San Diego Professional Editors Network
Reference Tools
". . . invaluable when editing . . ."
Dictionaries
Most copy editors use several dictionaries, one or two of which may look more dog-eared than the rest. Specialized dictionaries are invaluable when editing for specific fields such as medicine, law, biotechnology, computer technology, or the government. Here are some of the more commonly used dictionaries.
- Merriam-Webster's
Collegiate Dictionary, 11th Edition
- Webster's
Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language
- Random
House Webster's College Dictionary
Style Guides
Even the most astute editors grapple with difficult style and usage questions. Many of these questions are resolved by following house style (the common style used by the publisher or company for whom the editor is working). But often, style decisions must be made by the editor, who will usually turn to one of several style and usage guides on the market.
- The
Elements of Style, 4th Edition
- The
Chicago Manual of Style, 15th Edition
- The
Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law
- Publication
Manual of the American Psychological Association, 5th Edition
- AMA
Manual of Style: A Guide for Authors and Editors, 10th Edition
- MLA
Style Manual and Guide to Scholarly Publishing, 2nd Edition
- Words
into Type, 3rd Edition
- Wired
Style
Thesauruses
Sometimes writers use words that have negative connotations, that are imprecise, or whose usage is confusing. Editors use thesauruses to suggest alternatives.
Online Resources
Although the Internet is still a fairly new resource for some editors, many are finding it to be the simplest way to resolve discrepancies, such as dates of historical events or the correct spelling of famous names.
- Search engines
- Online dictionaries
- Online newspapers, magazines, journals
- Online reference materials
- Online address guides, yellow pages
- Virtual libraries
Making Books
1947 Encyclopedia Britannica Video
The process of transforming a typed manuscript into a printed book was quite different in 1947 than it is today. This 11-minute video shows how things were done in the printing world, before the computer age.
: : Watch the video
Music With a Message
Check out this upbeat power pop tune, Copy Editor's Lament (The Layoff Song), by Christopher Ave, career journalist and lifelong musician. Ave creates custom, royalty-free music for Web sites, video projects, and business customers. He also works fulltime as political editor for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
