diff --git a/content-strategy/copywriting.md b/content-strategy/copywriting.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3e83ac1 --- /dev/null +++ b/content-strategy/copywriting.md @@ -0,0 +1,260 @@ +# Copyediting Test Preparation Guide + +## General Guidelines + +* Clarity and Correctness: Ensure sentences are clear and correct within the scope of your responsibilities. +* Multiple Problems: Be aware that a single sentence may have multiple issues. +* Judgment Calls: If unsure about a correction, add a comment labeled NOTE TO SARAHto explain your thinking. + +## Specifics to Look For + +### Sentence Structure + +* Imprecise Language: Correct vague or imprecise sentences for better clarity. +* Restrictive vs. Nonrestrictive Clauses: Decide if clauses are restrictive or nonrestrictive and use commas accordingly. +* Ambiguity: Identify ambiguous comparisons or statements and restructure for clarity. + +### Punctuation + +* Commas with Coordinate Adjectives: Insert a comma between coordinate adjectives when necessary. +* Comma Splices: Correct comma splices by dividing into separate sentences or using conjunctions. +* Apostrophes: Pay attention to the correct use of apostrophes in possessives and contractions. + +### Bias and Assumptions + +* Gender Neutrality: Replace gender-specific terms with gender-neutral ones to avoid bias. +* Assumptions: Address any assumptions that might map characteristics (like intelligence) onto certain behaviors or choices. + +### Queries + +* When in Doubt: If any edit is a judgment call, query the author. +* Ambiguity and Precision: Query for clarifications if a statement's meaning is unclear or could be misinterpreted. + +### Consistency + +* Parallel Structure: Ensure parallel structure in lists and comparisons for readability and consistency. +* Consistent Language: Maintain consistent language use, especially with serial commas and terminology. + +### Mechanics + +* Subject-Verb Agreement: Ensure subjects and verbs agree in number and tense. +* Pronoun Reference: Check pronoun references for clarity and correctness. + +## Examples of Specifics to Look For + +### Sentence Structure + +* Imprecise Language: + * Example: "While I was surfing the internet one night, a curious thing happened." + * Edit: Clarify who was surfing the internet to avoid misinterpretation. +* Restrictive vs. Nonrestrictive Clauses: + * Example: "The car which they were looking for was drag racing down Deerfoot." + * Edit: Determine if the clause is restrictive and edit accordingly, possibly removing commas. + +### Punctuation + +* Commas with Coordinate Adjectives: + * Example: "A green, rotating disco ball." + * Edit: Insert a comma if adjectives are coordinated. +* Comma Splices: + * Example: "They wondered if climbing a mountain was worth it, nevertheless the views were beautiful." + * Edit: Correct the splice by separating into two sentences or using a conjunction. + +### Bias and Assumptions + +* Gender Neutrality: + * Example: "The average tradesman is a person of the highest intelligence." + * Edit: Replace "tradesman" with "worker in the trades" to avoid gender bias. +* Assumptions: + * Example: "He is as likely to read The Economist as the tabloids are to be in his possession." + * Edit: Address assumptions about intelligence and reading choices. + +### Queries + +* When in Doubt: + * Example: Ambiguous or unclear statements should be queried. +* Ambiguity and Precision: + * Example: "Unlike Greta Thunberg, I perceive that climate action is already being undertaken..." + * Edit: Query for clarification to avoid ambiguous comparisons. + +### Consistency + +* Parallel Structure: + * Example: "Thomas King's style is conversational and indirect, and he learned it from the storytellers he studied with." + * Edit: Maintain parallel structure in lists and comparisons. +* Consistent Language: + * Example: Consistent use of serial commas and terminology throughout the document. + +## More Examples/Specifics to Look For + +### Sentence Structure + +* Imprecise Language: + * Before: "The meeting was kind of productive in a way." + * After: "The meeting resulted in three actionable steps toward the project goal." +* Restrictive vs. Nonrestrictive Clauses: + * Before: "Customers, who signed up early, receive a bonus." + * After: "Customers who signed up early receive a bonus." + +### Punctuation + +* Commas with Coordinate Adjectives: + * Before: "She wore a bright, silk scarf to the party." + * After: "She wore a bright silk scarf to the party." +* Comma Splices: + * Before: "It was raining heavily, we canceled the picnic." + * After: "It was raining heavily, so we canceled the picnic." + +### Bias and Assumptions + +* Gender Neutrality: + * Before: "Every doctor must ensure his equipment is sterilized." + * After: "Every doctor must ensure their equipment is sterilized." +* Assumptions: + * Before: "Older employees are less likely to adapt to new technologies." + * After: "Employees may vary in their adaptability to new technologies, regardless of age." + +### Queries + +* When in Doubt: + * Sentence: "The software update is supposed to fix bugs." + * Comment: "Which specific bugs will the upcoming software update address?" +* Ambiguity and Precision: + * Sentence: "The politician's response was more surprising than her opponent's campaign promises." + * Comment: "Was the politician's response to the budget cuts more surprising than her opponent's vague campaign promises?" + +### Consistency + +* Parallel Structure: + * Before: "The job requires communicating effectively, to be organized, and dedication." + * After: "The job requires effective communication, organization, and dedication." +* Consistent Language: + * Before: "The study utilized a complex algorithm, but the results were simple to interpret." + * After: "The study employed a complex algorithm, yet the results were straightforward to interpret." + +## Rubric Overview + +### Acuity + +* Error Identification: Aim to identify almost every error without misidentifying or inventing errors. + +### Conduct + +* Markup Legibility: Ensure your markup is legible, efficient, and precise. +* Query Politeness: Queries should be polite, concise, meaningful, and well-justified. + +### Priorities + +* Balance Needs: Balance the needs of the author, publisher, and readers while suppressing personal tastes. + +## Reminder Notes + +* Comma Usage: Review rules for comma usage in complex sentences. +* Restrictive Clauses: Brush up on restrictive vs. nonrestrictive clause identification. +* Gender Bias: Be vigilant about gender neutrality in language. + +# + +# "Precision" Reading + +## Maintaining Subject-Verb Continuity + +* Stick to the same subject when moving from one clause to the next to avoid forcing the reader to refocus attention unnecessarily. +* Exceptions: Sometimes changing subjects is necessary or beneficial for precision, variety, etc. Use judgment. + +## Ensuring Precise Comparisons + +* Directly juxtapose the two things being compared. Don't compare a thing to a concept. +* Avoid illogical comparisons like comparing someone to themself ("worse than anyone on his team"). + +## Clarifying Pronoun References + +* Ensure pronouns clearly and explicitly refer to their intended antecedent. +* Avoid vague pronouns referring to entire ideas rather than nouns. +* Repair unclear pronouns by replacing with the noun, rewriting to be more explicit, etc. + +## Preventing Misplaced or Dangling Modification + +* Place modifiers close to the words they modify. +* With introductory phrases, put the modified noun immediately after. +* Check sentence-ending modifiers for unintended meaning. + +# "Bias-Free Language" Reading + +## Querying or Revising Biased Material + +* Query or revise text, images, etc. that promote stereotyping, marginalization, or insensitivity. +* Balance author freedom with preventing unintentional offense. +* Have a policy for when/how much to intervene on generic "he" and other issues. + +## Avoiding Gender Bias + +* Replace gendered job titles (chairman, businessman, etc.) with gender-neutral alternatives from style guides. +* Query examples with stereotypical gender roles or imbalance. +* Respect transgender and nonbinary individuals' pronoun preferences. + +## Using Appropriate Terminology for Groups + +* Use current preferred terms for racial, ethnic, religious, and other groups. +* Query questionable/outdated language +* Avoid defaulting unmentioned groups to the "majority" (e.g. "5 men and 2 African American women"). + +## Flagging Legal Issues + +* Watch for potential libel, privacy violations, obscenity, and copyright infringement. +* Alert editorial coordinator/author about risky passages to review with attorney. +* Note policy differences in books vs. corporate publishing regarding legal review. + +# "What Copy Editors Do" + +## Mechanical Editing + +* Impose consistency in spelling, hyphenation, capitalization, punctuation, numbers, quotations, abbreviations, italics, bold, headings, lists, etc. +* Follow house style guides or verify the author's consistent alternate style. + +## Correlating Parts + +* Cross-check in-text references, footnote/endnote numbers, table/figure callouts and lists, captions vs illustrations, table of contents vs headings. + +## Language Editing + +* Correct or query errors in grammar, usage, diction while avoiding imposing personal stylistic preferences. +* Know when to query vs self-correct mechanical issues and when to query substantive issues. + +## Content Editing + +* Flag substantive issues like inconsistencies, omitted info, organizational problems, etc. for author or publisher to address. +* Check select facts to catch pervasive errors; query individual fact errors. Don't attempt to verify every statement. + +## Permissions + +* Remind the author to obtain permissions for long prose excerpts, poem excerpts, borrowed illustrations, etc. Ensure source lines are provided for borrowed content. + +## Markup + +* Identify/style special document elements like headings, extracts, tables, etc. for design and production staff. + +# "Philosophical Reflections on Editing" + +## Fostering Constructive Community + +* Aim to improve submitted manuscripts through feedback, not just select the best pieces. +* Choose reviewers who can identify potential and suggest improvements constructively. +* View process as a collaborative community of authors, reviewers, editors working to strengthen scholarship. + +## Communication Skills + +* Write queries that are succinct, specific, polite, framed as requests for clarification. +* Phrase queries and decisions respectfully considering authors' needs and perspectives. +* In decision letters, balance honesty with encouragement; emphasize potential in weaker submissions. + +## Editing Judgment + +* Edit changes should aim to achieve the purposes of the author's work, not impose editor's preferences. +* But also consider audience needs for clarity; query if meaning seems unclear. +* Find the right balance between author voice/style and audience comprehension. + +## Representativeness + +* Aim for diversity of authors, approaches, geographies, etc. to reflect breadth of field. +* But ensure a rigorous yet constructive review process for all.