Commentary by Dick Wolfsie

Happy 15th (fifteenth?) anniversary to Heidi. Heidi is my proofreader (proof-reader?). Everything I’ve written for the last 15 (fifteen?) years is first sent to her via e-mail (email?) to make sure there are no spelling or usage errors. This week she is very busy with an out of town (out-of-town?) commitment, so I’m doing my own proofing. If I said I wasn’t nervous, well that would be a bald-faced (bold-faced?) lie.

Newspapers that publish my column have editors who check my work, but I wouldn’t want whoever (whomever?) has that responsibility to think that on a week to week (week-to-week?) basis, I’m not a careful writer. I would be really embarrassed if they continually (continuously?) found mistakes in my column, so Heidi is a preventative (preventive?) measure to be sure I get it right.

I know a little about grammar, but when it comes to some of the other nuances of language, I’m not sure I can pass muster (mustard?). If I have specific questions, I might check things out on the internet (Internet?). I wouldn’t want to put my column on my website (Website? Web site?) if it weren’t error-free (error free?).

Unless you have your own personal copy editor (copyeditor?), you won’t know if you’re in the mood for an ice tea or an iced tea. Or maybe some French fries (French Fries? french fries?). And when you get to the airport, you won’t know whether (if?) you should check your carry-on luggage or your carryon luggage.

Heidi gives me free reign (rein? range?) with my creative ideas. And she is always consistent. That’s the kind of person I can depend on (upon?). She may be the best proofer in the mid-west (Mid-West? midwest? Midwest?). Some writers prefer a hands-off approach to their work, but I really need her help. I like it when she hones (homes?) in on my mistakes. I don’t mind if she splits hairs (hares?).

Few people know all the do’s and don’ts (dos and don’t’s?) of the language. I’ve had discussions among (between?) a great number (amount?) of writers and they all agree you need a person like Heidi, although your ego can sometimes get quashed (squashed?).

Yes, I really need her. Even my wife, Mary Ellen (Mary-Ellen? Maryellen?), agrees.