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-Common Rules For Copyediting- |
Nov 06, 2006 |
Pen is mightier than the sword. But, what rivals the proverbial pen is the pair of scissors that Copyediting wields.
Copyediting and copywriting share a fraternity that has been rarely rivaled in the industry. Bible says “First there was the word”. But in today’s world, without copyediting, a word would remain just that - A word. However strong the written word might be, it loses its kick if not used at the right place, at the right time and in the right way.
Copyediting is, in simple terms, editing of a written copy of text. It, however, opens virtually a can of worms, for it encompasses not just the simple process of editing but a whole lot of gobbledygook ranging from making sure that the edited copy possesses a smooth flow, is consistent throughout, of a better quality and is finished before the deadline. Hence, copyediting is not so easy a nut to crack, as most people think. Here are a few common rules that copyeditors should keep in mind to mellow down the nut! |
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Spelling: If I were to write “tis entir text lik tis, wat impression would you hav of tis rite-up?” Most probably, you’ll stop reading it any further and would grudge me the time that I had already wasted of yours. You might be a very good writer otherwise, but a small spelling mistake might spoil the mood of the reader. That is where copyediting makes its smooth entry. |
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Punctuation: Technically, the world is hanging on a punctuation mark. In the absence of copyediting, put it in the wrong place and the implication might explode right in your face. If that sounds like an exaggeration, consider the following common sentence. “Hitler I hail thee”. While copyediting, you might choose to use a colon which would imply that the guy, Hitler is making a common statement. Use a comma or use nothing at all and that would make you a very racist person indeed. |
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Grammar: Incorrect grammar not only leaves a bad taste but sometimes may convey a different message altogether. Effective editing hence takes care of grammatical errors as well which might have escaped the writer’s eye. |
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Consistency: After all the cuttings and trimmings, it’s important that the resultant text is consistent with no loose ends hanging around. Hence, it also requires tying up these loose ends in a legible knot. |
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Design and layout: With changing times, the skill-set required for copyediting is also shifting base. From traditional correction of spelling, punctuation or grammatical mistakes, copyediting now also encompasses providing a design and layout to the text that is visually or emotionally appealing. |
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Critical Thinking: Critical Thinking is the most important aspect of copyediting. To cut or not to cut; or rather, what to cut and what not to cut. Even Shakespeare would have found copyediting not his cup of tea considering the magical license to commit grammatical errors that he was given. Poetic license, in better words; which is strictly forbidden while copyediting. So while copy editing, you really need to wrack your brains as to what to cut and how to re-wire the entire write-up to preserve the original flavor. |
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Diplomacy: It’s not necessary that what remains of the original text after the copyeditors have done their job will be to the liking of the writers. For, the copywriter and the copyeditor might have totally different sensibilities which will be reflective in their respective work. After copyediting, to prevent the final resultant from becoming a point of contention, or rather a text of contention between the two parties, it is absolutely pertinent that the copyeditor handle the copywriter well and keep in mind that it’s the copywriter’s territory that the copyeditor is traipsing around in! |
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