journalism

1. COPYREADING
 Qualities
 Duties
 Suggested STEPS in copyreading
 Common Inaccuracies
 Symbols
 Exercises

2. COPYREADING
•editing
•revising or
•correcting errors, and
•arranging written materials

3. COPYREADer
QUALITIES:
•Has keen sense of news values
•Expert with words
•Accurate in grammar and clever in expression
•Criticizes objectively
•Works in details
•“a working encyclopedia”
•Has clear eyes and sharp memory

4. COPYREADer
DUTIES:
•Correct errors in grammar
-spelling, punctuation, capitalization, S-V
agreement, tenses, structure, redundancy,
syllabication, abbreviation, and organization of
paragraphs
•Correct errors in facts
-figures, identification, titles, etc.

5. COPYREADer
DUTIES:
•Deletes
-opinions, speculations and statements without
attribution or sources
-libelous statements
-Unnecessary adjectives
•Rewrites the article (if poorly written)
•Shortens sentences and tightens paragraphs

6. COPYREADer
DUTIES:
•Checks attribution and sees to it that they are
properly identified
•Expands or reduces copy
•WRITES HEADLINES

8. Suggested Steps in Copyreading
1. Read the story.
• Read quickly; do not change anything.
• Find out what the story is about.
• Note the story structure.
• Spot any major problems that are readily identifiable.
2. Edit it thoroughly (second reading; major editing is done)
• Read slowly
• Pay particular attention to the lead
3. Reread the story.
• Proofreading

10. Common Inaccuracies
Redundancies and wordiness
advance planning
armed gunmen
at this point in time
at that point in time
cancelled out

11. Redundancies and wordiness
city of Manila
completely unnecessary
complimentary free gift
cooperate together
Common Inaccuracies

12. Redundancies and wordiness
due to the fact that
electrocuted to death
exactly identical
few in number
general consensus of opinion
Common Inaccuracies

13. Redundancies and wordiness
in reference to
in the near future
traveling at a high rate of speed
high-speed chase
large in size
Common Inaccuracies

14. Redundancies and wordiness
necessary requirement
once in a great while
postpone until later
still remain
temporarily suspended
Common Inaccuracies

15. Redundancies and wordiness
totally destroyed
true facts
went on to say that
widow of the late
yellow in color
Common Inaccuracies

16. Sexist pronouns and gender-biased terms
It is no longer acceptable to use the pronoun he when the
referent may be a man or a woman.
Substitute gender-biased terms with gender-neutral ones.
•fireman
•chairman
•mankind
•manpower
•founding fathers
•policeman
•salesman

18. EXCERCISES:
1. The final conclusion revealed that the dead corpse was a victim of a fatal
murder.
2. The other alternative is to give some new recruits.
3. It was definitely decided to give free gifts to the underprivileged poor on
Christmas
4. The play will be shown in the month of December.
5. The meeting lasted for a period of two hours.

19. EXCERCISES:
6. These children are the ones who are influenced by indecent films
7. The building closed its door at five o’clock p.m. in the afternoon.
8. Mr. Amador Cabansag, a very energetic teacher of electricity in the famous
Osmena High School, held a very successful demonstration lesson.
9. The most efficient and knowledgeable principal represented the school in the
well-known national press conference.