced connection. It is sometimes seen as a sophisticated mark, used effectively by writers like Henry James to control pacing and convey subtle relationships between thoughts.

The colon. A colon introduces something that explains, illustrates, or lists what came before it. It signals that what follows is a specification or amplification of the preceding statement. Colons are more formal than dashes in this function and typically appear only once in a sentence.

9. The Apostrophe is Under Threat But Serves Vital Functions

The apostrophe has two uses in English: it forms the possessive... and it papers over contractions...

Possessives. The apostrophe indicates possession ("farmer's market," "the dog's bone"). Confusion arises with plurals, especially when forming the plural possessive ("farmers' market," "the Norrises' house"). Proper nouns ending in 's' can be particularly tricky.

Contractions. Apostrophes replace missing letters in contractions ("can't," "won't," "o'clock"). This function is increasingly neglected in informal digital communication like texting, where convenience often overrides traditional usage.

Erosion and resistance. Apostrophes are disappearing from many place-names due to official standardization policies (e.g., "Kelleys Island," "Harpers Ferry"). However, efforts by groups like the Apostrophe Protection Society highlight public attachment to the mark and push back against its complete eradication, especially in cases of clear possessives or plurals.

10. Profanity's Impact Depends Heavily on Context and Intent

Has the casual use of profanity in English reached a high tide?

Beyond blasphemy. Profanity involves using offensive language, distinct from blasphemy (taking God's name in vain). While some find any cursing offensive, its impact is highly dependent on context, speaker, and intent.

Evolution of usage. What is considered acceptable profanity has changed over time and varies across different contexts (e.g., television, literature, personal conversation). The New Yorker, once very conservative about printing curse words, has become more open, even featuring pieces that explore profanity extensively.

Context is key. The same word can be offensive or innocuous depending on how it's used. Quoting someone's exact words, even if profane, can be essential for journalistic accuracy or character portrayal. However, gratuitous or poorly chosen profanity can undermine the writing or cause unintended offense.

11. The Tools of the Trade, Like Pencils, Have Their Own Stories

As a child, I had two formative experiences with pencils.

Personal connection. The author's relationship with pencils began in childhood, marked by early struggles with writing direction and a memorable encounter with an indelible pencil. This led to a lifelong preference for erasable pencils.

Pencil preferences. Copy editors, like other writers and artists, develop strong preferences for specific pencils (e.g., No. 1 vs. No. 2 lead). The softness of the lead affects the writing experience and the mark left on the paper. The author's quest for her preferred No. 1 pencils became a significant personal saga.

The history and craft. Pencils have a rich history, from early graphite use to mass production and the addition of erasers. The artisanal sharpening of pencils and the existence of museums dedicated to pencil sharpeners highlight the deep cultural significance and personal attachment people can have to these seemingly simple tools.

12. Copy Editors Are Essential, Though Often Misunderstood

I always forget that, in the popular imagination, the copy editor is a bit of a witch, and it surprises me when someone is afraid of me.

Public perception. Copy editors are sometimes seen negatively: rigid sticklers, nitpickers, frustrated writers, or simply low-level functionaries. This perception can lead to fear or resentment from writers.

The editor's role. A good copy editor is not just a rule enforcer but a collaborator who helps the writer's voice emerge by removing obstacles like errors and inconsistencies. They draw on broad knowledge and apply subjective judgment to clarify meaning and improve prose.

Beyond the rules. While adherence to style guides and grammar rules is fundamental, the best copy editing involves understanding the writer's intent and knowing when to make exceptions or suggest alternative phrasing. The job requires patience, attention to detail, and a deep respect for language, even if the work is often invisible to the final reader.

Last updated: May 3, 2025