Thursday, 20 February 2014

Error! Error!

   A freelancer wants to know if it is alright to ask an editor whether, after her article is edited, she can review it before it is published. This is an important question. Why? Writers make mistakes that slip past editors. Editors mis-edit. Layout people make mistakes.
   Can you spot the mistake layout made with this image? (Clue: read my cutline.)

“This screen shot shows the view of the proposed control tower (left) and the current tower (right) …” *

   With every new editor I make this simple, one-time offer: “I’d be happy to review my article after you have edited it and after it has been laid out.”
     Expect one of three replies:

1) No.
2) Yes to just the text.
3) Yes to text and layout.

   * The image I submitted had two towers (See the little spike on the horizon, left?), but layout cropped the right-hand one out. The error made it into print. (Layout people do not read cutlines before chopping, and I don't think editors review images that closely.)

Copyright © Carroll McCormick 2014

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