Copyediting and Proofreading For Dummies: From Bench to Clinic

Easy to follow, packed with great info, this guide is a must read for all editors

Has what I need to know, covers the basics which I can refer back to while I am learning to proof read and mark text so others understand the needed changes if any. Good starting point.

guida valida non solo per gli USA, ma anche per la nostra editoria

This is an excellent way to review basics and styles of proofreading and marking copy. After a Career of Publication Graphic Design, mostly before computers, I "retired" from the newly stressed nightmares of last minute "Damage Control" for major Corporate Publications now handled by Secretaries with Top Line Computers and new Publishing Software. I was in the Graphics Dept. and received those Secretaries' older Desktop Computers instead of what I required. My "new -to-me" Desktop Systems were their old units: underpowered, slow and with limited memory and older Art, Drafting and Publishing Software. Since the Manager of my Department was NOT A Graphic Designer, I have never regretted that early retirement decision. This gem of a reference book is helping me now. Now that I'm writing, illustrating and proofing my own stuff before it gets to the publishers, I wanted to make my efforts look good before the Editors receive them. This book helps me a lot. My Editors still know I'm "A Cartoonist" but they treat me and my writing style with a better tolerance because I appear to be making a professional effort. References for further training, the practice proofreading exercises and suggestions for other guidelines throughout this book are extremely helpful, and fun. I do have a better respect for what the Editors do to prepare my future "masterpieces" for that first printing.

I wasn't expecting a great deal from this book, so I was pleasantly surprised at both its length (364 pages) and its depth. Although this book is a part of the "Dummies" series, it contains information about the publishing world that I have not found in any of my other books on copy editing. It also includes extensive information on copy editing and proofreading, of course, in addition to hints on how to tactfully deal with clients and bosses as well as how to grow one's business and expand one's repertoire. It does NOT contain extensive "editing exercises", but I didn't expect it to (for that, I would recommend "Practical Grammar" by Ruvinsky or "The Great Grammar Challenge" by EEI). All in all, a surprisingly great addition to my library of editing books.