I have a bunch of questions…
Do I need to write in the “bf” mark in the margin for boldface, or would a wavy line suffice? Also Pat used the “tr” mark for transposing (on the second page of the first test), but is the mark necessary?
Do I have a choice to include the serial comma or omit it? I think this decision depends on which style manual I use, but, since I have no particular style manual this time, can I choose to retain or omit the serial comma if I stay consistent?
If I choose to retain the serial comma, would I have to place the comma every time I use the word “and”? For instance, would I need a comma in a simple phrase like, “She is nice and smart”? Or should the sentence be, “She is nice, and smart”?
Is it assumed that the receivers of this e-mail message know who Dan and Steve are? It seems informal to mention such names unless the parties involved are aware of who they are.
What is the copyediting mark for making an e-mail address hyperlinked?
Should we specifically write “Au:…” when we query the author to distinguish the query from the instructions for the typesetter?
Is “litblog coop” an organization? Should the name be capitalized?
Pat mentioned in class that putting an exclamation mark after an understood statement, such as “library subscriptions have close to 100% renewal rate,” indicates a lack of professionalism. Should we advice the author to refrain from using the mark?
I’m afraid this question might repeat what Davis and Moon Yun had already asked, but are we penalized every time we make the same marking as Pat had done in the first test? Should we come up with our own markings even when we feel that Pat’s markings seem to be doing exactly what we want? Of course, I’m not saying that we should just copy everything…
2 comments:
Yeah, I was wondering if we needed to add proofreading marks in the margins too.
Writing bf and tr in the margins is part of my editing style; you don't need to do that.
The serial comma is used for series; e.g., "Miss Hawaii is talented, lovely, and smart." I don't have my textbook with me, but allow me to rely on my memory. I think there are discussions of the serial comma in chapters 4 and 10; please take a look at these.
Re Dan and Steve: yes, indeed, it is informal to use first names only. Dan and Steve don't realize that the informality of their e-mail business letter reduces the likelihood of getting responses from the recipients. One of the most basic rules of composing a letter to people who don't know you is to identify yourself.
There is no copyediting mark for a hyperlink; in this case, simply remove the underscore using the mark for removing underscoring.
Re "au": Chicago Manual says to use this abbreviation if you have instructions or queries to other people as well, e.g., the acquisitions editor or typesetter. However, I would recommend you use it if you have a few queries.
"Litblog coop" is not an organization, merely a categorial term.
Use of the exclamation mark, particularly in an e-mail business letter, should be done only if justified. Putting the exclamation mark after a fact that most recipients of the letter will already know is an indication of the writer's naïvete. However, if you want to retain the exclamation mark because you feel it represents the author's voice, please feel free to do so.
You won't be penalized when you use my marks. I wanted you to consider them as ways to solve editing problems. If after considering other possible solutions, you decide to use my marks, that is fine. What is most important to me is this: that you make an attempt to do your own copyediting and that you understand why I edited as I did. If you simply adopt my copyediting without understanding the reasoning behind it, you will have cheated yourself.
Post a Comment