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Nonfiction and Fiction Book Editing:
Top 10 Manuscript Copyediting Tips
By Lori Lisi
It's not uncommon to find similar copyediting corrections among several manuscripts. For your convenience and possibly the means to save some money during the editorial process, I've listed the top ten below.
- One space after a period, not two. Yes, I know it used to be two, but according to Chicago Manual of Style, for books, it's one.
- Use commas in a series. For instance, with nouns, it's: apples, oranges, and pears. Not: apples, oranges and pears. The same applies to verbs, such as: He ran, walked, and snorted. Not: He ran, walked and snorted.
- Thoughts are shown with italics or quotations. (For fiction.) I prefer italics because I think it helps to visually distinquish thoughts and dialogue, since dialogue is put in quotation marks anyway. Either way, pick one method and stick with it.
- Spell out most numbers under 101. There are exceptions, like percentages. However, for the most part, this is a fairly consistent guideline.
- Scrutinize adverbs. If you look at each adverb you write and try to rewrite the section or sentence without the adverb, odds are that it will force you to write a stronger sentence. It doesn't mean that you'd remove every one. Just be aware of it.
- Scrutinize adjectives. Same as the comments about adverbs above.
- Check spelling with a dictionary, not Word. A good online dictionary resource is Merriam Webster at: http://www.m-w.com. If you are not absolutely certain, look it up.
- Most prefixes and suffixes form closed compounds. For example: It's coauthor, not co-author. Also: catlike, not cat-like. There are several exceptions, but this is a general guideline.
- Titles of books, magazines, and newspapers are italicized, not bolded, quoted, or underlined. Other types of writing, like academic, have different format guidelines for these items, but stick to italics for including these sources in manuscripts.
- Farther is distance; further is a matter of degree. For instance: She ran farther down the road. Also: They are discussing the issue further.
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