- Copyediting Terms: AA - Folio
- Copyediting Terms: Font - X-Ref (below)
font
Characters in a given style and size of a typeface.
footer
One or two lines of copy, such as a chapter title, set at the bottom of each page of a document. Also called running foot.
front matter
Material at the front of manuscript or book: title page, copyright page, dedication, table of contents, list of illustrations, preface, acknowledgments, introduction. Also called prelims.
full caps
Text in all CAPITAL LETTERS.
full measure
The width of a text page.
galley
The first printed version (proof) of a document.
glance
A brief listing of information that accompanies a story.
GPO style
Editing conventions recommended by the United States Government Printing Office Style Manual--the style guide used by U.S. Government agencies.
gutter
The space or margin between facing pages.
hard copy
Any text that appears on paper.
head
Title that indicates the start of a section of a document or chapter.
headline style
Capitalization style for heads or titles of works in which all words are capitalized except articles, coordinating conjunctions, and prepositions. Sometimes prepositions longer than four or five letters are also printed in upper case. Also called UC/lc or title case.
headnote
Short explanatory material following a chapter or section title and preceding the running text.
house style
The editorial style preferences of a publisher.
index
Alphabetized table of contents, usually at the end of a book.
ital
Short for italics.
justify
Type set so that the margin is aligned. Book pages are generally justified left and right. Other documents are often justified only at the left (called ragged right).
kerning
Adjusting the space between characters.
kill
To order deletion of text or an illustration.
layout
A sketch indicating the arrangement of pictures and copy on a page. Also called dummy.
lead
Journalists' term for the first few sentences or the first paragraph of a story. Also spelled lede.
leading
The spacing of lines in a text.
legend
An explanation that accompanies an illustration. Also called caption.
letterspacing
The space between the letters of a word.
line editing
Editing copy for clarity, logic, and flow.
linespacing
The space between lines of text. Also called leading.
lowercase
Small letters (in contrast to capitals, or uppercase).
manuscript
The original text of an author’s work submitted for publication.
mark up
To put composition or editing instructions on copy or layouts.
MLA style
Editing conventions recommended by the Modern Language Association in the MLA Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing--the primary style guide used for academic writing in languages and literature.
MS
Short for manuscript.
monograph
A document written by specialists for other specialists.
N
Short for number.
numbered list
Vertical list in which each item is introduced by a numeral.
orphan
The first line of a paragraph that appears alone at the bottom of a page. Compare to widow.
page proof
Printed version (proof) of a document in page form. Also called pages.
pass
Read-through of a manuscript by a copyeditor.
PE
Short for printer's error.
pica
A printer's unit of measure.
plate
A page of illustrations.
point
A typesetting unit of measure used to indicate font sizes.
proof
A trial sheet of printed material made to be checked and corrected.
proofread
A form of editing in which errors of usage, punctuation, and spelling are corrected.
query
An editor's question.
ragged right
Text aligned at the left margin but not the right.
redline
On-screen or hard-copy version of a manuscript that indicates which text has been added, deleted, or edited since the previous version.
reproduction proof
A high-quality proof for final review before printing.
research editor
The person responsible for verifying the facts in a story before it is printed. Also called fact-checker.
rough
A preliminary page layout, not in finished form.
rule
A vertical or horizontal line on a page.
running head
One or two lines of copy, such as a chapter title, set at the top of each page of a document. Also called header.
sans serif
A typeface that does not have a serif (crossline) decorating the main strokes of the characters.
sentence style
Capitalization style for heads and titles in which all words are in lowercase except those that would be capitalized in a sentence. Also called initial cap only.
serial comma
Comma preceding and or or in a list of items (one, two, and three). Also called Oxford comma.
serif
A decorative line crossing the main strokes of a letter in some type styles such as Times Roman.
short title
Abbreviated title of a document used in a note or citation after the full title has been given on its first appearance.
sidebar
A short article or news story that complements or amplifies a major article or story.
signposting
Cross-references to topics previously discussed in a document.
sink
Distance from the top of a printed page to an element on that page.
slash
Name of the / character. Also called forward slash, stroke, or virgule.
specs
Specifications indicating typeface, point size, spacing, margins, etc.
stet
Latin for "let it stand." Indicates that text marked for deletion should be restored.
style sheet
Form filled in by a copy editor as a record of editorial decisions applied to a manuscript.
subhead
Small headline in the body of a text.
T of C
Short for table of contents. Also called TOC.
TK
Short for to come. Refers to material not yet in place.
trade books
Books meant for general readers, as distinguished from books intended for professionals or scholars.
trim
To reduce the length of a story. Also called boil.
trim size
Dimensions of a page of a book.
typo
Short for typographical error. A misprint.
UC
Short for uppercase (capital letters).
UC/lc
Short for uppercase and lowercase. Indicates that text is to be capitalized according to headline style.
unnumbered list
Vertical list in which items are not marked by either numbers or bullets.
uppercase
Capital letters.
widow
The last line of a paragraph that appears alone at the top of a page. Sometimes also refers to an orphan.
x-ref
Short for cross-reference.
