Editing & Proofreading Flashcards

A writer submits copy with 'alot' used repeatedly. What should the editor flag?

Answer: A nonstandard word that should be 'a lot'

'Alot' is not a standard English word; the correct form is always two words: 'a lot.'

What does it mean to 'substantively edit' a manuscript?

Answer: Address content, organization, clarity, and argument

Substantive editing (also called developmental editing) focuses on the big-picture elements of content, structure, and clarity.

The sentence 'Between you and I, the report was flawed' contains which error?

Answer: Wrong pronoun case after a preposition

Prepositions require object pronouns; 'between you and me' is correct, not 'between you and I.'

When should an editor use '[sic]' in a quoted passage?

Answer: To signal that an error or unusual usage appears in the original source

'[Sic]' indicates that an error or oddity exists in the original quoted text and was not introduced by the editor.

A document switches between 'organize' and 'organise' throughout. What should the editor do first?

Answer: Determine which style guide and regional standard applies

The correct spelling depends on whether the document follows American or British English conventions as specified by the applicable style guide.

Which of the following is an example of a 'widow' in typesetting/editing?

Answer: A single word on the last line of a paragraph

A widow is a very short last line of a paragraph—often a single word—that appears isolated and is considered poor typography.

An editor reads: 'The data shows a clear trend.' A strict grammarian might flag this because:

Answer: 'Data' is traditionally a plural noun requiring 'show'

Traditionally 'data' is the plural of 'datum,' requiring 'show,' though singular usage is increasingly accepted in many style guides.