When letters or words are set double or are required to be taken out a
line is drawn through the superfluous word or letter and the mark No.
1, called _dele_, placed opposite on the margin. (_Dele_ is Latin for
_take out_.)
A turned letter is noted by drawing a line through it and writing the
mark No. 2 on the margin.
If letters or words require to be altered to make them more
conspicuous a parallel line or lines must be made underneath the word
or letter--namely, for capitals, _three lines_; for small capitals,
_two lines_; and for italic, _one line_; and on the margin opposite
the line where the alteration occurs the sign _caps._, _small caps._,
or _ital._ must be written.
Where a letter of a different font is improperly introduced into the
page it is noted by drawing a line through it and writing _w. f._
(_wrong font_) on the margin.
Where a word has been left out or is to be added a _caret_ must be
made in the place where it should come in and the word written on the
margin. A caret is made thus: ^
Where letters stand crooked they are noted by a line, but where a page
hangs lines are drawn across the entire part affected.
Where a faulty letter appears it is denoted by making a cross under it
and placing a similar mark on the margin.
Where several words are left out or where new matter is to be added
the added matter is written wherever convenient, and a line is drawn
from the place of omission to the written words.
In making a correction in a proof always mark the wrong letter or word
through and insert the alteration in the margin, not in the middle of
the printed matter, because it is liable to be overlooked if there is
no marginal reference to the correction. To keep the different
corrections distinct finish each off with a stroke, thus /; and to
make the alterations more clear or less crowded mark those relating
to the left-hand portion on the left margin and those relating to the
right-hand portion on the right margin.
* * * * *
The hints given here are intended for the general public and not for
the printer, and to the student of these lessons let us say that the
first essential of good proof-reading is clearness. Be very sure that
the printer will understand the changes which you desire him to make.
Quite often it is an advantage if you wish a particular style of type
used to cut out a sample of that style and paste it on your copy or on
your proof, indicating that you want it to be used. Instructions to
the printer written either on the copy or on the proof should be
surrounded by a line to separate them from the text, or to prevent
any confusion with other written matter intended as copy or as
corrections.
When the corrections have been duly made and approved by the author or
editor it is customary to write the word "press" on the top of the
first page. If intermediate proofs are wanted, mark on the proofs
returned to the printer "Send revise." The final or "press" proof is
always retained by the printer in case of any dispute. It is his
voucher, and he retains it for future reference.
It is a good plan to make corrections in a different coloured ink from
that used by the printer's proof-reader. If you are having a pamphlet
or book printed the different proofs will reach you in the following
order:
1. _Galley proofs._
2. _Revised proofs_ (if any).
3. _Page proofs._
4. _Foundry proofs._
[Illustration: A printer's proof.]
So far as possible, make all the necessary changes while the type is in
galleys. Once made up into pages, a very slight change, particularly
such a change as the crossing out or addition of a sentence, may make a
great deal of trouble. When the pages are passed upon they are sent to
the foundry for casting. The foundry proofs are the last proofs pulled.
Corrections made on these make it necessary to alter the electrotype
plates, which is rather an expensive process. To change a word, a piece
of the metal plate has to be cut out and another with the new word
soldered in.
[Illustration: A printer's corrected proof.]
A page is said to _overrun_ if it is too long. If the space to be
occupied is limited it is a good plan to adapt your copy to it by
counting the words and by comparing the count with that of some
printed page in the same size of type.
Return proofs to your printer or publisher as promptly as possible. As
a rule printing houses cannot afford to keep type locked up and unused
waiting for the return of proofs. There are many imperfections in
typography, such as wrong-font and inverted letters, awkward and
irregular spacing, uneven pages or columns, crooked words and lines,
etc., which it is the business of the printing house to correct. No
book or pamphlet, therefore, ought to go to press until it has been
read and revised by an experienced reader.
Strict uniformity should always be preserved in the use of capitals,
in spelling, and in punctuation.
Where authors have their manuscripts type-written and make two or
three revises upon the type-written sheets before their copy is turned
over to the publishing house, the labour of proof-reading and the
expenses of corrections are reduced to a minimum.
The errors shown in our illustration are more numerous than are likely
to appear in any proof sent out from a publishing house.
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| Transcriber's Notes |
+________________________________________________+
| |
| Page 35 favorable changed to favourable |
| 49 favor changed to favour |
| 65 (5) changed to 5. |
| 115 contantly changed to constantly |
| 130 Ierland change to Ireland |
| 150 battle-ships changed to battleships |
| 152 BREAD-STUFFS changed to BREADSTUFFS |
| 162 duplicated "from" deleted |
| 163 bread-stuffs change to breadstuffs |
| 205 June, 1898 changed to June 30, 1898 |
| 208 proportiona t changed to proportion at|
| 223 duplicated "in" deleted |
| 258 typewritten changed to type-written |
| 350 everyday changed to every-day |
| 384 comma added after figures |
| 389 colored changed to coloured |
| 390 nessary changed to necessary |
+------------------------------------------------+