Don’t trust auto correct -it’s probably wrong.

I am eighty pages into resolving the edits suggested by my editor on the third book of my science fiction series. I am frustrated with Word telling me where and when to put commas that are in direct contradiction with my editor’s markings.  Generally I am hedging my bets on my editor and The Chicago Manual of Style (CMS)  Therefore, every time Word underlines the comma I go back to my notes and the CMS do it that way and then try to laugh it off. It is important to not trust auto correct application. It has nothing on CMS  and is often incorrect. Keep CMS within reach and take the time to study up on your own foibles.

In addition to CMS, I have a dictionary at my right elbow so I don’t have to reach for it every time I want to check my spelling (auto correct can be devious so check it in the dictionary) or if two words should be one (check out everyone and every one for example — they are different and you need to know which to use) or hyphenated or not. It is making my writing interesting because I often find myself reading it, and I am discovering how fascinating our language is.

The only down side is the increased amount of time needed to resolve the edits. In the meantime, I hope I’m becoming a better writer and the next book will have fewer corrections needed. Every mistake I commit costs me in time and money. I continue to learn how to write the best story in the best way.