Copyreading

Proofreading

c OPYREA
d DING
Correcting
Correcting
errors AND the
errors
HEADLIN
made by
made by
WRITING
the
the
reporter
typesetter

Marcial III P. Pineda

With updates from Juman Kevin B. Tindo

or
printer
COPYREADING VS. PROOFREADING

COPYREADING = EDITING

A copyreader is an specialist who

improves the story.
A good copyreader must:

Be
good
in
English/Filipino.
Know his stylebook.
Have
mastery
of
copyreading symbols.

Know the papers

policy.
Be observant of the
details.
(grammar,
spelling,
punctuation,
correct usage, factual
usage)

Steps in
copyreading
:
1 . Get an overview of the story.
2 . Correct the grammar, punctuation,
spelling.
3 . Verify the accuracy of facts and
determine whether the story
contains all essential
information.
4 . Correct errors in lead facts,
proper subordination of details
and paragraphing.
5 . Look out for editorializing, biases
and possible grounds for libel.
6 . Write the headline

THE

COPYREADING

SYMBOLS

1 . Punctuation Marks

Symbols Meaning

Outcome

The BionicEmphasize The Bionic

Woman quotes
Woman
Dr Arthur Emphasize Dr. Arthur
CruzJr
period
Cruz Jr.

Punctuation Marks

Symbols Meaning
said , I
must go.

Outcome

Emphasize Said, I must

comma
go.

2 . Numbers and Abbreviation

Symbols Meaning
in Nov.

Spellout

Outcome
in November

Doctor
Abbreviate Dr. Arthur
Arthur Cruz
Cruz

Numbers and Abbreviation

Symbols Meaning

Outcome

twenty boys
Use numeral20 boys

girls

Spell out

Two girls

3 . Special forms of type

Symbols Meaning
Manila,

Capitalize

Outcome
MANILA,
Philippines

4 . Letters and word changes

Symbols Meaning
meeton Saturday

those boys

Outcome

Bridge over meet Saturda

Close up
space

those boys

4 . Letters and word changes

Symbols Meaning Outcome
Fe Cruz Principal
Transpose

recieve

Transpose

Principal Fe
Cruz
receive

4 . Letters and word changes

Symbols Meaning Outcome

h
pamplet

insert letter pamphlet

to
went

marketinsert word went to

market

4 . Letters and word changes

Symbols Meaning Outcome

Manila PaperLower case manila paper

received freeDelete wordreceived gifts

gifts

4 . Letters and word changes

Symbols Meaning Outcome

judgement

Delete letterjudgment
within and
close
-up

develope skill
Delete letterdevelop skill
before/after a
word

4 . Letters and word changes

Symbols Meaning Outcome

the most
Kill
talented and
enthusiastic
principal
Westill
havetime

the principal

Insert space We still have

time

4 . Letters and word changes

Symbols Meaning Outcome

We
Run
were indeed very
happy because
they granted our
request.

in copy

We were indeed
very happy
because they
granted our
request.

5. Others

Symbols Meaning Outcome

Paco
, Manila Indent for
Paco
,
paragraph Manila

5. Others

Symbols Meaning Outcome

stet
One boy
came

Restore textOne boy

came

Electedprexy Center

subhead

Electedprexy

5. Others
Symbols Meaning Outcome
No new
No Bantamweight
paragraph
champion in getting
a
job.
He said

Bantamweight
champion in gatting
a job.

New paragraph
Hesaid

the gong

set in boldface thegong

5. Others

Symbols Meaning Outcome

She reads
Les Set in Italics ShereadsLes
Miserables
Miserables
30 or #
more

Story is finished
Story is
unfinished

Any QUESTIONS
on
?
Copyreading

HeadlineWriting
A headline
is thetitle
of the story.

HEADLINE WRITING
News stories have no titles; they have
headlines.
Headlines perform the following
functions:

1. They advertise the stories.

They arouse interest so the
people will read the stories.
2. They summarize the story.

3. They beautify the page. They

bring balance, symmetry and
beauty to a well arranged
page.
4. To grade the news as to
importance.

HEADLINES
-

uses a special vocabulary

- language is compressed
- short and rhyming words are pref
stude
- student
prexy
- president
bocap
- barangay

captain

dad
- mayor
solon
- congressman

Act: take action; do something

POWER CRISIS: GOVERNMENT TO ACT

Aid: (noun) military or financial help

Aid( verb): to help
MORE AID FOR POOR COUNTRIES
UNIONS AID BANK
STRIKERS

BLAST AT AIRPORT
OPPOSITION BLASTS PM

Blaze:
fire
SIX DIE IN TEMPLE BLAZE

Blow:bad news, unfortunate happening

SMITH ILL: BLOW TO WORLD CUP HOPES

Alert
: alarm, warning
TERROR ALERT IN THE
CAPITAL

Bond:political or business association

INDIA CUTS TRADE BONDS WITH CHINA

Allege
: make an accusation
BLIND GIRL ALLEGES UNFAIR
TREATMENT

Boom:big increase; prosperous period

ECONOMIC BOOM: URBAN RICH TO BENEFIT

Appear
: appear in court accused of a crime
MP TO APPEAR ON DRUGS
CHARGES

Boost:encourage
GOVERNMENT PLANS TO BOOST EXPORTS

Axe( verb): abolish, close down

Axe( noun): abolition, closure
POSTAL SERVICES AXED
SMALL SCHOOLS FACE
AXE

Brink:edge of disaster
GLOBAL WARMING: EARTH ON BRINK OF DISAS

Call for
: demand/ appeal for
TRADE UNIONS CALL FOR STRIKE

Campaign
: organized effort to achieve social or poli
result
MP LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN FOR TAX REFORMS

Claim( verb): make a statement that something is t

US SCIENTISTS CLAIM CANCER BREAKTHROUG

Back:support
OPPOSITION BACKS PM

Ban: forbid, refuse to allow something

GOVERNMENT BANS SMOKING IN PUBLIC

Bar:refuse
HOTEL BARS FOOTBALL FANS

Bid:attempt
WOMAN MAKES SUICIDE BID

Blast:explosion
Blast:criticize violently

Clamp down: on
deal firmly with
POLICE TO CLAMP DOWN ON EVE TEASING
Clash
: quarrel, fight
STUDENTS CLASH WITH POLICE

Clear
: find innocent
PM FIRM ON TAX REFORMS
MP CLEARED ON DRUG CHARGES
Flak
: heavy criticism
Con: swindle
MINISTER FACES FLAK OVER RACIAL REMARKS
TEENEGERS CON WIDOW OUT OF LIFE SAVINGS
Foil
: prevent somebody from succeeding
Crackdown
: firm application of the law
GUARD FOILS BANK ROBBERY BID
GOVERNMENT PROMISES CRACKDOWN ON Gag
: censor; prevent from speaking
INFILTRATORS
AFRICAN PRESIDENT ACTS TO GAG PRESS
Crash
: failure
Go: resign; be lost, disappear
TEN PEOPLE DIE IN PLANE CRASH
PM TO GO?
Curb
: restrict

: be sold for
GOVERNMENT TO CURB ILLICIT LIQUOR TRADE Go for
PICASSO PAINTING GOES FOR $5 MILLION
Cut: reduce
Go-ahead: approval
US CUTS AID TO INDIA
NUKE- PLAN GETS GO
- AHEAD
Dash
: make quick journey

Grab
: take violently
PM IN DASH TO BLAST HOSPITAL
INDIANS GRAB SHARES IN FOREIGN COMPANIES
Deadlock
: disagreement that cannot be solved Grip
: control; hold tightly
DEADLOCK IN INDO
- US NUCLEAR DEAL
COLD WAVE GRIPS COUNTRY
Deal
: agreement
INDIA SIGNS NUCLEAR DEAL WITH US
Drive
: united effort
DRIVE TO SAVE
PLANET

Drop( verb): give up; get rid of

Drop(noun): fall
GOVERNMENT TO DROP TERROR REFORMS
DROP IN FOREIGN DIRECT INVESTMENT
Edge
: move gradually
WORLD EDGES TOWARDS WAR
Firm
: determined not to change

Gun down: shoot POLICE GUN

DOWN TERRORISTS.
Hail: welcome; praise
PM HAILS PEACE PLAN
Halt: stop
AUTOMOBILE PLANT TO HALT
PRODUCTION
Haul: amount stolen in robbery, or
seized by police or customs
MAJOR ARMS HAUL IN CAPITAL
Head for: move towards
ECONOMY HEADING FOR DISASTER,
EXPERTS WARN
Hike: rise in costs, prices etc.
INTEREST HIKE WILL HIT REAL
ESTATE
MARKET
Hit: affect badly
HEAVY RAINS HIT TRANSPORT
Hit out at: attack with words

PM HITS OUT AT CRITICS

Hitch: problem that causes delay
LAST-MINUTE HITCH DELAYS
SATELLITE
LAUNCH
Hold: arrest; keep under arrest
POLICE HOLD TERROR SUSPECT
Key: important
KEY WITNESS IN THE POACHING
CASE
VANISHES
Landslide: victory by a large majority
in election
LANDSLIDE FOR DEMOCRATS
Lash: criticize violently
OPPOSITION LASHES GOVERNMENT
REFORMS
Lead: clue (in police enquiry)
LEAD IN RESORT MURDER CASE
Leak: unofficial publication of secret
information

PM FURIOUS OVER TAX PLAN

LEAKS
Leap: big increase
LEAP IN FOREIGN DIRECT
INVESTMENT
Life: imprisonment for life
LIFE FOR SERIAL MURDERER
Loom: threaten to happen
VAT ON FOOD: NEW ROW LOOMS
Mar: spoil

VIOLENCE MARS CUP FINAL

Mission: delegation (official group sent to

a conference etc) UN MISSION ARRIVES

TODAY
Mob: angry crowd

MOVE TO BOOST TRADE LINKS WITH

CHINA
Nail: force somebody to admit the truth

CRIME BRANCH NAILS THE ACCUSED

Odds: chances, probability

MAYOR
ODDS

RE-ELECTED

AGAINST

THE

Opt (for) : choose

WALES OPTS FOR INDEPENDENCE

Oust: drive out, replace

DEMOCRATS
ELECTIONS

OUSTED

IN

UNION

Over: about; on the subject of, because of

ROW OVER VAT ON FOOD

Pact: agreement
DEFENCE PACT GETS CABINET NOD

Mob: organized crime/Mafia

INFANT DIES: MOBS ATTACK HOSPITAL Peak: high point
INFLATION HITS NEW PEAK
MOB LEADERS HELD
Move: step towards a particular result

(often political)

Peg: hold (prices etc) at present level

BANKS PEG INTEREST RATES

Plea: call for help

BIG RESPONSE
FLOOD AID

TO

PLEA

FOR Riddle: mystery

Press: the newspapers

BID TO GAG PRESS OVER DEFENCE

SPENDING
Press for: ask for urgently

OPPOSITION PRESS FOR ENQUIRY ON

DEFENCE SCAM
Pull out: withdraw

PAKISTAN PULLS OUT OF PEACE TALKS

WITH
INDIA
Push for: ask for, encourage

SCHOOLS PUSH FOR MORE CASH

Quit: resign, leave

OPPOSITION LEADER QUITS

MISSING TEENAGER RIDDLE: TWO MEN

HELD
Rift: division, disagreement
LABOUR RIFT OVER DEFENCE POLICY
Rock: shock, shake
BANK SEX SCANDAL ROCKS THE CITY
JAPAN ROCKED BY QUAKE
Row: noisy disagreement, quarrel
NEW ROW OVER WAGE CUTS
Rule out: reject the possibility of
PM RULES OUT MIDTERM ELECTION
Sack: dismissal from job
STRIKING DOCTORS FACE SACK
Scare: public alarm, alarming rumour BIRD
FLU SCARE IN MIDDLE EAST

Scrap: throw out as useless

GOVERNMENT SCRAPS DEFENCE DEAL

WITH
POLICE RAID DUCHESSS FLAT
ISRAEL
Rampage: riot
HOOLIGANS RAMPAGE THROUGH STREETS Seize: take especially in police and customs
searches SMUGGLED ARMS SEIZED AT
Rap: criticize
AIRPORT
DOCTORS RAP HEALTH MINISTRY PLANS
Raid: enter and search

 Set to: ready to; about to

PROPERTY PRIZES SET TO RISE

Slam: criticize violently

OPPOSITION SLAMS DEFENCE POLICY

Slash: cut, reduce drastically
GOVERNMENT TO SLASH HEALTH
EXPENDITURE
Slump: fall (economic)
EXPORTERS FEAR NEW SLUMP
Spark: cause to start

REFEREES DECISION SPARKS RIOT

Spree: wild spending expenditure

BUS DRIVER SPENDS MILLIONS IN CREDITCARD SPREE

Stake: financial interest

GERMANS BUY STAKE IN BRITISH AIRWAYS

Storm out of: leave angrily
TRADE UNION LEADERS STORM OUT OF
MEETING WITH MINISTER
Toll: number killed

QUAKE TOLL MAY RISE

Urge: encourage

ENVIRONMENTALISTS URGE
GOVERNMENTS TO
ACT ON POLLUTION
Vow: promise
EXILED PRESIDENT VOWS TO RETURN

TIPS TO HEADLINE WRITERS:

1. Read the story for general meaning.

2.

Search the key words on which to

base your headline.
3. Clues to the headlines are usually in
the lead.
What happened?
Who did what?
How did it happen?
4. Use brief and shortest words
possible.

5.

Use colorful nouns; vigorous,

active verbs.
6. Have a subject and a verb.
Avoid starting with a verb; the
headline might sound as if it
were giving orders.
Not:
Give bonuses to
employees
But:
Bosses
give bonuses to
employees

7.
Omit articles (a, an, the)
8. Use a comma instead of AND.

9. Use single quotes in headlines.

Basketball team brings home
bacon

10. Omit forms of to be especially

when used as a helping verb.
BCNHS to move to new location

12.Use the exclamation point

sparingly.
13.Use the down style - only the
first word and proper nouns are
capitalized.

Faculty honors Bacani

14. Dont leave a preposition at the end of the

line.
Wrong:
Mentors call for

15.

reform of schools
Right:
Mentors call
for reform of schools
Use only widely known abbreviations.

16. Be positive, dont use negatives in

headlines. They weaken not only the headline
but also the stories.
Not: SSG doesnt trust PTA plans
But: SSG wary on PTA plans

18. Dont use- mas

X
for Christmas.

19 . Use the present tense for past stories and

infinitive for future stories.

20 . Write numbers in figures or spell them ou

depending upon your need for your unit c

Verbal deadwood useless

phrasing of
any sort.
1. for the reason that - because
2. at the present time now
3. affixed his signature - signed
4. were united in holy matrimony were
married
5. abrasions and contusion cuts and bruises
6. acquaint - tell
7. adequate bus transportation enough buses
8. ahead of schedule - early
9. a man by the name of man named

10. assistance
- aid or help
11. at an early date
soon
12. attempt
- try
13. beverage
- drink
16. called a halt
- stopped
17. cloudburst
heavy rains
18. conflagration
fire
19 . constructed of wood
made of wood
or wooden

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

REDUNDANCY
- unnecessary repetition of ideas.

advance prediction
fatal killing
final conclusion
other alternative
got up at 6 a.m. in the morning
in our modern world of today
spherical in shape

8. blue in color
9. heavy in weight

Headline
vocabulary
1. attacks
hits
2. supports
backs
3. increase
- hike
4. stops
- nips
5. approval
nod
6. syndicate
gang
7 investigation
probe
8. disapprove
scrap
9. ended
- busted
10. approve
uphold

Unit Counting

All small letters except j,i,l,t,f and w, m)

1unit
j,i,l,t,f = unit
m and w = 1
All capital letters except M and W
= 1
unit
I = unit
M at W = 2 unit
Space = 1 unit
All punctuations except
, ?, $ and % = unit
, ?, $ and % =1 unit
0 to 9 except 1 = 1 unit
1 = unit

Get ready for a workshop