Prompts
The copyeditor’s prime directive: :: Remember that words matter.
What are the two general-purpose style manuals?
- Words into Type ;; CMOS
What are the two general-purpose style manuals?
- CMOS
;; Words into Type (WIT)
What are the two widely used scientific style manuals?
- CSE ;; APA
What are the two widely used scientific style manuals?
- APA
;; CSE
What is the best approach when faced with newfangled terms ending in -ize? :: Be suspicious.
What is Eisohn’s judgement when using the word “folderize”? :: Avoid on a general audience.
Three ways a copyeditor could respond to a problem.
- Ask author to revise.
- Propose a revision. ;; Leave it alone.
Three ways a copyeditor could respond to a problem.
- Leave it alone.
- Propose a revision. ;; Ask author to revise.
Three ways a copyeditor could respond to a problem.
- Leave it alone.
- Ask author to revise.
;; Propose a revision.
How many sources should a copyeditor check when faced with a difficult problem? :: More than one.
Three ways a copyeditor can use a convention or rule.
- Adapt
- Ignore ;; Apply
Three ways a copyeditor can use a convention or rule.
- Apply
- Ignore ;; Adapt
Three ways a copyeditor can use a convention or rule.
- Apply
- Adapt
;; Ignore
Why is it important for a copyeditor to check several sources before making a difficult decision? :: To weigh options and make an informed decision.
Copyeditors serve three constituencies:
- the publisher
- readers ;; authors
Copyeditors serve three constituencies:
- authors
- readers ;; the publisher
Copyeditors serve three constituencies:
- authors
- the publisher
;; readers
What is the goal shared by the copyeditor, author, publisher, and readers? :: An error-free publication.
The four concerns of a copyeditor?
- coherency
- consistency
- correctness ;; clarity
The four concerns of a copyeditor?
- clarity
- consistency
- correctness ;; coherency
The four concerns of a copyeditor?
- clarity
- coherency
- correctness ;; consistency
The four concerns of a copyeditor?
- clarity
- coherency
- consistency
;; correctness
What conflicts among their constituencies do copyeditors juggle? :: Conflicts in desire.
What mantra should a copyeditor remember to practice self-effacement while editing? :: “It’s not my manuscript.”
The term used to refer to a copyeditor’s intuition and instincts about how to respond to a problem. :: Editorial judgement
How slow should a copyeditor read a manuscript? :: Slow enough to consider each letter and word.
What’s the best use of software in editing? :: Reduce time-consuming mechanical tasks.
The four commandments of copyediting:
- Don’t introduce errors into the manuscript.
- Don’t change the author’s meaning.
- Don’t miss a deadline. ;; Don’t lose, damage, or disorganize versions of the manuscript.
The four commandments of copyediting:
- Don’t lose, damage, or disorganize versions of the manuscript.
- Don’t change the author’s meaning.
- Don’t miss a deadline. ;; Don’t introduce errors into the manuscript.
The four commandments of copyediting:
- Don’t lose, damage, or disorganize versions of the manuscript.
- Don’t add an error into a text.
- Don’t miss a deadline. ;; Don’t change the author’s meaning.
The four commandments of copyediting:
- Don’t lose, damage, or disorganize versions of the manuscript.
- Don’t add an error into a text.
- Don’t change the author’s meaning.
;; Don’t miss a deadline.
A copyeditor’s six principal tasks: 1. 2. Correlating parts 3. Language editing 4. Content editing 5. Permissions 6. Markup ;; Mechanical editing
A copyeditor’s six principal tasks:
- Mechanical editing
- Language editing
- Content editing
- Permissions
- Markup ;; Correlating parts
A copyeditor’s six principal tasks:
- Mechanical editing
- Correlating parts
- Content editing
- Permissions
- Markup ;; Language editing
A copyeditor’s six principal tasks:
- Mechanical editing
- Correlating parts
- Language editing
- Permissions
- Markup ;; Content editing
A copyeditor’s six principal tasks:
- Mechanical editing
- Correlating parts
- Language editing
- Content editing
- Markup ;; Permissions
A copyeditor’s six principal tasks:
- Mechanical editing
- Correlating parts
- Language editing
- Content editing
- Permissions
;; Markup
Mechanical editing ::: Conforming to an editorial style
Give at least two things that mechanical editing aims to make consistent. Give examples you haven’t mentioned before. ;;
- spelling
- hyphenation
- capitalization
- punctuation
- treatment of numbers and numerals
- treatment of quotations
- use of initialisms, acronyms, and other abbreviations
- use of italics and bold type
- treatment of special elements (e.g., headings, lists, tables, charts, graphs)
- format of footnotes or endnotes and other documentation
The most common mistake made by novice copyeditors is rewriting portions of a text while ignoring ?? :: mechanical inconsistencies
The rules in an editorial style is not a matter of ?? but of ?? :: correctness, preference
If an editorial style is unavailable, what should the copyeditor do? :: Create a style sheet.
Give at least two tasks involved in correlating parts of the manuscript. Give examples you haven’t mentioned before. ;;
- verifying cross-references
- checking the numbering of footnotes, endnotes, tables, and illustrations
- specifying the placement of (callouts for) tables and illustrations
- comparing the illustrations against the captions and the text
- comparing the list of illustrations against the captions
- comparing the entries in the list of illustrations to the illustrations themselves
- comparing the TOC against the headings
- comparing footnotes or endnotes against the bibliography
Language editing involves correcting errors in: 1. 2. Usage 3. Diction ;; Grammar
Language editing involves correcting errors in:
- Grammar
- Diction ;; Usage
Language editing involves correcting errors in:
- Grammar
- Usage
;; Diction
Grammar ::: Rules on arranging words in sentences
Grammar includes ?? and ?? :: syntax, morphology
Syntax ::: Construction of phrases, clauses, and sentences
Morphology ::: Forms of words
Most linguistic issues concern ?? :: usage
Usage ::: Collective habits of a language’s native speakers.
Diction ::: Word choice
The rules for language editing are far more ?? than those for mechanical editing. :: subjective
What is the correct grammatical number of the word data? :: Both plural and singular.
When faced with a usage issue, a judicious copyeditor should follow the publisher’s style guide or ?? :: replace the word
What should you do to improve your grasp of usage? :: Learn the history of usage controversies.
Knowledge of the history of usage controversies is useful especially when working with an author whose ?? :: usage is outdated.
The goal of editing usage is to ?? not ?? :: help readers accept the text, defend the language
The question to ask when editing usage. :: “Is this sentence acceptable as the author has written it?”
Why shouldn’t you solely rely on Strunk and White? :: Oudated; Consider new linguistic data.
What should a copyeditor do when encountering a clearly incorrect factual statement? :: Query.
Whenever the content is unclear or confusing, the copyeditor’s recourse is ?? :: Ask the author to clarify.
Give at least one task involved in content editing. Give an example you haven’t mentioned before. ;;
- Checking for biased language.
- Checking for potential legal problems.
- Checking for plagiarism.
To avoid problems regarding permissions, a copyeditor must ensure that ?? :: sources and credits are supplied
Give at least one task involved in providing markup. Give an example you haven’t mentioned before. ;;
- Tagging
- Identifying and listing unfamiliar symbols
Line editing ::: improving sentence and paragraph style
To differentiate it with other kinds of editing, line editing is called ?? by the Editors Canada. :: stylistic editing
Manuscript editing ::: Combination of mechanical editing, line editing, and substantive editing
Substantive editing :: Heavy editing involving overall structure, content, and flow
Copyeditors are not:
- rewriters or ghostwriters
- developmental editors
- publication designers ;; proofreaders
Copyeditors are not:
- proofreaders
- developmental editors
- publication designers ;; rewriters or ghostwriters
Copyeditors are not:
- proofreaders
- rewriters or ghostwriters
- publication designers ;; developmental editors
Copyeditors are not:
- proofreaders
- rewriters or ghostwriters
- developmental editors
;; publication designers
How is proofreading different from copyediting? :: Proofreading corrects errors introduced after copyediting and other later processes.
Give at least two tasks involved in developmental editing. Give examples you haven’t mentioned before. ;;
- Developing an author’s idea
- Overhauling a rough draft
- Identifying gaps in subject coverage
- Devising strategies in communicating content
- Making the product marketable
When handling digital files, develop protocols for the following on-screen editing tasks:
- saving and differentiating manuscript versions
- backing up ;; naming files and folders
Develop protocols for the following on-screen editing tasks:
- naming files and folders
- backing up ;; version control
Develop protocols for the following on-screen editing tasks:
- naming files and folders
- saving and differentiating manuscript versions
;; backing up
Macros ::: Programmed commands that perform routine mechanical editing operations
Ideally, how many times should a copyeditor go through a manuscript? :: Three: one preliminary skim and two complete passes
A preliminary skim involves? :: Assessing the quality of writing and noting difficult sections
Why should copyeditors read very, very slowly on the first pass? :: To catch every possible mistake.
What are the three objectives of the second pass? 1. 2. Catch missed mechanical errors 3. Fix introduced errors ;; Incorporate answers to global questions
What are the three objectives of the second pass?
- Incorporate answers to global questions
- Fix introduced errors ;; Catch missed mechanical errors
What are the three objectives of the second pass?
- Incorporate answers to global questions
- Catch missed mechanical errors
;; Fix introduced errors
Improve your perceptual acuity on the second pass by ?? :: Changing the appearance and haptic experience of the document (e.g., remove markups, change font, print the document)
How should you schedule the second pass? :: Without interruption.
Why should the second pass be scheduled without interruption? :: You need short-term memory to catch inconsistencies.
What should a copyeditor show when responding to an author’s query responses? :: Empathy
How should you respond to stetted revisions concerning minor issues? :: Respect author
If time is limited, what kinds of errors should be prioritized? :: Embarrassing and confusing errors
How should you approach passes when straining to meet a tight schedule?
- Slow pass + no second pass
- Slow pass + selective pass ;; Two quick passes
How should you approach passes when straining to meet a tight schedule?
- Two quick passes
- Slow pass + selective pass ;; Slow pass + no second pass
How should you approach passes when straining to meet a tight schedule?
- Two quick passes
- Slow pass + no second pass
;; Slow pass + selective pass
What sections should you focus on during a selective second pass? :: Significant or troubling sections identified during first pass
What should you do to remember the most troubling sections to return to on the second pass? :: Mark them during first pass.
When time is short, how many pages of the manuscript should you cover? :: All
When time is short, what intensity of effort should you give on each page? :: Light effort
Different ?? require different copyediting priorities. :: documents
The twin-purpose of a business document to prioritize during copyediting. :: Persuade readers and market the business effectively
Sentence adverb ::: An adverb that modifies an entire sentence
Always follow a sentence adverb with a :: comma
“not only” always precedes :: the items being contrasted
In “not only … but also…”, the word “also” is :: optional and frequently omitted
A ?? is preferable over a ?? to precede “for example” when introducing a list. :: dash, comma
If the author’s sentences are clear, correct, and serviceable, ?? :: let them be.
Benefits of resisting the urge to recast an author’s phrase in your own voice.
- Smoother client relationship
- Shorter cleanup and copyediting
- No need to maintain the author’s style ;; Easier mechanical editing
Benefits of resisting the urge to recast an author’s phrase in your own voice.
- Easier mechanical editing
- Shorter and easier cleanup and copyediting
- No need to maintain the author’s style ;; Smoother client relationship
Benefits of resisting the urge to recast an author’s phrase in your own voice.
- Easier mechanical editing
- Smoother client relationship
- No need to maintain the author’s style ;; Shorter cleanup and copyediting
Benefits of resisting the urge to recast an author’s phrase in your own voice.
- Easier mechanical editing
- Smoother client relationship
- Shorter and easier cleanup and copyediting
;; No need to maintain the author’s style
Terms denoting group ownership or participation sometimes appear ?? (i.e., as an attributive rather than a possessive noun) :: without an apostrophe
References
Einsohn, A., & Schwartz, M. (2019). The Copyeditor’s Handbook: A Guide for Book Publishing and Corporate Communications (4th ed.). University of California Press.