sentence. The insertion of several words, or the erasure of several, may necessitate the rearranging of many lines and so make a good deal of trouble if the paragraphs are long and the change does not come near the end of one. The addition or subtraction of words enough to make an even line does little harm, except in page proofs. When a cross-line is inserted in newspaper proofs, try to take such words for the cross-line that the next word after is one that begins a line. By the way, the proper marks for such cross-line are paragraph marks before and after the words to make it, with a continuous line drawn under those words from ¶ to ¶. The best newspaper practice is to have these cross-lines not 'break,' i. e. to take only enough words to make one line in the heavy-faced type used for them.

Never hesitate to use the proof marks to be found in the rear of dictionaries. They will be understood by every printer.

When the equipment of a printing office is overtaxed or when there has not been time to distribute forms that have been printed, single letters of display type may be 'picked' from standing matter for use elsewhere, being temporarily replaced by 'turned' letters of the same size, which in any proof that chances to be taken of the standing matter will show up like this. These 'turned' letters may also appear in freshly set forms, to be replaced before the form is run. They are not errors and need not be marked, but of course page or press proofs must be scanned to see that they have been replaced.

A good proof-reader will correct evident errors in grammar or diction. When he is in doubt about some

centre

I

sentence. The insertion of several words, for the erasure of several, may necessitate the rearranging of manylines * and so fake a good deal of trouble if the paragraphs are long and the change does not come near the end of one. [[The addition or subtraction of words to make an enough even line does little harm, except in page proofs. Whef n' a cross-line is inserted in newspaper proofs, try at find t such words for the cross line that the next word after is one that begins a line. By the way, the proper marks for ous such cross-line are paragraph marks before and after the words to make it, with a continual line drawn under those words from 1 to ¶. The best journalistie practice ✔✔is to have these cross-lines not break, i. e., to take only enough words to make one line in the HEAVY-FACED TYPE used for them.

Never hesitate to use the proof marks to be found in
the rear of dictionaries. They will be understood by
every printer who understands his business.

When the equipment of a printing office is over taxed of stet when there has not been time to distribute forms tha

have been printed, single letters of display type may be 'picked from standing matter for use elsewhere, being temporarily replaced by 'turned' letters of the same size, which in any proof that chances to be taken, of the roman standing matter will show up like this. These turned letters may also appear in freshly set forms, to be replaced before the form is run, They are not errors and need not be marked, but of course page or press proofs must be scanned to see that they have been replaced A very good proof-reader will correct evident errors in, Rharing grammar or diction. When he is in doubt about some

news

paper

l.c.

w.f.

"lead

less

[EXPLANATIONS: The brackets, [and ], mean move toward; 'centre', put in centre of line; the dele sign,, remove; X, insert space; x, bad letter; 1, space sticking up; tr., transpose, hyphen (use perpendiculars on each side of hyphen or dash); 9. inverted letter; Qy, query of reader, accepted by author by drawing a line through it; inverted carets, showing apostrophes rather than commas ; 1. c., lower case; space, indent, making paragraph; w. f., wrong font letter: bring together, no space; stet, elided word with dots under is to stand; slanting lines, dropped letters; roman, not Italic (Ital.' would have been the reverse); lead, insert a lead; spacing, bad spacing of line. The other marks are self-explanatory. 'Caps' would have indicated capital letters: s. c., small capitals An omission of several words would have been marked, 'Out - see copy.'

change or wishes to call the author's attention to what may or may not be an error, he puts a question mark, ?, or Qy., for 'Query,' in the margin, next the mark indicating his idea of the desired change, if he ventures any. In that case it is the author's duty in the first place to draw a line through the? or Qy., to show that he has noticed it. If he wants the proof-reader's suggestion to stand, he does nothing to it, the line through the? or Qy. being approval enough. If he disapproves the correction, he draws a line through that also. It wastes time to discuss the matter with the proof-reader. He wants

merely a Yes or No.

After the corrections on the first proof have been made, another proof is taken, known as the 'revised proof,' or, more commonly, the 'revise.' In fine book work, a third 'revise' is frequent, and sometimes four, five, or even more 'revises' are necessary, but of course every new proof means additional expense to somebody. After the last galley-proof has been corrected, book or magazine matter is made up into pages, and then 'page proofs' are taken. Frequently these are the first proofs submitted by book publishers to the author, and doubtless they have found by experience that in most cases this is safe, but any writer who expects to make changes in the text, should stipulate that he have the chance to do this on galley proofs. When the matter has been made up into pages, the addition or subtraction of a single line may mean that every following page to the end of the chapter must be 'run over,' i. e. have matter taken from or added to top and bottom. For this reason changes in page proofs are more costly than in galley proofs. For the

same reason illustrations must be inserted in galley proofs rather than in page proofs. If by some mischance proofs of illustrations do not come from the printer along with the galley proofs, for pasting in the proper place, the printer should at once be informed, and the galley proofs should not be returned until the proofs of illustrations are in place, or unless the galley proofs are plainly marked, 'Here illustration to come.'

If an author has received galley proofs, he should not be content with reading these alone, for in the make-up into pages errors are easy. In reading page proofs it is important to see that no lines have been transposed; that no lines have been omitted, especially at the bottom or top of pages; that the running heads are correct; that the folios are in proper sequence and at the right corners; that the end letters of lines, and particularly punctuation marks, have not dropped out or been transposed.

In book-work the last proof of all is the foundry-proof, made from the electrotype plate. It can be distinguished by the heavy black rule around the page made by the metal guards that hold the type while the cast is taken. Sometimes it is marked 'F.' Changes in plates are difficult, costly, and sure to injure the plates. They should not be asked unless the errors are vital.

Book, magazine, and job printers usually submit the copy with the proof and when this is done the copy should always be returned with the proof. If the first proof is sent with the 'revise,' both should be returned. If two identical proofs are sent with the copy, one having the proof-reader's corrections, the intention ordinarily is

that the author shall put his changes on the foul proof, retaining the other for reference, or against the loss of the corrected proof. He will do well to duplicate on it the corrections of the foul proof.

In these days few publishers make their own books. The printing office may be in another part of the city or even in another State. Therefore, to save time, letters about corrections should be sent to the printer and not to the publisher.

On returning to the printer a proof of job work, mark it 'O. K.' or 'O. K. with alterations,' and your name or initials, that he may know the proof has been seen by the right man. Never send an oral message by boy, in the matter of changes or corrections.

Count the letters, punctuation marks, and spaces on the page of an ordinary novel, and you may be surprised to find that there are between one and two thousand pieces of metal in its composition. It would indeed be strange if every one of these should be accurately placed on the first attempt. The wonder is not that many changes may be required, but that good compositors can furnish such clean proofs. The chance for error is indeed so great that accuracy should never be assumed, and there should be no complaint that error is present. Eternal vigilance is the only safe rule for anybody who has to do with printers, not because they are more fallible than anybody else, but because the chance for them to do the wrong thing is so great. Give them credit for the surprisingly large percentage of accuracy.

HANDWRITING.

Cultivate a rapid style. Avoid flourishes; they waste