Question: Punctuation and Quotation Marks

Kristin and I have noticed a sudden resurgence of the incorrect habit of putting closing punctuation outside quotation marks. We mused over reasons for this but couldn't come up with much.

Others are seeing it too, though. From The Chicago Manual of Style Q & A section:

Q. I'm teaching a class at the university after a long break and have discovered that most of my students are putting commas or other punctuation outside quotes rather than inside. Is either correct?

A. Tsk—the things kids get up to these days! You have to watch them every minute. Unless you're teaching in the U.K., the punctuation goes inside the quotation marks. (But see CMS 6.9 for exceptions.)

Well, while we can't come up with a reason for the rampant errant commas and periods, we can post a note to those of you who care enough to watch your grammar (as everyone should). So, keep your punctuation inside the closing quotation mark, unless it's a colon, question mark, or exclamation mark (per CMS 6.9).

Question: Editorial Duties

Suzanne asked: So what does an editor do? Is your main duty correcting grammar?

Correcting grammar is definitely a part of being an editor, but certainly not the main duty. Editors often have the larger job of developmental editing, working through a book with suggestions on plot and character development in fiction books and research and argument strength in nonfiction books. In developmental editing, the editor becomes an advocate for readers, flagging potentially confusing passages, watching for details that are unnecessary or misleading, and sometimes recommending a complete restructuring of the book in order to bring it to its highest potential. The editor and author work together as they pass through developmental editing and revision stages at least twice, usually three or four times, before even moving on to the proofreading and grammar checking stage.

Furthermore, editors watch trends in publishing and bookselling to help their authors keep up with the competition. If a manuscript is originally historical fiction, but bookbuying trends lean toward books that include a supernatural element, the editor and author could work together to introduce this new element and give the book a marketing edge.

While aspiring authors often view editors as the stereotypical apathetic critic, the reality is that many authors say their books would not be what they are without the assistance of their editors.

Question: Comma before "and"

Ali B. asked: Growing up, some of my teachers told me always to put a comma before and in a series, but others told me never to do it. Which is correct?

It depends on what kind of writing you're doing and which style guide you're following. The Chicago Manual of Style, which is standard in book publishing, calls for a serial comma, which is the comma before and in a series. Associated Press (AP) style, standard for newspapers and business writing, calls for no serial commas unless there could be confusion without one, and the American Psychological Association (APA) style, standard for books and papers written in any of the social sciences, concurs.

As with any rule, though, what's most important is consistency. Either use the comma or don't.