This document provides examples of common copy editing symbols used to mark corrections or changes on a draft document, including capitalizing letters, making letters lowercase, correcting spelling errors, adding or removing spaces between words, inserting or removing words, adding punctuation like periods or commas, inserting apostrophes, ignoring corrections, making new paragraphs, removing paragraph breaks, moving words or phrases, reversing word order, and removing letters or closing spaces between words. The symbols are used to clearly communicate to authors how to revise and improve the text.

1. Copy Editing
Symbols
Editing

2. Capitalize a letter
I’ve seen that student in my english class.
I’ve seen that student in my English class.

3. Make a capital letter lowercase:
The Principal is not allowed to review content
prior to publication.
The principal is not allowed to review content
prior to publication.

4. Correct an error
In this case, nine should be spelled out.)
There were 9 giraffes in the parade.
There were nine giraffes in the parade.

5. Remove space (make two words into one)
Practicing style should be an every day
exercise.
Practicing style should be an everyday
exercise.

6. Insert a space between two words.
There are morethan 2,000 students at this
school.
There are more than 2,000 students at this
school.
#

7. Insert a word
“Advisor” is the correct spelling.
“Advisor” is not the correct spelling.
(It’s actually adviser.)
not

8. Remove one or more words
Learn to delete extra unneeded words.
Learn to delete unneeded words.

9. Insert punctuation
(period or comma)
Run-on sentences are incorrect they need
punctuation to separate their clauses.
Run-on sentences are incorrect. They need
punctuation to separate their clauses.

10. Insert an apostrophe
If its unclear how to punctuate a sentence,
consult the stylebook.
If it’s unclear how to punctuate a sentence,
consult the stylebook.
’

11. Ignore correction and let it stand as
originally written.
“Our publication’s written policy is not to
change quotes,” the editor said.
“Our publication’s written policy is not to
change quotes,” the editor said.
stet

12. Make a new paragraph here.
In journalistic writing, we try to keep
paragraphs short. The average paragraph is
35 words.
In journalistic writing, we try to keep
paragraphs short.
The average paragraph is 35 words.
¶

13. Remove paragraph break. Keep
these sentences in the same
paragraph.
Strong verbs are the key to good writing.
Try to limit the use of adjectives and adverbs.
Strong verbs are the key to good writing. Try
to limit the use of adjectives and adverbs.
no ¶

14. Move a word or phrase
Our teacher said if we make deadline
he will buy us pizza.
Our teacher said he will buy us pizza if we
make deadline.

15. Reverse word order
We want to only have one graduation
speaker.
We want to have only one graduation
speaker.

16. Remove a letter, close a space
It’s easy to overloook misspellings.
It’s easy to overlook misspellings.