ABSTRACT
Micro editing focuses on checking for correct grammar and usage, making the mechanics conform to local and wire-service stylebooks, fixing spelling errors and typos, and tightening the wording. Micro editing requires technical knowledge as well as skill and art. To be a master of micro editing, editors must become a master of the language. Studying it makes a better editor or reporter. Problems with grammar and usage destroy credibility among well-educated readers, listeners or viewers. Grammatical errors can ruin otherwise clear writing or distort the meaning of a sentence. The problem is that language is always changing: Today's usage or grammar error may become tomorrow's preferred way, and today's preferred usage may come to sound stilted to the audience. The two main usage problems are confused words and misused idioms. Some writers are not precise in their choice of words. Careless use of idioms occurs often in the news.
