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!
Reposted by Benjamin Dreyer
As we dig into this scandal, can we revisit the question about why the president's son-in-law, who has no formal role in this administration, keeps showing up at high-level negotiations with actual world leaders?
Breaking WSJ:
The highly classified whistleblower complaint against Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard is related to a conversation intercepted last spring in which two foreign nationals discussed Jared Kushner, according to U.S. officials familiar with the matter.
The highly classified whistleblower complaint against Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard is related to a conversation intercepted last spring in which two foreign nationals discussed Jared Kushner, according to U.S. officials familiar with the matter.
Gabbard Whistleblower Complaint Based on Intercepted Conversation About Jared Kushner
The substance of the conversation, which covered in part issues related to Iran, isn’t known.
www.wsj.com
February 12, 2026 at 10:23 PM
As we dig into this scandal, can we revisit the question about why the president's son-in-law, who has no formal role in this administration, keeps showing up at high-level negotiations with actual world leaders?
Reposted by Benjamin Dreyer
The Pride flag at the Stonewall Monument is re-raised!
New Yorkers won’t let Donald Trump erase LGBTQ+ history, or trample the rights of our LGBTQ+ neighbors.
New Yorkers won’t let Donald Trump erase LGBTQ+ history, or trample the rights of our LGBTQ+ neighbors.
February 12, 2026 at 10:16 PM
The Pride flag at the Stonewall Monument is re-raised!
New Yorkers won’t let Donald Trump erase LGBTQ+ history, or trample the rights of our LGBTQ+ neighbors.
New Yorkers won’t let Donald Trump erase LGBTQ+ history, or trample the rights of our LGBTQ+ neighbors.
I'm still thinking about what a weird, loathsome freak Pam Bondi is, so I guess she's really good at her job of being a weird, loathsome freak.
February 13, 2026 at 12:30 AM
I'm still thinking about what a weird, loathsome freak Pam Bondi is, so I guess she's really good at her job of being a weird, loathsome freak.
Reposted by Benjamin Dreyer
“The Constitution does not permit the government to arrest thousands of individuals and then disregard their constitutional rights because it would be too challenging to honor those rights.”
BREAKING: Judge Nancy Brasel, a Trump appointee, has issued a TRO in the Minnesota access-to-counsel case about treatment at Whipple.
"It appears that in planning for Operation Metro Surge, the government failed to plan for the constitutional rights of its civil detainees."
"It appears that in planning for Operation Metro Surge, the government failed to plan for the constitutional rights of its civil detainees."
February 13, 2026 at 12:24 AM
“The Constitution does not permit the government to arrest thousands of individuals and then disregard their constitutional rights because it would be too challenging to honor those rights.”
Always fun to block people who use the word “illegal” as a noun.
February 12, 2026 at 10:35 PM
Always fun to block people who use the word “illegal” as a noun.
February 12, 2026 at 10:12 PM
Agatha Christie, Geraldine McEwan and Prunella Scales (though not, alas, together this time), Russell Tovey's ears, and (other people's) typos.
A little something for everyone.
A little something for everyone.
in the blink of an eye
[things seen and watched and read and thought]
open.substack.com
February 12, 2026 at 10:06 PM
Agatha Christie, Geraldine McEwan and Prunella Scales (though not, alas, together this time), Russell Tovey's ears, and (other people's) typos.
A little something for everyone.
A little something for everyone.
‼️
February 12, 2026 at 9:12 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.
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?