Template & Writing

While I was watching Pat's powerpoint last week, I was wondering:

1) Who usually chooses the template for the journal? How long has Manoa had the same template for? For other newspapers or journals, will the template change under a new editor or designer? Or is it a component that remains consistent?

2) Do you think years of copyediting (experience as a copyeditor) improves one's own writing? Do you think copyediting just improves one's copyediting skills or does it actually help one become a better writer?

"Believe you me"

Every time I hear this phrase, I'm left a little puzzled. I think I know what they are trying to emphasize, but is this correct? And if it is acceptable, would a phrase like that be left alone or would copyeditors replace it with a more commonly used phrase?

color pencils

I know we were supposed to make our final markings in red or blue pencil for test 2, but after trying numerous times, I ended up using my regular lead pencil. I am wondering if anyone else had this problem? For me personally, the color pencils did not provide the precision that I needed on such limited space for copyediting. Do I need to buy better color pencils? Is there a particular type or brand of color pencils recommended for copyediting?

Lists

In chapter eight, on page 112, it says: "Even in bulleted or displayed lists, the items should be in some kind of order. If they are simply random, consider alphabetizing them." Is this strictly applied at all times? If a written piece contains a short list of items and they are not in any particular order, will the copywriter actually change the items around and place them in some kind of order?

Copyediting poems

For some reason it was extremely difficult for me to copyedit the poem handed out in class. I am pretty sure the writer was not a native speaker of English. But even if he was, and even if the poem had made more sense, I think I still would have had a hard time copyediting the poem. I feel that each word and punctuation mark (or lack thereof) is very sensitive in a poem. I have been asked to translate Korean poems into English and I just can't seem to do it because the translation will never carry the exact feeling/meaning as the original poem. I guess that's the same way I feel about copyediting a poem. Although the poem handed out in class was an unusual case, I feel reluctant to alter any part of a poem because even an incorrect spelling might be intentional. But I guess we can always query the writer. I was wondering though, if we were working for a journal like Manoa, are there certain copyeditors who are assigned to copyediting certain genres or are all copyeditors expected to copyedit all the works to be published?

Copyeditor's task

Reading through the copyeditor’s role and copyediting tasks covered at the end of Chapter 4, I realize it is difficult to clearly define a copyeditor’s task. Referring back to the giraffe article in the first chapter, I feel that a copyeditor could have produced either versions (standard online copyedit on page 4 and substantive edit on page 5). On page 54, the book mentions that “your editing manager, supervisor, or client, should examine each project and tell you the level of effort required and time allowed.” Unfamiliar with the field, I was wondering which factors usually determine the extent of a copyeditor’s task. Does it depend solely on the editor’s (or journal’s) requirement, or is there a generalization?

italics vs. quotation marks

The answer to question number 5 in Exercise 5 says we should italicize the words this and that in the sentence. I placed quotation marks instead. In class we had discussed that quotation marks are fine but I was wondering if there is a preference? Is one form more appropriate than the other? When do you italicize and when do you place quotation marks (excluding cases where there are quotes or implied writer's opinion)?

Thanks,