Random Editing Fact #4

In today’s post, we are going to talk about two sets of gender-specific words… Words that mean the same dang thing, but have different spellings for male and female. It is just one more thing that grammar does to try and trip us up. This one is for you, Michael. 

The first words are Blond and Blonde. 

Traditionally, blond is used for male and blonde is used for female. However, in the US, blond is more gender neutral and can be used for both. Blonde, however, is only used for female. 

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The second words are Fiancé and Fiancée.

Until I started editing, I had no idea about this. I would swear up and down that I never saw it in a book, and I have been voraciously reading since I was 5. I was sucking down Harlequin romance at ten years old. I had no idea that there was any other way to spell fiancé, except the way I just spelled it. Imagine my surprise to learn that there was. 😀

A fiancé is a man engaged to be married.

A fiancée is a woman engaged to be married. 

And that is all there is to it. If you can remember it, that is. Sometimes, I truly believe they make grammar hard just to mess with people. If you are in need of an editor to help you with your current grammar woes, you can find my packages, references, and prices HERE.

Random Editing Fact #2

Today we are going to talk about… 

Well, at least one pet peeve. It is mine, and to me, it is a big one.

It is only two little words, but it drives me… 

You ready for those words yet? I can hear you saying, “Just get on with it!”

There they are. They seem so innocent.

Everyone says it. “Get your shoes off of my bed!” and “I can’t get you off of my mind!”

*Shudders*

Today, I am here to tell you that the OF is unnecessary. You don’t need it, I don’t like it, so let’s all just get along. You can still even enjoy The Rolling Stones “Get Off Of My Cloud” and Lauryn Hill’s “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You”. You will just know that the OF does not need to be there, and that somewhere, I am shuddering over the lyrics.

Let’s just give a few examples:

Can you see how much smoother it is without the unnecessary OF?

There really isn’t anything to be said about the OF rule.

Just that it is overused in grammar, and that off of makes this editor cringe. 

TO OFF OF!

Tell me… these make you shudder just a little bit now, don’t they?

You’re welcome.