Comments on: Searching for the copy editing bible

Question: Searching for the copy editing bible

dead_ — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 06:46:11 -0800

What are the best books I can buy to learn how to become a proficient newspaper copy editor?

By: Steven C. Den Beste

Steven C. Den Beste — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 06:53:19 -0800

Start with this one.

By: ejaned8

ejaned8 — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 07:01:02 -0800

Words into Type, AP stylebook. Poytner also has some tips. Mediabistro might also have some useful info.

By: fidelity

fidelity — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 07:01:11 -0800

The Bible.

By: WPW

WPW — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 07:05:08 -0800

Essential English for Journalists, Writers and Editors by Harold Evans is, for me, the key text.

Also excellent:

English for Journalists by Wynford Hicks
Troublesome Words by Bill Bryson
The Economist Style Guide - the book is superior to what is available online, I think, and easier to consult.

By: dead_

dead_ — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 07:32:01 -0800

Great suggestions so far. Perhaps I should be a bit more clear, though: I have the Elements of Style as well as the AP Style Book, but I'm looking for something that would maybe find more use as an instructive text in a college class, or something I can work through from beginning to end, rather than a reference guide.

By: JJ86

JJ86 — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 07:46:17 -0800

I reckon besides getting an internship at a highly regarded newspaper, you might want to search for similar books to this on Amazon.

By: phatkitten

phatkitten — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 07:56:41 -0800

Have you tried searching for "newspaper copy editing" on Amazon? A lot of interesting books come up.

Don't forget to look into newspaper design books, too, as most newspaper copy editors these days also paginate. Tim Harrower's book is a good starting point.

By: WPW

WPW — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 08:45:33 -0800

dead_: I'm looking for something that would maybe find more use as an instructive text in a college class, or something I can work through from beginning to end, rather than a reference guide.

Evans' Essential English is structured to be read from beginning to end.

I'd also say that although Troublesome Words is an a-z reference, Bryson's writing makes it a pleasure to read casually.

By: bonaldi

bonaldi — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 09:34:10 -0800

The Evans book is vital. I know a friend who taught a subbing course from it.

By: nicwolff

nicwolff — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 10:40:15 -0800

The books that made me a good copy editor were Theodore Bernstein's Watch Your Language and More Language That Needs Watching, which are out of print but largely duplicated in The Careful Writer, and Headlines and Deadlines which he wrote with R. E. Garst.

Bill Walsh used to maintain a great copy-editing site called The Slot, which is now rarely updated but has an ongoing blog; and his books Lapsing Into a Comma and The Elephants of Style are better than their title puns would suggest.

By: loiseau

loiseau — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 12:57:10 -0800

Take a university course! submissions. Maybe you're a book learner, but I can't imagine learning copy editing without an experienced instructor and lots and lots and lots and lots of practice with real-world writing.

By: Smalltown Girl

Smalltown Girl — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 14:57:44 -0800

I'm not trying to break your heart or spirit, but you can't become a proficient newspaper copy editor by just reading books. You have to actually work at a newspaper, and no daily that I know of will hire editors with no experience.

If you are in college, you might start by working at the campus newspaper. If you're already a newspaper reporter and want to broaden skills to include copy editing, ask an editor whether you can start doing some copy editing on weekends and holidays. Daily newspapers nearly always need bodies on Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons.

Another way to improve your editing skills is to find a newspaper or magazine that you think needs help in the editing department. Get a red pen and start killing the copy. Don't send your handiwork back to the paper or magazine, but just look at how you improved that sloppy profile or incomplete expose. (I'm a "retired" copy editor, and I still like to do that -- yes, it's weird, and I admit I don't have a social life.)

Best books are: AP Stylebook, Bill Walsh's, Bernstein's and others mentioned by previous posters. Also read the thesaurus and dictionary for fun (OK, OK, I lead a dull life). AND go to the American Copy Editors Society website for more links, more discussions, good tips, etc. Good luck!