The image above shows seven marks used in copy reading. More are shown in the image at the top of the next page. The marks shown here are | Three short lines under a letter or word indicate that it is to be set in capital letters. | Two short lines under a letter or word indicate that it is to be set in small caps. | One line under a letter or word indicates that it is to be set in Italics. | A circle around figures or abbreviations indicates that they are to be spelled out. | A circle around a word or numbers spelled out indicates that they are to be abbreviated or figures used. | A caret is placed at the point in the line where the words written above the line are to be inserted. | The paragraph mark (¶) or the sign ⅃ is placed at the beginning of each paragraph. |

The image above is the continuation from the previous page of marks used in copy reading. Five more marks are shown or described here. | A cross (X) is used for a period. | Quotation marks are often put in half circles to indicate clearly whether they are beginning or end marks. | Elements to be transposed are marked thus: | The example shows a line starting underneath the first element then continuing to the left then up around its top then down between it and the second element, continuing under then around the end of the second element to end on the top of the second element. | A line is used to connect the end of one line with the beginning of another when both are to form a continuous line of print. | The end mark which is the hash symbol (#), or the number 30 in a circle, is written at the end of every complete piece of copy. |

The application of these marks and the catch-lines in the editing of copy are shown by the following typical pages:

The two images above show the typewritten copy of a short news item which has been edited by a copy reader who has applied these marks to indicate to the compositor how the matter is to be set in type.

SUGGESTIONS

  1. Familiarize yourself thoroughly with all details of the typographical style of your paper.
  2. Read every word of copy carefully.
  3. Work as rapidly as is consistent with accuracy; don’t putter over corrections.
  4. Make all corrections and changes so clear that the compositor can not misunderstand them.
  5. Revise and rearrange whenever possible instead of rewriting.
  6. Cut out all needless words and phrases.
  7. Don’t think that your own way of expressing an idea is the only good way.
  8. Scrutinize carefully all participles, pronouns, conjunctions, correlatives, and “only’s.”
  9. Watch for the omission of the apostrophe in possessives and contractions.
  10. See that all quoted matter is properly enclosed in “quotes.”
  11. Be sure to put single “quotes” on quotations within quotations.
  12. Verify names, initials, addresses, dates, and facts generally.
  13. Be on the lookout for libelous matter.
  14. Give every story a distinctive guide line.
  15. Don’t confuse “add’s” and “follow’s” in marking copy.
  16. Keep a record of all copy read with size of head, length of story, author, and time.
  17. Draw a line around all directions intended for the compositors.
  18. Consult your superior when in doubt about the propriety of anything in copy.