Mark My Words: Instruction and Practice in Proofreading

by Peggy Smith

A large portion of the book consists of proofreading exercises that allow students to practice each of the issues discussed in the main text. The exercises are followed by answer keys so that students... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0935012087
• ISBN13: 9780935012088
• Release Date: January 1987
• Publisher: Editorial Experts, Inc. (EEI Press)
• Length: 154 Pages
• Weight: 2.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 8.5" x 10.9"

Customer Reviews

Start out at the top with the best

Since shifting from finding typos for fun to proofreading for pay, I have studied numerous manuals and workbooks; but Peggy Smith's "Mark My Words: Instruction and Practice in Proofreading," in its third edition, is the biggest and best. Taking nothing for granted, she thoroughly explains the rationale and techniques of proof-marking, starting with the basics and working up to the most demanding standards. Examples are plentiful and specific; the right way to mark is contrasted with the wrong; the distinction between proofreading and copyediting is clarified; and a pageful of the most common marks is printed on a heavy stock insert for quick reference on the job. There are no less than 38 extensive exercises for you to humble yourself with, vowing improvement next time---dry readings (no text to check against), comparison reading (checking live against dead copy), gaffes requiring tactful queries ("Figures do not equal total: rectify?"), and all sorts of sample menus, statistical tables, chemical formulae, invoices, and headlines---every situation where minute correction of detail is mandatory. It took me twenty-five hours to absorb the text, complete the worksheets, and compare results against the key---time well-spent. Some exercises are so error-laden that, in the real world, they would be returned to the compositor and re-set first; but if you can emend them without falling prey to error fatigue (the more mistakes there are, the more you miss), you will agree that the book is worth every nickel. (Especially if you catch one or two little oversights Smith's proofreading didn't!) Eei Press publishes many high-grade titles covering all aspects of modern editing, reference, and communications; check them out. Every book on this subject will add something new to your skill set; but for the professional, or the apprentice determined to become one, "Mark My Words" first.

A very worthwhile investment of time and money

I acquired this book _while_ working on a proofreading job, took an hour or two out to read the main text of it (eight short chapters), and have been very glad I did. The instructional part of the text, geared toward the professional proofreader, progresses clearly and succinctly, with plentiful examples and no tedious filler about how important proofreading is in the grand scheme of things. The author doesn't talk down to you or try to inflate your self-importance; she just tells you how to perform your task in an efficient, thorough, and professional way. I've been an editorial freelancer for a couple of years and worked in-house in publishing as well, so I thought I already pretty much knew how to proofread. I had never taken a class in proofing, however, so I wanted to make sure--before getting too far into my first full-length book job for a new and much-desired client--that there weren't any conventions or tricks of the trade that I was missing. Having read the business part of this book, I now feel confident that I can do the job well. There's a handy cheat-sheet of the most commonly used marks--more detailed than what you'll find in your dictionary--printed both within the text and inside the back cover. Every time I have to mark up something more tricky than the situations handled there, I look it up in the main text. The examples are well chosen and thoughtfully organized, and there are not so many that it takes more than a minute to find the one you're looking for. The second half of the book comprises mostly exercises--with answer keys. I'm looking forward to doing those when I have some free time. If you are ever called upon to proofread, I strongly recommend that you get this very practical book.

The Quintessential Proffreading Primer

If you are thinking of learning to proofread, do editorial work or any kind of proofing of copy this is the book to learn it with. Systematically set up as both text and workbook the nearly 500 pages is chock-a-block with all one needs to know to completely understand and prepare for any proofreading job. The book has worksheets and quizzes as well as a clean style of writing that engages the reader without puzzling the newcomer. I worked a summer as a proofreader, thrown into the deep end with multi-language proofing work. I bought this book and it proved to be a life saver. I learned m-space from n-space and all the intricacies in between. This is _the_ book to learn proofreading!

A Refreshing and Concise Workbook for Aspiring Proofreaders

Whether learning the trade or refreshing rusty skills, Mark My Words is the most welcome and informative proofreading workbook I have found. Content is introduced in a practical step-by-step manner. Discussion of topics progresses logically from a beginner's level i.e. learning of the 'dele' mark on through to more intermediate levels such as page layout editing. Many features of this text/workbook set it above the rest of the proofreading guides. Exercises along with their answer keys accompany each skill-builder. Helpful hints are arranged in keys; sections of chapters on devoted to subjects such as what to query, tricks of the trade, and guidelines for what to proof in each successive pass of one's editing. For exercises comparing dead copy to live, Mark My Words has even perforated pages for removal and, hence, easy comparison reading! Mark My Words is also a wonderfully clear and concise reference book. I have found it is much faster to seek an answer to a proofreading question with Peggy Smith's work than with any of the others in my collection...and there are several. I recommend this book whole-heartedly!