🚀 go-pugleaf

Hello Scott

Sorry for not replying to you sooner but I was waiting for someone else to
offer an answer to your query - I have neither the depth of experience nor
the desire to become this newsgroup's guru.

Anyway, this is how I work. I work my way through the typescript, reading
the text carefully and correcting as far as I can for spelling, grammar and
house-style, marking up for chapter titles, heading levels, figure
locations, etc., highlighting en-rules, accented characters, special sorts,
etc., and checking references (major headache).  If there's anything I'm
unsure about, I mark it up in pencil. If there's a term that I'm unfamiliar
with, then I'll write myself a note to look it up later. If I've not
understood something, or if I think there's a contradiction, again, I'll
write myself a note in pencil in the margin. I carry on like this right
through to the end of the typescript, reading very carefully and
concentrating as hard as I can.

I then go through the entire typescript again. This time, I don't read much
of the text at all - I'm really looking at my own marginal marks. I compile
a list of copy-editing notes, a list a special characters, a list of running
heads and the definitive table of contents for the typesetter. As I go
through, I sort out any of my pencil queries by trying to track down terms
in dictionaries, encyclopaedias or reference books. I erase anything that I
solve but leave the queries that elude me and copy them to both the desk
editor and author(s). I also try to find any references that slipped through
on the first pass (major, major headache). I also spot things that I missed
on the first pass and I may think better of hasty or too-fussy corrections.

And that's basically it. Yes, I make two passes through the text but the
focus of each pass is different. But this is just the way that I do it.
Other copy-editors will no doubt have their own methods that they find
appropriate and with which they feel comfortable.

As for missing things - well, nobody's perfect. I imagine that a small
number of minor mistakes will always make it past the copy-editor, desk
editor, author, proofreader and indexer, but with all those eyes scanning
the text, such mistakes should be few and of little consequence. I make no
guarantee to any of my clients other than I will do the job to a reasonable
professional standard.


Best wishes

John



Scott Lyons wrote in message <7ulcje$uhg$1@nw001t.infi.net>...
>My background in copyediting always required that something was read by
>two copy editors (eventually) and the editor. Is there some process
>whereby you assure yourself that the product is as clean as it's going
>to get? Do you edit it, and then come back and do a second edit another
>day? Do you make any kind of guarantee to the employer? Just wondering
>on process.
>
>