Category: Essays, Letters & Speeches
Though commonly acknowledged theoretically, the relative importance of good proof-reading is often practically unrecognized. Doubtless few of those who employ readers will assent to this averment, and the reason for their non-assent is also the basis of the assertion. Usually...
Following are a few actual questions of general interest, with their answers, as they were given in the “Proofroom Notes and Queries” in _The Inland Printer_. In each instance t...
14. CHAPTER XIV.Practical knowledge and ability in making up book-work are acquirable only through experience. The process might be clearly described in all its details, covering the entire ran...
7. CHAPTER VII.Writers for publication ought to write just as their matter should appear in print, but often they do not. Though every educated English-speaking person is expected to know how...
2. CHAPTER II.A periodical highly esteemed in literary circles, in reviewing a book, said: “The proof-reading is so bad that we infer that its author could not have seen the proofs.” The publ...
5. CHAPTER V.Conscientious proof-readers are often confronted with the perplexing problem of dealing with the whims of authors and editors. One of the most difficult phases of the problem ar...
12. CHAPTER XII.Much has been written about the proof-reader and his duties and responsibilities, but comparatively little about his assistant, commonly known as the copy-holder. This name “cop...
9. CHAPTER IX.In a novel published some time ago, the copy contained a great deal of conversation that had to be printed in short paragraphs, each chapter being written in one long paragraph,...
8. CHAPTER VIII.While it is very natural, in these days of great mechanical progress, that methods and machinery should be preëminent in printers’ literature, it should not be forgotten that th...
6. CHAPTER VI.It has been said that in certain points of style no two persons would agree in their decision. The expression is too strong, but what is really meant is certainly true. Almost e...
13. CHAPTER XIII.The subject of this chapter is suggested by a letter mentioning differences of opinion of various authors and publishers. Without that suggestion the chapter would never have be...
10. CHAPTER X.It is said that Horace Greeley’s estimate of qualification for proof-reading called for more general knowledge than one would need in order to be a good President of the United...
3. CHAPTER III.Strictly speaking, the responsibility of a proof-reader, on any kind of work, should be very narrowly defined. In an ideal state of affairs it would never go beyond close follow...
4. CHAPTER IV.A New York composing-room was run for many years without a regular style-card, and the foreman would not allow any posting of decisions as to style. When, however, an advertisem...
1. CHAPTER I.Though commonly acknowledged theoretically, the relative importance of good proof-reading is often practically unrecognized. Doubtless few of those who employ readers will assen...
11. CHAPTER XI.How many proof-rooms are as well equipped with books of reference as they should be? The proprietors of some large establishments have always recognized their need and endeavore...