“You cannot correct unless you know that there is something wrong.

COPY READING/
COPY EDITING
More Than Just Marks and Words
 COPY
FIXERS
Good copy fixers keep the spirit
and substance of the story. She/he
basically brightens and polishes the
article. He makes the story better by
organizing it better than when it was
submitted.
 Common Errors to
Correct/Delete/Change/Rewrit
e
1) Errors in fact
2) Errors in grammar
3) Opinion in News
(editorializing)
4) Wrong use of adjectives
5) Libelous matter
6) Seditious/rebellious materials
 Common Errors to
Correct/Delete/Change/Rewrit
e

7) Vulgar and indecent words

8) Contrary to good taste and to
law
9) Derogatory statements
10) Redundancy
11) Verbal deadwood
 Common Errors to
Correct/Delete/Change/Rewrit
e

12) Errors in correct usage

13) Errors in structures
14) Errors in style
(Use of the style sheet,
stylebook, or style guide in
journalistic writing)
 / or lc # ¶ no ¶

What The Copy

Reading
Symbols Cover
 1. Punctuation
Marks
SYMBOLS MEANING OUTCOME
“The Bionic Emphasize “The Bionic
Woman” quotes Woman”
Dr. Arthur Cruz Emphasize Dr. Arthur Cruz
Jr. period Jr.
.
said, “I must Emphasize said, “I must
go”. comma go”.
,
2. Numbers and
Abbreviations
SYMBOLS MEANING EXAMPLE
in Nov. Spell out in November

Doctor Abbreviate Dr. Arthur

Arthur Cruz Cruz
twenty boys Use numeral 20 boys

2 girls were Spell out Two girls

were
 3. Special Form of Type

SYMBOLS MEANING EXAMPLE

Manila, Capitalize MANILA,
philippines Philippines
Reader’s Digest Change to Reader’s Digest
italics
Test III Change to Test III
boldface
 4. Letter and Word
Changes
SYMBOLS MEANING EXAMPLE
was not Delete was true
untrue
meet on Bridge over meet Sunday
Sunday
Fe Cruz Transpose Principal Fe
Principal Cruz
those boys Close up Those boys
space
 4. Letter and Word
Changes
SYMBOLS MEANING EXAMPLE
Insert letter pamphlet
pamph let
Insert word avail himself
availhimselfof of
Lower case manila paper
Manila pAper
Delete letter judgment
judgement within
 5. Letter and Word
Changes
SYMBOLS MEANING EXAMPLE
Delete letter develop skill
deveelop sskill before/after
word
Allright Insert space All right we
wehave time have time
considered Run in copy considered happy.
happy. This is so because
This is so
because
 6. Others
SYMBOLS MEANING EXAMPLE
Paco, Manila Indent for Paco, Manila
Today, he will paragraph Today, he will

Welfrido Spell as written Welfrido Cruz

Kruz
Unfinished story need…………mo
more re

End of story Thank you so

30 or # much!
30
 6. Others
SYMBOLS MEANING EXAMPLE
]Elected prexy[ Centered Elected prexy
subhead
No No paragraph But he
But he said said……
stet
Stay as is, One boy came
One boy came disregard
correction
“ I did it ”, he Insert quotation “I did it,” he
said. marks said.
SYMBOLS FROM OTHER
SOURCES
SYMBOLS FROM OTHER
SOURCES
SYMBOLS FROM OTHER
SOURCES
SYMBOLS FROM OTHER
SOURCES
Instruction
to
Copyreader
s
 Instruction to Copyreaders

1) Use a soft, black pencil.

2) Write your corrections,
changes, subheads, and
headlines so that they can be
read quickly and correctly.
3) Ring or encircle the slug line,
“More”, “30” and all other
instructions to the printer
called printer’s direction or
 Instruction to Copyreaders

4) It is better to erase penciled

marks that you wish to cancel
than to cross them out.
5) If many changes are made, it is
better to retype. Then go over the
copy again for errors.
6) Turn out legible copy always.
Make it as neat as possible.
READING PROFS
More Than Just Marks and Words
Note:
After the copy has
been prepared and
copyread, it goes to
the linotypists or to
the computer
 What to Proofread?

1) COPY
ERROR
These are errors in grammar
and word omission that had
escaped the blue pencil of the
copy reader and which the
linotypist copied verbatim.
 What to Proofread?

2) MACHINE
ERRORS
These are errors made due to
faulty typesetting machines like
excessive transposition of letters,
blurred letters, poor letter
alignment, wrong font and high
or low slug.
 What to Proofread?

3) OPERATOR’S
ERRORS
These include the general
run of typographical errors.
Thus, need for speedy and
accurate proofreading.
 Romans 12:2
Do no conform any longer to the
pattern of his world, but be
transformed by the renewing of
your mind. Then you will be
able to test and approved what
God’s will is—his good,
The writer whose work cannot be
improved