Benjamin Dreyer
@bcdreyer.social
America's Copy Editor®
author of the New York Times/IndieBound bestseller Dreyer's English and Stet! (the game!) • Random House copy chief/managing editor (ret.) • he/him/his
benjamindreyer.com
author of the New York Times/IndieBound bestseller Dreyer's English and Stet! (the game!) • Random House copy chief/managing editor (ret.) • he/him/his
benjamindreyer.com
Pinned
Benjamin Dreyer
@bcdreyer.social
· Nov 27
Greetings, new people here at House of Copyediting. Besides first-rate, IISSM, prose advice, you'll get:
• a random theater photo of the day, sometimes more than one
• birthday alerts for dead actresses, and occasionally live ones
• Sallie updates
And it's all free!
• a random theater photo of the day, sometimes more than one
• birthday alerts for dead actresses, and occasionally live ones
• Sallie updates
And it's all free!
I've disgorged the contents of my brain into a few paragraphs, and a plethora of footnotes, with a little something, I hope, for everyone.
in the blink of an eye
[things seen and watched and read and thought]
open.substack.com
February 12, 2026 at 7:45 PM
I've disgorged the contents of my brain into a few paragraphs, and a plethora of footnotes, with a little something, I hope, for everyone.
Reposted by Benjamin Dreyer
I converted to Catholicism two weeks ago. Here's why I hate Jesus and the Pope.
February 12, 2026 at 5:25 PM
I converted to Catholicism two weeks ago. Here's why I hate Jesus and the Pope.
Reposted by Benjamin Dreyer
Opinion | Epstein's friends aren't just pedophiles—they're also job creators.
by Bret Stephens
by Bret Stephens
February 12, 2026 at 5:22 PM
Opinion | Epstein's friends aren't just pedophiles—they're also job creators.
by Bret Stephens
by Bret Stephens
Reposted by Benjamin Dreyer
I have a hard time understanding how our culture has somehow produced fans of this person. He’s so clearly and horribly diseased
Fuentes then fantasizes about “breeding gulags”: “So just like Hitler imprisoned Gypsies, Jews, communists, you know, all of his political rivals, we have to do the same thing with women… They go to the breeding gulags. The good ones will be liberated. The bad ones will toil in the mines forever.”
February 12, 2026 at 5:15 PM
I have a hard time understanding how our culture has somehow produced fans of this person. He’s so clearly and horribly diseased
Reposted by Benjamin Dreyer
“This is the good stuff!” — @bcdreyer.social (America’s Copy Editor)
“Not many people could write about grammar and make it so entertaining!” — Marsanne Reid (My Mom)
“Not many people could write about grammar and make it so entertaining!” — Marsanne Reid (My Mom)
The passive voice is widely misunderstood, even by professional writers and editors. A deep dive—with zombies and weasels?!—into the mysteries of active and passive voices.
Zombies and weasels: Why the passive voice is so confusing
[Mistakes have been made, even by experts!]
greydanus.substack.com
February 12, 2026 at 4:44 PM
“This is the good stuff!” — @bcdreyer.social (America’s Copy Editor)
“Not many people could write about grammar and make it so entertaining!” — Marsanne Reid (My Mom)
“Not many people could write about grammar and make it so entertaining!” — Marsanne Reid (My Mom)
Sometimes the answer to the question "How should this sentence be punctuated?" is "It should be entirely rewritten."
#copyediting
#copyediting
February 12, 2026 at 3:58 PM
Sometimes the answer to the question "How should this sentence be punctuated?" is "It should be entirely rewritten."
#copyediting
#copyediting
In the immortal words of the late, great Zsa Zsa Gabor:
I hate dat qvin.
I hate dat qvin.
Hawley for sure
February 12, 2026 at 3:57 PM
In the immortal words of the late, great Zsa Zsa Gabor:
I hate dat qvin.
I hate dat qvin.
The thing I realized yesterday about the Worst Person in the World concept is that you have to rotate them.
Like, yesterday Pam Bondi was certainly the worst person in the world.
But today might well be someone else's turn!
I'm thinking Ron Johnson, but it's early yet.
Like, yesterday Pam Bondi was certainly the worst person in the world.
But today might well be someone else's turn!
I'm thinking Ron Johnson, but it's early yet.
February 12, 2026 at 3:53 PM
The thing I realized yesterday about the Worst Person in the World concept is that you have to rotate them.
Like, yesterday Pam Bondi was certainly the worst person in the world.
But today might well be someone else's turn!
I'm thinking Ron Johnson, but it's early yet.
Like, yesterday Pam Bondi was certainly the worst person in the world.
But today might well be someone else's turn!
I'm thinking Ron Johnson, but it's early yet.
today's random theater photo:
David Cryer and Chris Callan in the 1973 revival of The Desert Song
David Cryer and Chris Callan in the 1973 revival of The Desert Song
February 12, 2026 at 3:27 PM
today's random theater photo:
David Cryer and Chris Callan in the 1973 revival of The Desert Song
David Cryer and Chris Callan in the 1973 revival of The Desert Song
It's Simon MacCorkindale's birthday. ❤️
February 12, 2026 at 3:25 PM
It's Simon MacCorkindale's birthday. ❤️
Reposted by Benjamin Dreyer
you can just not fund this shit under any circumstances
you don’t have to pretend they need better training, or are doing an important job incorrectly
they’re just racist thugs doing ethnic cleansing and the whole gang should be in jail
you don’t have to pretend they need better training, or are doing an important job incorrectly
they’re just racist thugs doing ethnic cleansing and the whole gang should be in jail
More than 400 people, including hundreds of citizens, were “sorted” at gun point into racial and ethnic groups by 200 ICE agents who fired flash-bang grenades into cars with people inside, pointed guns at children & demanded their zip tied parents not comfort them. apple.news/Ausdx6kWtT0e...
Idaho families sue over immigration raid that swept up hundreds, including U.S. citizens — NBC News
About 400 people, including children and U.S. citizens, were detained for four hours while they were denied food and water in the raid, according to the lawsuit.
apple.news
February 12, 2026 at 2:37 AM
you can just not fund this shit under any circumstances
you don’t have to pretend they need better training, or are doing an important job incorrectly
they’re just racist thugs doing ethnic cleansing and the whole gang should be in jail
you don’t have to pretend they need better training, or are doing an important job incorrectly
they’re just racist thugs doing ethnic cleansing and the whole gang should be in jail
Reposted by Benjamin Dreyer
I don’t think we should allow the secret police to round people up and sort them by race
More than 400 people, including hundreds of citizens, were “sorted” at gun point into racial and ethnic groups by 200 ICE agents who fired flash-bang grenades into cars with people inside, pointed guns at children & demanded their zip tied parents not comfort them. apple.news/Ausdx6kWtT0e...
Idaho families sue over immigration raid that swept up hundreds, including U.S. citizens — NBC News
About 400 people, including children and U.S. citizens, were detained for four hours while they were denied food and water in the raid, according to the lawsuit.
apple.news
February 12, 2026 at 2:32 AM
I don’t think we should allow the secret police to round people up and sort them by race
I’m always (well, let’s just say often) delighted to see books hitting the bestseller lists, but I’ll always giggle over the breathless “instant bestseller!” thing.
I mean, they’re almost always instant.
“Schlepped along for months and finally hit the list!” would be a novelty.
I mean, they’re almost always instant.
“Schlepped along for months and finally hit the list!” would be a novelty.
February 12, 2026 at 1:27 AM
I’m always (well, let’s just say often) delighted to see books hitting the bestseller lists, but I’ll always giggle over the breathless “instant bestseller!” thing.
I mean, they’re almost always instant.
“Schlepped along for months and finally hit the list!” would be a novelty.
I mean, they’re almost always instant.
“Schlepped along for months and finally hit the list!” would be a novelty.
Reposted by Benjamin Dreyer
Just take a look at this and remember, Pam Bondi's concern here was not with any of the victims of these crimes but with the nosy Democrats who actually gave a shit about them.
February 12, 2026 at 12:38 AM
Just take a look at this and remember, Pam Bondi's concern here was not with any of the victims of these crimes but with the nosy Democrats who actually gave a shit about them.
One of the things I appreciated watching the Bondi debacle is how gleefully all the Democrats displayed their utter loathing of her.
Really, it was spirit-lifting.
Really, it was spirit-lifting.
February 12, 2026 at 1:03 AM
One of the things I appreciated watching the Bondi debacle is how gleefully all the Democrats displayed their utter loathing of her.
Really, it was spirit-lifting.
Really, it was spirit-lifting.
Reposted by Benjamin Dreyer
I better not see this bitch on Dancing With the Stars
February 11, 2026 at 11:48 PM
I better not see this bitch on Dancing With the Stars
Lev Parnas is what Elves eat, right?
February 11, 2026 at 11:39 PM
Lev Parnas is what Elves eat, right?
A little wandering scrolling just now led me to the notorious Fanny Cradock–vs.–Gwen Troake clip, and JESUSGOD.
(I've seen it innumerable times, but it never ceases to be viscerally horrific.)
(I've seen it innumerable times, but it never ceases to be viscerally horrific.)
February 11, 2026 at 11:31 PM
A little wandering scrolling just now led me to the notorious Fanny Cradock–vs.–Gwen Troake clip, and JESUSGOD.
(I've seen it innumerable times, but it never ceases to be viscerally horrific.)
(I've seen it innumerable times, but it never ceases to be viscerally horrific.)
🫢
Over on threads someone just use ai;dr and we all need to adopt that right quick
February 11, 2026 at 11:26 PM
🫢
I think that some (not all!) writers wildly overestimate how interested other people might be in their F E E L I N G S about the P R O C E S S of writing and the S T R U G G L E S, oh, the S T R U G G L E S.
Like, get on with it.
Like, get on with it.
February 11, 2026 at 11:02 PM
I think that some (not all!) writers wildly overestimate how interested other people might be in their F E E L I N G S about the P R O C E S S of writing and the S T R U G G L E S, oh, the S T R U G G L E S.
Like, get on with it.
Like, get on with it.
Oh hey, just stumbled upon "'talent' is a gatekeeping mechanism," and (a) well, duh, and (b) I can't stop laughing.
February 11, 2026 at 9:15 PM
Oh hey, just stumbled upon "'talent' is a gatekeeping mechanism," and (a) well, duh, and (b) I can't stop laughing.
Reposted by Benjamin Dreyer
A government of the assholes, by the assholes, for the assholes.
Per @pabloreports.bsky.social: Bondi has a “burn book” organized by the names of Democratic lawmakers so she can attack them when they ask her questions.
February 11, 2026 at 6:13 PM
A government of the assholes, by the assholes, for the assholes.
Reposted by Benjamin Dreyer
Reposted by Benjamin Dreyer
Cohen to Bondi: "You tried to investigate Ms. Good's widow and you tried to investigate Mr. Pretti. They were executed like Kristi Noem executed her dog."
February 11, 2026 at 4:22 PM
Cohen to Bondi: "You tried to investigate Ms. Good's widow and you tried to investigate Mr. Pretti. They were executed like Kristi Noem executed her dog."
Reposted by Benjamin Dreyer
I have heard of a no bill but zero votes is new to me
No grand jurors found the Trump DOJ met low probable cause threshold in failed indictment of Democratic lawmakers
www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
No grand jurors found the Trump DOJ met low probable cause threshold in failed indictment of Democratic lawmakers
None of the D.C. grand jurors who heard the Trump administration’s pitch on why they should indict Democratic lawmakers over a video urging members of the
www.nbcnews.com
February 11, 2026 at 4:01 PM
I have heard of a no bill but zero votes is new to me