While there are many other kinds of errors to be found during editing, one that can be particularly hard to find is the errant apostrophe. It's so easy to skim right over its misuse.
And it's so easy to not realize that its (oops -- it's) missing:
* diggin in the dirt --> diggin'
* mendin the fence --> mendin'
* wishin' this punctuation lesson would end.
But there are other occasions where this popular punctuation mark gets abused. For example, until is often shortened. It appears that the alternative till is correct -- it is a version of the word until, though I always think of till as "plow the soil."
Then there is 'til, the abbreviated version of until.
But I've seen other variations that really bug me:
• til (no apostrophe in front -- punctuation police please take notice)
• 'till (mmm....curious)
• and til' (someone knew it needed an apostrophe -- just didn't know where to put it).
Well, back to my editing, looking for those errant apostrophes.
Don
Trilobite fossil (2.5-inch Flexicalymene meeki) from Kentucky: a big "bug"