Self-editing for authors

[StillStunned]

Even after nearly three decades of professional editing, I still discover things. This is one that crept up on me a few months ago.

If you're listing multiple things - you know, "A, B and C" - try to put the longest one at the end. "An apple, the old blanket from the shed and a horse" sounds awkward; "an apple, a horse and the old blanket from the shed" has a more pleasing rhythm. "Go home, draw yourself a nice hot bath and relax" isn't bad, but I think it works better as "Go home, relax, maybe draw yourself a nice hot bath."

I'm pondering whether this goes for each element in the list, i.e. that more syllables means further along. I don't think so - see the horse and apple above, for instance - but so far I'm undecided.

 

[ElectricBlue]

Even after nearly three decades of professional editing, I still discover things. This is one that crept up on me a few months ago.

If you're listing multiple things - you know, "A, B and C" - try to put the longest one at the end. "An apple, the old blanket from the shed and a horse" sounds awkward; "an apple, a horse and the old blanket from the shed" has a more pleasing rhythm. "Go home, draw yourself a nice hot bath and relax" isn't bad, but I think it works better as "Go home, relax, maybe draw yourself a nice hot bath."

I'm pondering whether this goes for each element in the list, i.e. that more syllables means further along. I don't think so - see the horse and apple above, for instance - but so far I'm undecided.

I'm forever changing the sequence in lists. I have no method - if I did, I'd write them in the correct sequence in the first place. It's all down to the beat of each phrase within the sentence.

 

[Bryan_C]

Even after nearly three decades of professional editing, I still discover things. This is one that crept up on me a few months ago.

If you're listing multiple things - you know, "A, B and C" - try to put the longest one at the end. "An apple, the old blanket from the shed and a horse" sounds awkward; "an apple, a horse and the old blanket from the shed" has a more pleasing rhythm. "Go home, draw yourself a nice hot bath and relax" isn't bad, but I think it works better as "Go home, relax, maybe draw yourself a nice hot bath."

I'm pondering whether this goes for each element in the list, i.e. that more syllables means further along. I don't think so - see the horse and apple above, for instance - but so far I'm undecided.

I think this applies to descriptions as well - not necessarily so much based on length, though that is probably still sometimes true, but often one ordering just sounds more natural than another.

"[...] a knee-length, pleated, loose skirt" seems awkward to the ear, compared with "a loose, knee-length pleated skirt."