Publishing

[NW Mailing List]

Kim,

 

First, with both spelling and grammar, copy editors have different approaches as to what is correct and I have had one professional copy editor making changes to another professional copy editors work with respect to grammar. Typos are generally easier to deal with but sometimes it depends on the style guide being used. Word/publishing programs will highlight questionable words or phrases, but you then have to decide how to proceed. As an example I spell coalfield as one word where many publications will spell it as two words. Another example is state names. I used to use post offices abbreviations such as WV for West Virginia and the copy editor agreed with it. However the Associated Press Style Book says not to use them, but it is ok to use W.Va., but in some circumstances you should use the full state name. Rather than trying to remember all of the rules for state’s names (there are eight you never abbreviate) I now simply spell out the entire name.

 

Another example is some copy editors use No. 1948 without a space, or No.1948. I have done it both ways, but generally stick with the space between No. and the numerals as recommended by the style guide. You are supposed to spell out numbers one through nine and start using numerals at 10, but it is ok to use numerals such as 1, 2,3 etc. under some circumstances. So there is some latitude in what you do.

 

Hyphenation can be an issue and you have to deal with the issue of dash, en dash and em dash and non-breaking space which takes you back into grammar issues. Software programs will normally highlight every hyphenated word/phrase as an issue, but doesn’t offer advice on how to proceed. I have had one copy editor use a dash, en dash and em dash in the same sentence.  As an example MP I-19+3458 which the N&W used on some documents and MP I-19.65 on others. In most of the writing we attempt to be consistent with N&W nomenclature.

 

Many graphic artists work in pica points whereas I work in decimal points. That affects some perceived grammar issues such as paragraph indentation. Some copy editors prefer to indent the first paragraph of a new section, others don’t and start indentation at the second paragraph. There is the question of how much space between a heading and the first paragraph. Depending on the line space that can add one or two pages to a chapter which can add any multiple of pages to a book which then adds to the cost of a book. Sometimes you make choices that are questionable, such as abbreviating Company as Co. in a heading in order to save space.   

 

So the short answer is software programs will highlight words and phrases that should be looked at, but the author/copy editor must decide how to proceed. On the other hand sometimes you just miss stuff even though you have been over a page multiple times. Errors are easier to spot once a book or article is printed.

 

Alex Schust

 

 

From: nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org [mailto:nw-mailing-list-bounces at nwhs.org] On Behalf Of NW Mailing List
Sent: Thursday, January 03, 2013 8:48 AM
To: NW Mailing List
Subject: Publishing

 

Up front I know absolutely nothing about publishing.  However in this day and age of software, I don't understand spelling and grammar errors - for a new book.  Somebody with some insight care to educate us?

Thank you.

Kim
Huntsville

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