COPYREADING

TITLEandHERE
HEADLINE
WRITING

COPYREADING AND HEADLINE WRITING

 What is Copyreading?

• Process of editing and correcting the form and content of the

submitted manuscript

• Includes checking the correctness of grammar and syntax

(form) and checking the accuracy and relevance of data and
analysis (content);

• Is done by using Copyreading symbols

COPYREADING AND HEADLINE WRITING

 What is a Copyreader?

• A copyreader is an editor

• A copyreader is a specialist who improves the news story and

makes it worth reading

• A copyreader is the guardian between the writers and the

reading public

COPYREADING AND HEADLINE WRITING

 A Checklist for Copyreaders

• Read a story quickly but thoroughly, sizing it up for content

and relative news value

• Correct obvious errors of facts or spelling

• Rewrite the lead if necessary

• Break up long paragraphs into shorter ones

• Add subheads to longer articles

COPYREADING AND HEADLINE WRITING

 A Checklist for Copyreaders

• Recheck facts, especially names, addresses, numbers and

spellings

• Watch for potential libelous statements; make sure the story

is accurate and that it is fair to all side in the issue

• Write the headline

COPYREADING AND HEADLINE WRITING

COPYREADING
SYMBOLS

COPYREADING AND HEADLINE WRITING

COPYREADING AND HEADLINE WRITING
COPYREADING AND HEADLINE WRITING
COPYREADING AND HEADLINE WRITING
COPYREADING AND HEADLINE WRITING
COPYREADING AND HEADLINE WRITING
COPYREADING AND HEADLINE WRITING
 The Headline

• Headline is the title of any news story

• Summary of the summary lead

COPYREADING AND HEADLINE WRITING

 FUNCTIONS OF HEADLINE

• To give the gist of the news

• To present the news for rapid reading

• To indicate the relative importance of the news by the amount

of display

• To give a pleasing appearance to the news pages

COPYREADING AND HEADLINE WRITING

 Steps in Writing the Headline
1. Underline the key words from the lead
2. Using these key words, write a short telegraphic
sentence summary of the news (omit articles,
unnecessary auxiliary verbs, prepositions)
3. Divide according to units of thoughts into the
number of lines required
4. Substitute simple, effective synonyms to reduce the
width within the limit of space allotted
5. Check if they follow the rules of construction

COPYREADING AND HEADLINE WRITING

 Pointers in Headline Writing

• MAKE IT SKELETONIZED. Articles and other unnecessary

words should be omitted. The headline should give the gist of
the story in as few words as possible.

Correct: “Principal dismisses pupils”

Incorrect: “The principal dismisses pupils”

COPYREADING AND HEADLINE WRITING

 Pointers in Headline Writing

• AVOID EXCLAMATION POINTS OR OTHER

PUNCTUATIONS.

Correct: “MNHS celebrates nutrition month”

Incorrect: “MNHS celebrated nutrition month!!!”

COPYREADING AND HEADLINE WRITING

 Pointers in Headline Writing

• USE THE ACTIVE VOICE.

Correct: “Dog bites man”

Incorrect: “Man is bitten by dog”

COPYREADING AND HEADLINE WRITING

 Pointers in Headline Writing

• BE SPECIFIC. Use precise words.

Correct: “Maria is champion golfer”

Incorrect: “Woman is champion golfer”

COPYREADING AND HEADLINE WRITING

 Pointers in Headline Writing

• BE ACCURATE AND DIRECT.

Correct: “Inflation rates to slow down, says official”

Incorrect: “Inflation rate may slow down, says official”

COPYREADING AND HEADLINE WRITING

 Pointers in Headline Writing

• USE THE PRESENT TENSE. This will emphasize the

immediacy of the event and will give action or movement to
the story.

Correct: “Burglar flees”

Incorrect: “Burglar fled”

COPYREADING AND HEADLINE WRITING

 Pointers in Headline Writing

• USE THE INFINITIVE GROUP FOR FUTURE EVENTS

Correct: “Students to handle activities funds ”

Incorrect: “Students will handle activities funds ”

COPYREADING AND HEADLINE WRITING

 Rules in Headline Writing

• The head should tell the gist of the story simply and
clearly

• The first letter of the first word and proper nouns are
generally capitalized.

Ex. Iran offers more oil to RP.

COPYREADING AND HEADLINE WRITING

 Rules in Headline Writing

• The first line of a two-line or three-line head should

not end with a preposition, conjunction, articles or any
form of the verb to be, unless the preposition goes with
the verb, like fill-in or trade-off.

• Never use the word “may” because it would show the

uncertainty of your assertion.

COPYREADING AND HEADLINE WRITING

 Rules in Headline Writing

• Assertions in a headline should have a source of

attribution

Ex. Classes suspended today, says principal

Principal orders suspension of classes
Bamba: MNHS can do it

COPYREADING AND HEADLINE WRITING

 Rules in Headline Writing

• Don’t convert verbs into nouns. Don’t say “Students

urge oustering of principal”, say “Oust principal –
students”

• Use the shorter word whenever possible, e.g. use “cut”

for decrease or “hike” for increase
Ex. School hikes tuition fees

COPYREADING AND HEADLINE WRITING

 Rules in Headline Writing

• Assertions in a headline should have a source of

attribution

Ex. Classes suspended today, says principal

Principal orders suspension of classes
Bamba: MNHS can do it

COPYREADING AND HEADLINE WRITING

 Rules in Headline Writing

• The first line of a two-line or three-line head should

not end with a preposition, conjunction, articles or any
form of the verb to be, unless the preposition goes with
the verb, like fill-in or trade-off.

• Never use the word “may” because it would show the

uncertainty of your assertion.

COPYREADING AND HEADLINE WRITING

 Rules in Headline Writing

• Write nothing in the headline that is not in the story

• Don’t use names unless persons are well-known

• Use only commonly accepted abbreviations

COPYREADING AND HEADLINE WRITING

 Rules in Headline Writing

• Avoid repeating key words or ideas in a headline with

two or more decks.

Correct: “PLDT dispute ends;

strikers back to work”

Incorrect: “PLDT strike settled;

strikers back to work”

COPYREADING AND HEADLINE WRITING

 Rules in Headline Writing

• Don’t editorialize. State facts; avoid opinions.

Correct: “Lakers win 3 out of 4 games”

Incorrect: “Lakers make good showing”

COPYREADING AND HEADLINE WRITING

 Rules in Headline Writing

• Avoid using a negative verb.

Correct: “English Club meeting cancelled”

Incorrect: “English Club meeting won’t be held”

COPYREADING AND HEADLINE WRITING

 Rules in Headline Writing

• Avoid using obvious alliterations.

Correct: “Streetsweeper knifed to death”

Incorrect: “Streetsweeper stabbed, dies”

COPYREADING AND HEADLINE WRITING

 Rules in Headline Writing

• Use forceful, dynamic verbs.

Correct: “Greenies beat All-Americans, 52-30”

Incorrect: “Greenies crush All-Americans, 52-30”

COPYREADING AND HEADLINE WRITING

 Rules in Headline Writing

• Avoid splitting

a. A verb phrase
Correct: “Debaters chosen
to join speech fest”

Incorrect: “Debaters chosen to

join speech fest”
COPYREADING AND HEADLINE WRITING
 Rules in Headline Writing

• Avoid splitting

b. Names that belong together

Correct: “Velasco wins
gold medal”

Incorrect: “Velasco wins gold

medal”
COPYREADING AND HEADLINE WRITING
 Rules in Headline Writing
• Avoid splitting

c. A preposition and its object, especially in the top

line
Correct: “Contest sponsored
by English department”

Incorrect: “Contest sponsored by

English department”
COPYREADING AND HEADLINE WRITING
 Rules in Headline Writing

• Avoid splitting

d. An adjective and the noun it solidifies

Correct: “2 Ilocos leaders
swap accusations”

Incorrect: “2 Ilocos
leaders trade accusations”
COPYREADING AND HEADLINE WRITING
 Pointers in Headline Writing
• Avoid splitting

e. Abbreviations
Correct: “City sues NORECO”

Incorrect: “City sues NO-

RECO”

COPYREADING AND HEADLINE WRITING

 Rules in Headline Writing

• Use numbers only when important; write numbers in

figures

Ex. Congress passes P3.5M bill

COPYREADING AND HEADLINE WRITING

 Rules in Headline Writing

• Minimize punctuations
a. Never use a period; use a semicolon to separate
sentences
Ex. PAF jet crashes; 3 killed
b. Use single quotation marks
Ex. X’mas bonus ‘compulsory’
c. Use a comma for “and”
Ex. Lydia, Onyok win golds

COPYREADING AND HEADLINE WRITING

 SUBSTITUTING COMPLEX WORDS
COMPLEX COMMON COMPLEX COMMON
Monumental -Big Contribute -Give
Terminate -End Request -Ask
Witness -See Endeavor -Try
Purchase -Buy Summon -Call
Utilize -Use Category -Class
Majority -Most Prevaricate -Lie
Reside -Live Incarcerate -Jail
Procure -Get Inaugurate -Start
Proceed -Go Facilitate -Help
Inundate -Flood
COPYREADING AND HEADLINE WRITING
Thank you!

COPYREADING AND HEADLINE WRITING