Just Edits

Proved is a verb.

Proven is an adjective.

Well, mostly.

You might find some wording out there that uses proven in a verb form—”I have proven the theory” (technically, proven is acceptable in past-participle form), but AP Style says it should be “I have proved the theory.” I say it’s wise to align with AP Style. It’s just safe that way, and you’ll always be correct if you use proved as a verb and proven as an adjective.

Examples:

The child has proved he can behave well in school.
My friend proved she can run 13.1 miles.

It’s a proven fact that I love to edit.
She is a proven success in the sport of gymnastics.

Just Edits fan Maggie suggested I offer some advice on the proper captioning of Facebook photos. She’s noticed the tendency for people to misuse I and me when noting their own presence in photographs. She’s starting to grit her teeth over the whole thing, actually, so I agreed to get the word out about how to properly label the pics you post.

OK, so here’s a photo of mine. Captioning it, “Danny and I on the water” would fall in line with what Maggie has been seeing—the improper use of I. The correct caption would be, “Danny and me on the water.”

How can I be so sure? I just break the caption into parts.

Danny on the water—yep.
I on the water—nope.
Me on the water—yes!

I take the winning parts, and I put them together in a grammatically correct caption: “Danny and me on the water.”

There’s a whole lesson that goes along with I and me. I’ll spare you the details in this post—just focus on breaking down your captions into smaller pieces, and you should be set—but for those who wish for more, I wrote a more-detailed post back in May, when Just Edits fan Allison aired her grievances about those who violate the I and me rules; check it out.

No caps for seasons (spring, summer, winter, fall) unless they are part of a proper noun. You know, something official, like, “I am really enjoying the Summer Olympics” or “I am going to start college in Fall 2012.” 

Just a tip.

A sight—not a site—is a device used to assist the eye in aligning or aiming weapons and other instruments. It’s a new word for me, the mom of a 9-year-old boy who wants to abandon his short-lived lacrosse career and start practicing archery. (Ouch, my bank account.) Sight is just one of many words I must incorporate into my bow-and-arrow vocabulary. There’s also quiver (a container that hangs from the archer’s body and holds arrows), nock (notch at the end of an arrow), fletchings or vanes (three half-feathers attached near the back of the arrow), points, targets, and, well, the list goes on. I’m sure I’ll soon have the lingo mastered—you know, right about the time my boy ditches archery and moves on to his next sport.

Thank you to The Publishing Training Centre at Book House for sharing this great tip. As stated on the company’s Facebook page, ”Even if the deadline is creeping up on you, it is always best to keep calm, or in this instance, clam.” 

Note: Proofread is one word—just so you know should you use it for something other than a catchy little red sign with a crown on top.

According to AP Style, you’ve got a few options when writing out the name of Wednesday’s holiday:

Fourth of July
July Fourth
July 4
Independence Day 

Got a favorite?