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Q
What are
the differences between proofreading, copy editing and copy writing?
A
Copy
writing is the creation of a document, usually with a brief and a set of
objectives, as opposed to free authorship. A copy editor will check through
the document, looking out for errors of accuracy and grammar, and give
the typesetter other instructions for the makeup of the page. After typesetting,
galleys will be given to a proofreader who will check that everything has
been done to order. The copy editor might require a specialist knowledge
of the subject, whereas a proofreader need not.
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Q
What is
wrong with the spell checker on my word processor?
A
The
spell checker is, undeniably, a very useful tool and is not, as
some assume, the arch enemy of the proofreader or copy editor. It is always
worth running it at the end of a document, but if using it exclusively
is dangerous, then actually implementing all its recommendations is deadly!
The main problem with spell checkers, however, is that they can only compare
words to those that they have on file, and do not take words in context
(even though they are getting better at it). Many of the errors in our
"history" section would have slipped past any spell checker.
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