There are lots of troublesome words that writers often get mixed up: further/farther, pour/pore, comprise/compose, and so on. I’ve discussed this in a previous post. Copy editors are well aware of these words and do their best to catch such errors of usage. Today in a tweet, a writer described a list “titled” something-or-other (titled… Continue Reading
Many readers love finding mistakes in copy. They think, “How could the powers-that-be let such doozies slip by unnoticed?” Historically, publishers were the gatekeepers of disseminated knowledge, so identifying their errors allowed us plebes to feel like we had the upper hand for a change — or at least to feel like we were just… Continue Reading
When editing copy, sometimes a lot of questions come up — about usage, clarity, consistency, etc. It’s often necessary for the editor to ask the author to clarify something. Sounds like a simple enough process, right? Ask a question, get a response. Wrong. I bet you’ve received an email that rubbed you the wrong way… Continue Reading
I love a funny slogan on a T-shirt, and I had a good chuckle when I heard this one. A young Saskatchewan schoolgirl, Tenelle Star, recently wore a sweatshirt with this slogan, and school officials asked her to take the shirt off. They have since relented, and so should they have. As an editor, I… Continue Reading
I’m always on the hunt for new ways to deliver content in the digital age. Here’s a great article that urges bookstores to embrace print-on-demand machines and e-books. I think the author makes some great points. Booksellers earn a greater profit on e-books compared to the old-fashioned variety (yes, the profit may not be a… Continue Reading
Copy editors are not expected to know the ins and outs of the law, but they are expected to recognize when a document may be violating one of the four areas of publishing law: libel, obscenity, invasion of privacy, and copyright infringement. If a problem is suspected, the copy editor should discuss the issue with… Continue Reading
Happy New Year! I hope, like me, you’re psyched for 2014. One of the most important things I’ve done in the last couple of years is write (and edit and edit and edit) my personal mission statement. When I’m depressed or scared or plain old grumpy, I recite my mission statement to ground myself and… Continue Reading
Not so long ago, editors worked on hard copy, so a manuscript was treated with kid gloves. Can you imagine losing or damaging the only copy of a text? Not a fun conversation to have with your client. But handling files effectively is important today, too. Save the original file, and back it up. If… Continue Reading
Today’s commandment is again credited to Einsohn’s Copyeditor’s Handbook. Pretty self-explanatory, right? After all, the freelance editor and the client sign a contract at the beginning of their working relationship agreeing to delivery dates. But what if there is a delay? What if the editor has made queries to the author, and the author is… Continue Reading
Today’s commandment comes from Amy Einsohn’s Copyeditor’s Handbook. Copy editors do not develop or rewrite text; they make text clear and coherent. If the copy editor is confused by a text, readers will be, too. But the copy editor doesn’t assume the author’s meaning; the copy editor queries the author about ambiguities. Queries should be… Continue Reading