office, all proper names, whether they are of people or places, or
whatever they may be; every date; every quotation from standard
works; every foreign word or phrase, and the ordinary nomenclature
of science. When this can not be done and he has a reasonable
doubt, he should request the author to verify it. But when the
reader does discover errors of this class or when he detects
inconsistent and erroneous statements, obviously made by the writer
through lapse of the memory or slip of the pen, it is his duty
to correct. He does so at his peril, however. He must know, not
suspect, that they are errors, and be prepared, if called upon, to
vindicate the soundness of his correction by recognized authority.
If he does not know, he should query.
When a reader is unable to decide positively as to the correctness
of a date, phrase, name, quotation, etc., or if he does not feel
at liberty to make the desired change because of instructions to
“follow” or “follow literally,” or because he is reading a bill or
law, he should query. This should not always be done by a simple
question mark (for that is sometimes so confusing to the author
that he feels like raising a query of his own as to its meaning),
but by writing the suggested amendment or explaining the reason for
the query in full.
In work of particular value--historic or scientific publications,
books that may be used for reference, etc.--the reader should
be on the lookout for faulty construction of sentences, bad
metaphors, inconsistent statements, the misuse of words, and
defects of similar character. These he should query. The proofs
of this class of work always go out, and the author will probably
welcome reasonable suggestions; but the reader must not worry
himself or the author about the extreme niceties of grammar or
suggest pedantic emendations. Discrimination should be made and the
author’s style not confounded with his lapses.
Readers will carefully note the instructions to compositors as to
spacing, division of words, etc., and never hesitate to mark when
work is imperfect.
Second readers are enjoined to keep in full sympathy with first
readers and copy preparers. They must always consult with the
latter before making important changes in proof, and they should
feel free to respectfully call the attention of a first reader
to errors in style or blunders of any kind that may have been
frequently overlooked by him. The marks of the copy preparer must
be given consideration by all. He has probably handled the entire
work and is in a position to know more about its peculiarities than
the man who reads but a small portion.
GALLEY-PROOF REVISING.
The importance of revising proofs well can not be overestimated.
While a reviser is not expected to read proof, it is not enough for
him to slavishly follow the marks found on the proof sheet which
has been to the composing room for correction. His aim should be to
discover new errors, if possible, make the matter uniform in all
essential points, and correct inconsistencies, due perhaps to a
difference of opinion among the readers. At the same time he should
see that all corrections have been properly made in the type, that
words or lines have not been transposed by the compositor in making
the corrections, and that the rules governing spacing, division of
words, and good printing generally have been observed. Compositors
have no excuse for the neglect of even spacing, either when setting
the type or when making corrections, and the reader or reviser who
passes bad spacing will be held in fault.
A reviser must not remodel the punctuation of the readers or make
any serious changes in the work unless the matter apparently
needing correction is of unmistakable importance. If he thinks it
necessary that an important change should be made, he should submit
the change proposed to the foreman for his decision.
All queries made by readers must be carefully transferred to the
proof to be sent out, which should always be clean and well printed.
Every paragraph containing an alteration in a proof that makes
one or more overruns must be reread as first proof. It must
be read aloud by copyholder, word for word, to the end of the
paragraph, or at least far enough to satisfy the reviser that the
proper correction has been made and no new errors have slipped in
while the lines were being handled. The practice of revising the
alteration only and of rereading without copyholder has been the
source of many errors, and will no longer be permitted.
Revising should be done with reasonable dispatch, but good work
must not be sacrificed to haste. The “hurry” excuse for passing bad
work will not be accepted, as assistance will be furnished whenever
necessary.
PRESS REVISING.
Press revising is a branch of proof-room work requiring special
adaptability and great diligence and care. Not only must the
reviser observe that the rules governing the work of those who
precede him have been followed, but he must be on the alert for a
multiplicity of points not coming within their sphere. Hence, a
clear head, quick eye, knowledge of the style, acquaintance with
the make-up of various publications, a high sense of order, an
ability for detail, and mind and nerves not easily disturbed are
prerequisites to success in the work.
A few general rules only can be given to guide the press reviser.
He handles a variety of work and must decide each point as it
presents itself. He is cautioned never to allow his work to get
behind (calling for assistance when rushed), but not to make a
sacrifice of correctness for the sake of speed.
The following rules should be carefully studied:
1. See that galley slips connect before beginning the page or press
revise.
2. See that page folios are continuous, that running heads are
correct and uniform, and that the proper signature is correctly
placed.
3. See that the series of proof sheets is clean and clear; send for
another proof in case they are not.
4. Revise carefully, observing connections between pages, carrying
all unanswered queries, and taking care that continued and repeated
lines are free from errors.
5. If a revise is badly corrected or is from any cause not
reasonably free from error, call for another correction and proof
(stating number wanted), and destroy all duplicates.
6. Be on the lookout for “dropouts,” doublets, and transpositions,
applying the rules laid down for first revisers.
7. Read by copy all running heads, and box heads in continuous
tables; see that all leading lines are carried at the top where
subordinate matter turns over; that dollar marks and italic
captions of columns are properly placed and uniform; that the
matter is as compact as circumstances will permit, and that
footnotes fall on the page containing the corresponding reference,
and are symmetrically arranged.
8. Preserve complete files of all proofs returned to the desk in
the ordinary course of business, especially of the final proofs
from which a work is sent to the press or foundry.
9. On first page of a signature of a stone or press revise carry
the number of copies and kind of paper, with any special directions
that may be necessary; and see that the form is properly imposed.
10. Be particular in making the “mark-off” on a galley slip when
the first page proofs are sent out, cutting the proof sheet and
noting upon it the connecting galley slug, the folio of the
succeeding page, and the proper signature of the same. Retain the
“mark-off” and deliver the galley slips with the clean proof to the
proof clerk.
11. Always make sure that different sets of proof sheets on any
work are correctly marked in series, as “R,” “2d R,” “3d R,”
etc., and when a sheet is stamped “another proof” carry the same
designating “R” on the corresponding clean one, and destroy the
stamped proof when it has served its purpose.
12. In Court of Claims and Supreme Court records the index must be
filled in by the press reviser, the first signature being retained
for that purpose.
13. When two or more jobs are imposed in one form, the reviser
should separate the parts to verify the imposition. Until familiar
with the “fold,” however, caution must be exercised in cutting the
sheet.
14. Press, stone, and foundry revises are equally important. In the
latter especial care must be taken that rules do not lap, that work
is not jammed in the “lockup,” that damaged letters and “slips” are
indicated, and that the matter is ready in all respects to pass
severe criticism.
15. Government publications are usually made up in the following
order:
Page 1. Title.
Page 2. Blank.
Page 3. Table of contents. If ending on an odd-numbered page, then--
Page 4. Blank.
Page 5. Letter of transmittal.
Page 6. Blank.
Page 7. Text proper.
In the body of the work new pages will be properly indicated on the
proof sheet. Tables of contents, letters of transmittal, lists of
illustrations, the text proper of a book, and all matter following
half titles (except parallel tables) should begin on a new odd page.
SIGNATURES.
16. All signatures are designated by consecutive numbers--2, 3,
4, etc.--from the first to the last. The distinguishing feature
is usually the jacket number, preceding the signature number and
connected with it by a 2-em dash. For some works contractions
of the title are used, especially in annual or other periodical
reports, forms for which can be had upon reference to the last one
issued. House and Senate documents take the following signature
forms:
H. Ex. 123----7 S. Rep. 13----9
H. Rep. 247----3 S. Ex. 27----3
H. Mis. 17----2 S. Mis. 123----2
H. Ex. 13--pt 2----5 S. Mis. 42--pt 3----9
Signatures are usually worked in sixteens, but with large pages the
form of eights is the standard when printed from type.
BILL REVISING.
17. In sending bills to press there are points to be watched
which do not appear in other work. The open character of the
pages makes the form peculiarly liable to accident, and each page
must be closely scanned for faults. A press reviser must be fully
conversant with all the details and peculiarities of bill work and
be ready to correct or take counsel upon any seeming error of style
or apparent fault. He must see that the indorsements on bills fall
on “even” pages and that they back up properly and have the proper
make-up; also compare the number of the bill on the indorsement
with that on the face, as a safeguard against error. When any
change has been made in the side folios, he must run the same to
the end of the series and answer for their correctness. He must
see that the proper number of copies is written on each signature
page, according to the schedule or memorandum furnished him. In
short, the reviser is an umpire on bill work whose alertness is his
qualification for the work. He is not expected to read the proof,
but he must train his eye to detect errors at a glance.
18. Bills are worked in forms of eights. The signatures are made up
like the following:
Senate bills: Senate amendments to House bills:
S. 2433----2 A. H. R. 4864----2
Senate resolutions: House bills:
S. R. 196----2 H. R. 2142----3
Senate Mis. Docs.: House resolutions:
S. Mis. 24----2 H. Res. 194----3
19. When a bill is reprinted on account of some error or change, an
asterisk is used at the foot of the first page. When more than one
signature is reprinted, the asterisk follows the signature number.
20. Committee bills are always confidential. If of more than eight
pages the distinguishing signature must be invented and placed on
the first as well as succeeding forms. There are usually several
prints of committee bills, each of which must be distinguished by
serial additions to the signature, as A, B, C, etc.
21. Every paragraph which has been overrun in correcting must
be read aloud by copyholder from the proof sheet, which must be
followed literally.
SIGNATURE NUMBERS FOR EIGHTS.
1 TITLE | 26 201 | 51 401 | 76 601 | 101 801
2 9 | 27 209 | 52 409 | 77 609 | 102 809
3 17 | 28 217 | 53 417 | 78 617 | 103 817
4 25 | 29 225 | 54 425 | 79 625 | 104 825
5 33 | 30 233 | 55 433 | 80 633 | 105 833
6 41 | 31 241 | 56 441 | 81 641 | 106 841
7 49 | 32 249 | 57 449 | 82 649 | 107 849
8 57 | 33 257 | 58 457 | 83 657 | 108 857
9 65 | 34 265 | 59 465 | 84 665 | 109 865
10 73 | 35 273 | 60 473 | 85 673 | 110 873
11 81 | 36 281 | 61 481 | 86 681 | 111 881
12 89 | 37 289 | 62 489 | 87 689 | 112 889
13 97 | 38 297 | 63 497 | 88 697 | 113 897
14 105 | 39 305 | 64 505 | 89 705 | 114 905
15 113 | 40 313 | 65 513 | 90 713 | 115 913
16 121 | 41 321 | 66 521 | 91 721 | 116 921
17 129 | 42 329 | 67 529 | 92 729 | 117 929
18 137 | 43 337 | 68 537 | 93 737 | 118 937
19 145 | 44 345 | 69 545 | 94 745 | 119 945
20 153 | 45 353 | 70 553 | 95 753 | 120 953
21 161 | 46 361 | 71 561 | 96 761 | 121 961
22 169 | 47 369 | 72 569 | 97 769 | 122 969
23 177 | 48 377 | 73 577 | 98 777 | 123 977
24 185 | 49 385 | 74 585 | 99 785 | 124 985
25 193 | 50 393 | 75 593 | 100 793 | 125 993
SIGNATURE NUMBERS FOR SIXTEENS.
1 TITLE | 39 609 | 77 1217 | 115 1825 | 153 2433
2 17 | 40 625 | 78 1233 | 116 1841 | 154 2449
3 33 | 41 641 | 79 1249 | 117 1857 | 155 2465
4 49 | 42 657 | 80 1265 | 118 1873 | 156 2481
5 65 | 43 673 | 81 1281 | 119 1889 | 157 2497
6 81 | 44 689 | 82 1297 | 120 1905 | 158 2513
7 97 | 45 705 | 83 1313 | 121 1921 | 159 2529
8 113 | 46 721 | 84 1329 | 122 1937 | 160 2545
9 129 | 47 737 | 85 1345 | 123 1953 | 161 2561
10 145 | 48 753 | 86 1361 | 124 1969 | 162 2577
11 161 | 49 769 | 87 1377 | 125 1985 | 163 2593
12 177 | 50 785 | 88 1393 | 126 2001 | 164 2609
13 193 | 51 801 | 89 1409 | 127 2017 | 165 2625
14 209 | 52 817 | 90 1425 | 128 2033 | 166 2641
15 225 | 53 833 | 91 1441 | 129 2049 | 167 2657
16 241 | 54 849 | 92 1457 | 130 2065 | 168 2673
17 257 | 55 865 | 93 1473 | 131 2081 | 169 2689
18 273 | 56 881 | 94 1489 | 132 2097 | 170 2705
19 289 | 57 897 | 95 1505 | 133 2113 | 171 2721
20 305 | 58 913 | 96 1521 | 134 2129 | 172 2737
21 321 | 59 929 | 97 1537 | 135 2145 | 173 2753
22 337 | 60 945 | 98 1553 | 136 2161 | 174 2769
23 353 | 61 961 | 99 1569 | 137 2177 | 175 2785
24 369 | 62 977 | 100 1585 | 138 2193 | 176 2801
25 385 | 63 993 | 101 1601 | 139 2209 | 177 2817
26 401 | 64 1009 | 102 1617 | 140 2225 | 178 2833
27 417 | 65 1025 | 103 1633 | 141 2241 | 179 2849
28 433 | 66 1041 | 104 1649 | 142 2257 | 180 2865
29 449 | 67 1057 | 105 1665 | 143 2273 | 181 2881
30 465 | 68 1073 | 106 1681 | 144 2289 | 182 2897
31 481 | 69 1089 | 107 1697 | 145 2305 | 183 2913
32 497 | 70 1105 | 108 1713 | 146 2321 | 184 2929
33 513 | 71 1121 | 109 1729 | 147 2337 | 185 2945
34 529 | 72 1137 | 110 1745 | 148 2353 | 186 2961
35 545 | 73 1153 | 111 1761 | 149 2369 | 187 2977
36 561 | 74 1169 | 112 1777 | 150 2385 | 188 2993
37 577 | 75 1185 | 113 1793 | 151 2401 | 189 3009
38 593 | 76 1201 | 114 1809 | 152 2417 | 190 3025
APPENDIX.
STANDARD PAGE MEASUREMENTS.
WIDTH OF PAGE.
| | | Bulletins
| Pica. | Record | Bureau of
| | Small pica, old style. | type. | American
| | | Long primer. | | Republics.
| | | | Long primer, old style.+---------+---------------
| | | | | Brevier. | |
| | | | | | Brevier, old style. |
| | | | | | | Nonpareil. |
| | | | | | | | Nonpareil, old style.
| | | | | | | | | Brevier.
| | | | | | | | | | Nonpareil.
| | | | | | | | | | | Brevier.
| | | | | | | | | | | | L.primer.
| | | | | | | | | | | | |Pica.
---------+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+-----
Census | 42 | | 53 | | 66½| | 84 | 65 | 85½| | | |
Quarto | 36 | | 45½| 45½| 57 | 55¼| 72 | 72¾| 55½| 73½| | |
Statutes | 32 | | 40½| | 50⅔| | 64 | | 49½| 65½| | |
Prof. papers | | | | | | | | | | |
(new) | 31½| | 39½| 39½| 50 | | 63 | | 48½| 64 | | |
Document | 26 | 30 | 33 | 33 | 41¼| 39½| 52 | 52¾| 40 | 52¾| 40 | 32⅔| 26⅖
Court decisions[1] | | | | | | | | | | |
12mo | 22 | | 28 | 28 | 35 | | 44 | | | | | |
Law[2] | 21½| | 27¼| 27¼| 34⅓| 33¼| 43 | 43¾| 33 | 43½| | |
General | | | | | | | | | | | | |
order | 20¼| | 25½| 25½| 32 | 31¼| 40½| 41¼| 31⅓| 41¼| | |
Record[3]| 20⅞| 24 | 26⅓| 26⅓| 33 | 33 | 41½| 41½| 32 | 42¼| | |
---------+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+-----
LENGTH OF PAGE.[4]
---------+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----
Census | 58 | | 72 | | 91 | |116 | | 88 |116 | | |
Quarto | 52 | | 65 | 65 | 82 | 80¼|104 |106 | 80 |106 | | |
Statutes | 50 | | 62½| 62½| 78½| |100 | | 76 |100 | | |
Prof. papers | | | | | | | | | | | |
(new) | 44⅔| | 56½| 56½| 71 | | 89⅓| | 69 | 91 | | |
Document | 44¼ {51½} 56 | 56 | 70¼| 68⅓| 88½| 90 | 68 | 90 | 58¾| 48 | 38¾
| {44⅕} | | | | | | | | [5]| [5]| [5]
| | [5]| | | | | | | | | | |
Court | | | | | | | | | | | | |
decisions 40½| | 50½| 50½| 64 | | 81 | | | | | |
12mo | 40 | | 49¾| 50 | 62½| | 80 | | | | | |
Law[6] | 44¼| | 56 | 56 | 70 | 68⅓| 88½| 90 | 61 | 81 | | |
General | | | | | | | | | | | | |
order | 31½| | 40 | 40 | 50 | 48¾| 63 | 63 | 49 | 63 | | |
Record | 58 | 65 | 72 | 72 | 89 | 89 |113 |113 | 87 |114 | | |
---------+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----+----
FOOTNOTES:
[1] The same width as document, indented 2 ems primer on each side.
[2] Text only.
[3] Width of column.
[4] Does not include head or foot slug.
[5] Bulletins Bureau of American Republics in length.
[6] When made up with side notes.
SIGNS.
MATHEMATICAL, ASTRONOMICAL, AND PHYSICAL.
[Illustration]
GREEK ALPHABET.
+---------+-------------+------------+------------+
| CAPS. | LOWER | GREEK | ENGLISH |
| | CASE. | SOUND. | SOUND. |
+---------+-------------+------------+------------+
| Α | α | Alpha. | A. |
| Β | β ϐ | Beta. | B. |
| Γ | γ | Gamma. | G. |
| Δ | δ | Delta. | D. |
| Ε | ε ϵ | Epsilon. | E short. |
| Ζ | ζ | Zeta. | Z. |
| Η | η | Eta. | E long. |
| Θ | θ ϑ | Theta. | Th. |
| Ι | ι | Iota. | I. |
| Κ | κ ϰ | Kappa. | K. |
| Λ | λ | Lambda. | L. |
| Μ | μ | Mu. | M. |
| Ν | ν | Nu. | N. |
| Ξ | ξ | Xi. | X. |
| Ο | ο | Omicron. | O short. |
| Π | π ϖ | Pi. | P. |
| Ρ | ρ | Rho. | R. |
| Σ | σ ς | Sigma. | S. |
| Τ | τ | Tau. | T. |
| Υ | υ | Upsilon. | U. |
| Φ | φ ϕ | Phi. | F. |
| Χ | χ | Chi. | Ch. |
| Ψ | ψ | Psi. | Ps. |
| Ω | ω | Omega. | O long. |
+---------+-------------+------------+------------+
GREEK CASE.
[Illustration]
PRINCIPAL GREEK ACCENTS.
[Illustration]
TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE
The only Footnotes in the book refer to the first Table on pg 39 and
have been kept at the bottom of that Table.
The Table on pg 21 was very wide and has been split into two parts,
with the first column repeated in each part.
The ‘STANDARD PAGE MEASUREMENTS’ Table on pg 39 had vertical column
headings, which have been made horizontal in this etext.
The ‘GREEK ALPHABET’ Table on pg 40 is missing three lower-case letter
variants (two for zeta and one for psi) that were present in the
original book, but have no modern representation in Unicode.
Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been
corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within
the text and consultation of external sources.
Except for those changes noted below, all misspellings in the text,
and inconsistent or archaic usage, have been retained.
Pg 24, ‘even. length’ replaced by ‘even-length’.
Pg 31, ‘itsert in lieu’ replaced by ‘insert in lieu’.