Copy reading, also known as copyediting, is the process of reviewing and correcting written material to ensure it is accurate, clear, consistent, and grammatically correct before publication. The person who performs this role, the copyreader or copyeditor, acts as a final gatekeeper of quality and credibility.

2. Copyreading
correcting, editing, revising and
arranging written matter
for publication

3.  Duties of a copyreader
1. Check facts
2. Correct errors in grammar, spelling,
punctuation, usage, organization, and others
3. Improve news value

4.  Duties of a copyreader
4. Cut or delete irrelevant materials.
5. Delete editorializing materials in a news
6. Guard against libelous statement.
7. Write headlines and decide its typography.

5.  Duties of a copyreader
8. Make copy simple and clear.
9. Make copy conform to the newspaper style
sheet.
10. Give instruction to the typesetter regarding
font type and size and number of columns to
be used.
11. Indicate corrections using copy reading
marks

6. 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.

7. Suggested steps in Copyreading
2. Edit it thoroughly. (second reading; major
editing is done)
Read slowly.
Pay particular attention to the lead (check
effectiveness; should include essential
information and introduce the angle; should
also be brief, captivating and appropriate in
tone.

8. Suggested steps in Copyreading
Story Structure: Organization of the story;
point of the story; rearrange the story if
necessary.)
Improve the writing; check paragraphing and
transitions (ideas should flow smoothly and
logically)
Accuracy (names of people and organizations,
titles and jobs, ages, dates, place)

9. Suggested steps in Copyreading
Clarity-keep the text simple by using simple
words instead of complex terms
Avoid jargon or specialized language
Check the time sequence
Use transitions. Each sentence logically
follows the previous sentence or relate to it.

10. Suggested steps in Copyreading
Brevity
Due to the fact that-because
City of Manila-Manila
At this point in time-now
At that point in time-then
Went on to say that-said
Necessary requirement-requirement
in reference to- about
in the near future-soon

11. Suggested steps in Copyreading
Editorializing or one’s own value judgment
amazing complex
awful crucial
best disturbing
certainly effectively
controversial exciting
definitely important
dramatic respected
astounding shocking
bad perfectly

12. Suggested steps in Copyreading
Offensive language
addict adulterer
alcoholic hypocrite
bankrupt unethical
cheater unprofessional
ex-convict murderer
incompetent corrupt
unmarried mother dishonest
mentally illcrazy
traitor
Grammar
Punctuation

13. Suggested steps in Copyreading
Repetition/Redundancies
Advance planning-planning
Complimentary free gift- gift
cooperate together- cooperate
still remain-remain
true facts- true
large in size-large
yellow in color-yellow
exactly identical-identical

14. Suggested steps in Copyreading
Sexist pronouns and gender-biased terms
fireman- firefighter
chairman-chairperson
mankind-people/humanity
manpower-workers/work force
founding fathers-pioneers
policeman-police officer
salesman-salesperson

15. Suggested steps in Copyreading
Grammar
Subject-verb agreement
Dangling modifiers
Parallel Construction
Active and passive
Repetition
Misused prepositions
Punctuation
3. Reread the story

24. STYLE GUIDE

is a set of rules mainly in
punctuation, abbreviation, use of
figures, capitalization, spelling, etc.

25. Use of Figures:
 Spell out figures from one to nine. Ten and
above should be written as Arabic numeral.
EXCEPTIONS:
-Avoid beginning a sentence with a figure. If you
must the figure must be spelled out.
-When the numbers are put together or
juxtaposed, use figures.
-e.g. The vote was 53 to 8. The hen laid 3 eggs;
the goose, 10.

26.  Use figures for:
 Time- 7a.m. (not 7:00 a.m.), 12:05p.m. Do not
capitalize a.m. or p.m.
 Date- June 12, 1995. omit the st, rd, th after
dates. Use figures for centuries, 20th
century
 Money- P5 (not P5.00) The letter M may be
used to signify million in headlines. (P1M lost in
fire)

27.  Weights and Measures- 52 kilos, 26 gantas, 100
cc.
 Scores- Philippines, 72, Red China, 60
 Sports record- 10.2 sec.
 Express a series of two or more years thus:
2015-2016
 In newspaper copy , write percentages, thus:
17 percent

28. Abbreviations:
1.Titles
a. Abbreviate and capitalize commonly used
titles before full names or surnames.
Prof., Dr. Rep. Maj., Gov., Cmdr.
Some titles are never abbreviated.
President, Vice President, secretary,
Treasurer, Papal Nuncio, Cardinal,
Archbishop, Bishop

29. b. Long titles which follows names should be
spelled out in full and written in lower case
Dr. Domingo M. Lantican, vice chancellor for
administration,…
Or Vice chancellor for administration Dr.
Domingo M. Lantican

30. Titles are abbreviated when used before
a person’s full name or before his first
name’s initial and his surname. Titles are
spelled out when only the surname
follows.
Dr. Mark Dumaplin
Dr. E. Dumaplin
Doctor Dumaplin

31. 2. Geographical Terms
a. The Republic of the Philippines may be
abbreviated in headlines.
b. Names of cities and provinces are not
abbreviated.
San Pablo, Laguna, not S.P. , Laguna
c. Streets and addresses
Street, avenue and boulevard should be
abbreviated and capitalized in addresses
a.Times St. , 39 Rizal Ave., Roxas Blvd.

32. 3. Names of organizations
should be written in full at first mention. They
should be followed by either the acronym of
initials, in capital letters, without periods, in
parentheses.
e.g. The University Student Council (USC)
Philippine Long Distance Telephone
Company (PLDT)
In subsequent mentions, initials may be used.
The USC held its election yesterday.

33.  Some acronyms are written in either capital or
lower case letters or in all capital letters,
depending on how each company generally
uses them.
Unesco, Meralco, DepEd

34. 4. Months and dates
-Abbreviate months when used with dates,
except March, April, May, June, July
Dec. 25 , 1982
-Spell out months when they appear without
date
in January
on Jan.10
September 2015

35. Percent
Use percent not the symbol % in body matter.
The symbol may be used only in tabulation.
And
Use and not the symbol & except when part of a
name as in D &S Restaurant.

36. 5. Spelling
-Use simpler, shorter form when a word has
more than one spelling.
cigaret not cigarette; likable not likeable
-Avoid British spellings.
honor-not honour
organize-not organise

37. 6. Punctuations
Use of the Period:
-Omit the period in the abbreviation of offices,
schools and organizations
WHO AFP PNU

38.  Use the period instead of parentheses
with numerals or letters accompanying
an enumeration:
1. not (1)
a. Not (a)
Use a period for declarative statements.

39.  Use of the Comma
-Use commas to set off identifications:
Dr. Josefina R. Navarro, superintendent,
Division of City Schools, Manila

40.  Do not use a comma between a man’s
name and Jr., Sr., III, etc.
Fortunato David Jr.
Roberto Ruiz III
Sergio Osmena Sr.

41.  -Omit commas in ages, time, distances,
measurements, etc.
17 years 11months 23 days
2 hours 50 minutes 21 seconds

42.  Use of the Colon
 -Use the colons to introduce a series of names,
statements, etc.
The officers elected were: Oliver Tejaro,
president; Ramon Lacbain, vice president;
Liza Sangui, secretary; and Ofelia Miranda,
treasurer.
-Do not use the colon together with the dash as
in: Elected were: -

43. Use of the semi-colons
-Use the semi-colon to separate series of
names, addresses or identifications:
Rodrigo Cruz, San Miguel Tarlac;
Ernesto Bausa, San Roque, Tarlac.

44.  Use of the dash
Use a dash between two figures to
indicate the inclusion of all the
intervening figures:
Jan. 15-25
Avoid: from Jan. 10 to 14
Correct: from Jan 10 to Jan. 14
Better: Jan. 10-14

45. Use of the hyphen
-Omit the hyphen in the titles
vice president and general manager
-Use the hyphen in compound titles like
secretary-treasurer and sergeant-at-
arms. But editor in chief is spelled
without the hyphen.

46. Use a hyphen in writing figures of fractions:
twenty-four
three-fourths
-Use a hyphen in compound adjectives
18-year-old girl
well-known actor
so-called nationalist
-Do not use a hyphen in compound adjectives
the firs word of which is an adverb
newly elected barangay chairman

47.  Use of the Quotation Marks
-Do not use quotation marks in the names of
newspapers, magazines, animals, etc.
-Avoid using quotation marks in titles of
motion pictures, books, operas, and
paintings.
They saw the film The Three Musketeers.
But:
They saw the film, “Sa Ngalan ng Anak.”

48. -Use the quoataion marks in titles of speeches
and discussions which are long:
This year’s theme will be “ The Role of the
Youth in Nation Building.”
-Use close quotation marks always come after
commas.
“I don’t like her,” he said.

49. Activity: Choose the answer that follows
journalistic style. The other answer maybe
correct, too, but select the one commonly used
by the metropolitan dailies.
1.He graduated from (a. UST b. U.S.T. c. UST.)
2. He sold the item at (a. 85 centavos b. P.85)
each.
3. On his last birthday, he was (a. 17 years, 11
months, 23 days b. 17 years eleven months 23
days c. 17 years 11 months 23 days)

50. 4. The noted (a. sculptor, Tolentino b. sculptor
Tolentino) is also interested in occult science.
5. The seminar will be held (a. from Jan. 10 to Jan.
14 b. from Jan. 10 to 14 c. Jan.10-14)
6.Who do you think will be the next (vice-
president b. vice president?)

51. 7. The two jeeps collided at the corner of
a. recto Avenue and Quezon Boulevard
b. Recto ave. & Quezon blvd.
c. Recto Ave. and Quezon Blvd.
8. The Japanese bombed Pearl harbor (a. Dec.
1941 b. December, 1941 c. December 1941).
9. The parade was held (a. January 1, 2016 b. Jan.
1, 2016 c. January 1 2016)

52. 10. The guest speaker was
(a. Professor Florencia Sugue b. Prof. Sugue c.
Prof. Florencia Sugue).
11. Dr. Charity Santos, (a. principal b. Principal)
bared initial plans for the school’s foundation
day.)
12. The meeting was held in (a. Room 10 at
5 p.m. b. room 10 at 5pm c. room 10 at 5P.M.)

53. 13. The (a. guidaance counsellors b.guidance
counselors) of the Philippine Normal University
are well paid off.
14. Ten (a. per cent, b. percent, c. %) of those
who took the examinations failed.
15. How many ( a. enrolled b. enroled) in
Journalism?

54.  SLUGLINE-short name or title-usually one or
two words-a story is given for quick and easy
identification in the newsroom
Grenade blast
News
Garry M. Achacoso
January 15, 2016

55.  Printer’s Direction for Headline
Grenade blast kills 2 kids
(23.5 uc ) 2/24/TNR-B/1
FL/DS
where: 23.5 refers to unit counts
2 = no. of columns
24= font size
TNR-B= font family/type
1- no of deck/line

56.  Printer’s Direction for Lead
2/11/TNR-B
where 2 refers to the no. of columns
12 refers to the font size
TNR-B= refers to the font type /family
For body text
2/10/TNR-N

57. Font Size 1 column 2 Columns 3 Columns 4 Columns 5 Columns 6 Columns
18 points 16 units 33 units 40 units
24 points 13 units 27 units 32 units 43 units
30 points 10.5 units 21.5 units 28 units 38 units 47.5 units
36 points 9 units 18.5 units 23.5 units 32 units 40 units 48 units
42 points 7.5 units 15.5 units 20.5units 28 units 35 units 42.5 units
48 points 13.5 units 18 units 24.5 units 30.5 units 37 units
54 points 12 units 16 units 21.5 units 27.5 units 33 units
60 points 14 units 18.5 units 23 units 28 units
72 points
Headline Schedule Chart- is a chart that allows one to translate a headline order into
specific count. It tells how many counts of a given point size can fit into a given column
width.
Source: Cecilia Friend, Don Challenger, and Katherine C. McaDAMS, Contemporary
Editing ( McGraw-Hill, 2005).

58. Activity:
Provide a printer’s direction for a headline
with this specification: a one-line flushleft
downstyle headline extending across two
columns with 27 unit counts. The font type used
is Bodoni bold in 24 points.

59. 2/24/Bodoni-B/1
27 uc ----------------
FL/DS

60. The lead occupies the two columns of the
newspaper using 11 points, Times New Roman
Bold

61. 2/11/TNR-B

62. The body is written in two columns, Times New
Roman normal, 10 points.

63. The body is written in two columns, Times New
Roman normal, 10 points.
2/10/TNR-N