Traditional Copy Editing Symbols

As discussed towards the end of Chapter 2 in Creative Editing for Canadian Journalists, traditional copying editing symbols are shorthand symbols used to edit pieces of writing. The use of arrows, wiggly lines, circles, dashes, etc. are supposed to make the editing process easier and more efficient. Oh, how the times have changed.

With the many advances in technology, these symbols have little to no relevance in the world of journalism today. Unless you prefer the sound of an old typewriter, or the intimacy of a pen and paper, you're most likely doing your writing on a computer with the use of a program such as Word. Depending on what version or edition you're using, much of the editing is done with little to no effort of the writer. Many spelling and grammar mistakes are corrected instantaneously, and many of those that are not, are caught when reviewing the piece before printing takes place. Although it would seem traditional copy editing symbols do not have a place in this new world of journalism, they do still serve a purpose, as minor as it may be.

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Traditional copy editing symbols can still be used when doing a final scan over a printed piece of work. Many writers often find mistakes when examining their work on paper that went unnoticed while typing it out. This is really the only time when these symbols come in handy. However, the fact that these symbols are "shorthand" is irrelevant. For the most part, any editing that remains can most likely be put right on the piece without worrying too much about taking up time or space.

To conclude, the 10 easy steps for editing can serve a small purpose. However, if your work requires so much editing that there is an actual need for these shorthand symbols, than perhaps you should start being a little more cautious when editing your work. Lastly, as all journalism should be balanced, here are Susan's Eder's views on the subject.

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