DEFINITIONS.
Copy.—This word really means something to be imitated, and it is used by printers when referring to the manuscript of a writer.
Proof-Sheet.—When the copy is set up in type, an impression in ink is taken for corrections. This is called a proof-sheet. In correcting proof, the first thing to be done is to place the copy in the hands of some one to read aloud, while the proof-reader pays attention principally to omissions, the spelling and capitalization of words, and punctuation. After this, the proof should be carefully examined to detect what are called typographical errors, that is, mistakes in type.
Revise.—After the corrections indicated in the proof are made, another impression is taken. This is called the revise. The revise should be carefully compared with the proof, to see that all corrections are made.
INTRODUCTORY REMARK.
Mistakes in the proof should be called attention to by certain marks which will hereafter be described, and the corrections should be indicated in the margin, on the right or left of the line in which they occur. If mistakes are found near the beginning of the line, the corrections should be placed in the margin on the left, otherwise they should be placed on the right. The numbers in the following statements refer to lines of the specimen proof-sheet on pages [111], [112].
I. Wrong Letters and Punctuation Marks.—The most common mistakes in a proof-sheet are wrong letters and punctuation marks. When these are noticed, a line should be drawn slopingly, from right to left, through each, and the correct letter or punctuation mark written in the margin. It is better to repeat the line with the correction in the margin, so as to attract attention to the desired change; as, 2, 4, 8. A sloping line should always be placed between corrections opposite the same line, and the corrections should be placed in the order in which they occur.
REMARKS.
1. The correction in the margin should always be placed to the left of the sloping line; as, 2, 3, 4, 8.
2. The period, dash, hyphen, quotation marks, apostrophe, and reference marks should be distinguished in the margin, thus:—
For illustrations, see 6, 10.
3. If it is necessary to change a capital letter to a small letter, draw a line through the capital, and either write a small letter in the margin, or the abbreviation l.c., lower case, which indicates that a common letter is to be used; as, 3.
4. The abbreviation w.f., wrong font, indicates that a letter is of improper size.
II. Wrong Words.—When an entire word is incorrect, a straight line should be drawn through it, and the proper word written in the margin; as, 5.
REMARK.
When it is necessary to change a word, printed in capitals, to small letters, draw a line through the word, and write l.c. in the margin; as, 16. See I., Rem. 3.
III. Omissions.—If a letter, punctuation mark, or word is omitted, the omission should be indicated by a caret, and the omitted letter, punctuation mark, or word placed in the margin; as, 3, 6.
REMARKS.
1. When the period, dash, hyphen, quotation marks, or reference marks are omitted, they should be distinguished in the margin as in I., Rem. 2.
2. A sloping line should always be made in the margin, to the right of an omitted letter or punctuation mark; as, 3.
3. If several words or lines are omitted, it is sometimes necessary to write the words at the top or bottom of the proof. When this is the case, a line should be drawn from the caret to the words to be inserted; as, 25.
4. Sometimes so much has been omitted that it is necessary to refer to the copy. When this is so, indicate the omission by a caret, write See Copy in the margin, and inclose within parenthetical marks or brackets the portion of the copy to be inserted in the proof.
IV. Inverted Letter.—When a letter is inverted, a sloping line should be drawn through it, and the change indicated in the margin by 9, a character resembling an inverted 6; as, 13.
REMARK.
Some proof-readers draw a line under the inverted letter, but this is not so easily recognized as a sloping line drawn through the letter.
V. Strike Out.—It is sometimes necessary to strike out a letter, punctuation mark, or word. A line should be drawn through each, as in I. and II., and the sign ₰, which means strike out, placed in the margin; as, 9, 19.
VI. Capitals and Italics.—Three lines drawn under a word indicate that the word should be printed in large capitals; two lines, small capitals; one line, italics. The abbreviations, Caps., S. Caps., Ital., should also be written in the margin; as, 1, 2.
REMARKS.
1. If a word is italicized, and it is desirable to change it to the ordinary type, draw a line under it, and write Rom., the abbreviation for Roman, in the margin; as, 15.
2. To change a word printed in capitals to small letters, see II., Rem.
VII. Spacing.—When there is too great a space between two letters, the letters should be connected by the marks ⁐, and the same sign should be repeated in the margin; as, 21. The single mark ‿ connecting two words and repeated in the margin, indicates too great a space between words; as, 23.
When there is not sufficient space between two words, a caret is used to indicate the want of space, and the sign # written in the margin; as, 25.
REMARKS.
1. When there is not space enough between two lines, or there is too much, the fact can be indicated as in 7 and 8, 13 and 14.
2. When a space is not left at the commencement of a paragraph, a caret indicates the want of space, and the sign ▭ is placed in the margin; as, 17.
VIII. Paragraphs.—When a new paragraph is desired, the sign [ should be inserted in the proof, before the first word of the new paragraph, and the sign ¶ should be placed in the margin; as, 10.
When two paragraphs are to be run together, they should be connected by a line, and No ¶ written in the margin; as, 24.
REMARKS.
1. The line connecting the two paragraphs is usually so readily recognized that an additional sign in the margin is not always required.
2. For space at the commencement of a paragraph, see VII., Rem. 2.
IX. Correction to be Disregarded.—Dots placed under a word, and Stet., which means let it stand, written in the margin, indicate that a correction is to be disregarded; as, 25.
X. Broken Letters.—When it is necessary to call the attention of the printer to a broken letter, a line should be drawn under it, and the sign × placed in the margin; as, 21.
REMARK.
It is the custom with some proof-readers to draw a sloping line through the broken letter, and repeat the letter in the margin. This is sometimes a great convenience to the printer, especially when the letter is so badly injured that it can not be recognized; for, unless the printer is familiar with the spelling of the word, it may be necessary, with considerable inconvenience, to refer to the copy.
XI. Transpose.—When two words should change places, the custom is to draw a line over the first, continue it under the second, and write tr., the abbreviation for transpose, in the margin; as, 26.
REMARKS.
1. When several letters in a word are not in their proper order, either draw a line through the word and rewrite it in the margin, or draw a line under or through the letters, and write them in their proper order.
2. When the order of several words is to be changed, indicate the proper order by placing 1, 2, 3, 4, &c., over the words, draw a straight line under each, and write tr. in the margin.
XII. Crooked Words.—When the letters of a word are displaced, draw a line above and below the word, and repeat the lines in the margin; as, 28. The same marks are used to call attention to a crooked line.
XIII. Projecting Leads.—When a lead projects so as to leave an impression on the proof, a sloping line should be drawn through it, and the sign [symbol] or [symbol] placed in the margin; as, 22.
XIV. Diphthongs.—When æ and œ should be printed as diphthongs, a line should be drawn through them, and the letters forming the diphthong written in the margin thus, æ̑, œ̑.
XV. Mark of Attention.—The sign + is sometimes used to call the attention of the printer to some defect in a word or line.
GENERAL REMARK.
It is the custom with many proof-readers to draw a line from the mistake in the proof to the correction in the margin. This should always be done when the mistakes are numerous, or the lines crowded together.
