Surely everyone had heard about the scrupulous and responsible work of the corrector. We will analyze in more detail the subject of his activity and get acquainted with the specific language of proofreading.
What is proofreading
Proofreading refers to the mandatory stage that any text must go through before publishing it in books, periodicals, websites and blogs. The specialist is obliged to eliminate all the shortcomings of the text: typos, errors, clerical errors and more. If the text is handwritten, then the work of the editor-corrector is complicated at times: he needs to check the manuscript, then the typed machine text, and then already printed immediately before the book. During this work, correction marks are used, which we will talk about later.
How is the proof-reading?
Basically, the printed version of the text is corrected, although many text editors have a review mode for the electronic version.
Corrector corrections themselves should be clear and legible - use a bright color pen that contrasts with the color of the main text. The recording should attract attention, not be too shallow and understand the ruling text. This is one of the reasons why standard correction marks are used.
How many edits does the text need?
To make the output text perfect, it must be passed through four types of edits:
- proofreading - carefully reading the text, the corrector corrects its technical flaws and errors (at this moment corrector signs are used);
- reconciliation - verification of corrections made by a specialist: line-by-line reading and so-called end-to-end reading;
- counting - performed by two editorial staff: one reads the original aloud, and the other, listening, reads the corrected text and reports on key differences with the original;
- Summary — The final check for all edits. It is usually made in a printing house, when along the way the correct location of printed strips, sheets, templates, etc. is checked.
What is a correction mark?
First of all, it is necessary to clarify that the widely used and commonly used phrase “corrector mark” is not quite true. GOST 7.62-2008, which contains image standards for these symbols, calls such designations proofread (used for proofreading, and not for corrector).
One way or another, proofreading signs are standard conditional images of actions that a specialist in the ruling text should subsequently take. The standard proofreading symbols are needed so that there would not be any misunderstandings when reading the corrector's comments, so that the ruler took the badge in the same sense that the conducting proofreading put in it.
Types of proofreading signs
Proof signs (comma insertion, image alignment, indentation insertion, etc.) are strictly divided into separate categories:
- Change, insert, delete characters, single letters and lines:
- replacement of an erroneous character;
- an error in writing an uppercase or lowercase letter ;
- confusion with dashes and hyphens;
- replacing a large number of characters with one or more others;
- editing a large amount of text;
- the choice of another type of ruler: thin, bold, bold;
- Insert a forgotten single character
- insertion of a large volume of missing letters, lines:
- deleting an unnecessary character, line;
- combined signs of changing and throwing out erroneous or extra letters, words.
The corrective signs the table below illustrates.
2. Symbols of permutation:
- relocation of adjacent characters or whole words, sentences;
- the word placement sign in a different order (serial numbers above them specify this order);
- permutation of several words in another sentence;
- moving an element to a drawn border;
- moving up / down the "runaway" from the line of the word.
3. Change the space:
- increase the space between the character set;
- reducing the space between words;
- delete the space character.
4. Paragraph, indent, font:
- set indentation in the settings or correct it to the specified parameters;
- remove the "red" line;
- merge paragraphs;
- change the font style to italics;
- make a detente (type a word with space and inside);
- change the style to bold, bold, bold italics;
- change font name, size (size);
- replace discharge with the usual spelling.
5. Correction marks and standards for replacing letters of one alphabet with symbols of another:
- paint the transcription of the symbol of the Greek alphabet;
- clarify the transcription of the Gothic symbol;
- replace with a latin letter;
- replace with a handwritten latin or cyrillic symbol.
Signs of elements, layouts, set errors
6. Signs of correction of the position of elements in the text:
- indication of the proper location in the text of diagrams, photos, figures, tables;
- shift the element to the right or left to the drawn limits;
- lower / raise the line;
- rearrange the text and the inserted element above by the specified number of lines or move to the previous page;
- lower the selected text or element to the prescribed number of lines down or to the next page.
7. Symbols for editing the technical flaws of the typed test:
- Flip the upside down symbol
- remove a vertical gap repeating vertically in several lines (corridor);
- alignment of the edges of the text;
- correction of the curvature of the term, "jumping" letters;
- double space removal;
- to strengthen / weaken the onslaught;
- remove elements that make the onslaught incorrect;
- cancel your own correction;
- transfer the word correctly.
8. Correction of page layout, printed illustration:
- sizes of pictures before and after cropping (mm);
- paint color icons of the basic tones according to the first letter of its name ("h" is black, "p" is purple (red), "w" is yellow, etc.);
- additional paint - abbreviated name ("violet." - violet);
- decrease / increase in contrast;
- tone equalization;
- Removing blurred edges or contours of the image;
- deleting an image or its details;
- flip the picture by a given value of degrees;
- mirroring the illustration;
- change the image completely;
- make an improvement in image quality by shadow / light / midtones.
These are the main proofreading signs and standards of their mark.
Basic rules for the use of signs
When proofreading the text with the help of the mentioned symbols according to GOST, it is required:
- Make correction marks on the right margin of the sheet.
- Draw a character opposite the corrected line.
- Identical characters should not be repeated more often than after 8-10 lines.
- If there are several corrections, the characters are placed on both fields, depending on which edge of the text the object to be corrected is closer to.
- Strikethrough text should remain readable.
- The flags at the patch should look in the direction the icon is taken out.
- If the corrector inserts text longer than a line for correction, then it must be printed.
- The lines connecting the correction with the sign on the field can only be used in text typed in several columns.
- Only pen corrections are valid; proofreading is not done with a pencil.
These are the main elements of the proofreading of any text. Of course, at first glance, GOST requirements seem overstated, but this is a necessary measure to facilitate mutual understanding between the corrector and the ruler.