Here are things that other staff members have brought up, and I am passing them along. ** From a veteran copy editor: A "bond" and a "bond issue" are not the same thing, but we frequently say "bond" when we mean "bond issue." A bond issue is the sale of bonds -- plural -- by a municipality, county or state to raise revenue for school construction, highway projects or other capital improvements. The sale usually must be approved in advance by the voters in a referendum. Therefore, in a school bond referendum, voters do not approve or reject a "school bond." They vote on "school bonds" or a "school bond issue." And a governmental body discussing revenue sources does not consider "a bond." Make it "a bond issue." And, as always, remember that a referendum is a vote, not the question being voted on. Thus, a referendum cannot fail, pass, or be defeated, rejected or approved. But a bond issue can. ** From a photographer: Video cameras use video tape. Movie cameras use film. Therefore, when a TV crew or parents with camcorder point the lens toward a subject and they press the record button, they are TAPING a scene, not FILMING, as writers say so often. I know this is just being picky, but we need to use correct terminology. This ranks right up there with saying "flash bulbs popped" to describe photographers when bulbs have not been used since the 1970s. ** From another copy editor: Remember that we need the "of" in a sentence such as this: I bought a couple of tomatoes at the farmers market. Sometimes writers leave out the "of." There is an AP stylebook entry on this one. ** From an editor: When you use two consecutive adjectives before a noun and can insert "and" between those adjectives, you need a comma. An example: Jean is a generous, outgoing person. (She is generous AND outgoing -- the adjectives are equal.) But if the first adjective modifies the combined idea of the second adjective and the noun, then don't use a comma. An example: The estate is surrounded by an old stone wall. (The stone wall is old.) -- Pam Nelson Day news editor The News & Observer 215 S. McDowell St. Raleigh, NC 27602 (919) 829-4619 toll free: (800) 365-6115 fax: (919) 829-4529