The Copyeditor's Handbook: A Guide for Book Publishing and Corporate Communications, With Exercises and Answer Keys

by Amy Einsohn

The Copyeditor's Handbook is a lively, practical manual for newcomers to publishing and for experienced editors who want to fine-tune their skills or broaden their understanding of the craft. This book may be used for self-instruction or as a textbook in copyediting classes. The exercises are accompanied by answer keys and detailed line-by-line explanations.

The third edition features

• Updates reflecting the 16th edition of The Chicago Manual of Style and the most current editions of other major style manuals.

• Additional updates to register technology-driven changes in onscreen editing procedures and typecoding.

• A revised chapter on resources for editors.

• Expanded bibliography and glossary.

Genres: Writing, Reference, Nonfiction, Language, School, College, Books About Books

576 pages, Paperback

First published May 16, 2000

Reviews

[Betsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's been 44 years since I started my first job out of college, as a copy editor at Scott, Foresman, educational publishers. Throughout my incredibly checkered career, one consistent thread has been editing. No matter what the job or where it's taken me, my editorial switch just always seems to be in the "on" position. This is the context for my reading of Amy Einsohn's very useful guide to copyediting.

Now that I'm retired from the completely engrossing field of user experience design, in which I worked as an information architect for many years, my dial is recalibrating to the somewhat less engrossing work of copyediting. I've been busy with this ever since I left VSA Partners, eager to abandon the "software du jour" requirements that made the job increasingly technical and ever more demanding.

I knew I needed some help in navigating the Chicago Manual of Style, which had tripled in size since my first copy, the 12th edition, in 1968. The 16th edition is over 1,000 pages and is fondly referred to as "the orange monster" by some of my editor pals. So I signed up for a couple of refresher courses offered online by the Editorial Freelancers Association, based in New York.

Einsohn's book is one of two texts for the course, and at a mere 500 or so pages it is the perfect companion piece to the CMS. The author writes with a light touch and a sense of humor. The language is simple and direct, and there are ample illustrations that accompany the text. Einsohn even includes exercises and an answer key.

If you think you've got potential as an editor, this book is a good place to start finding out. Most of copyediting consists of mechanical corrections and not the improvement of poorly written manuscripts. Surprised? I was, too, but this is reflective of the change that the world of publishing has undergone in the last three decades. If you're already working as a copy editor, you may be surprised to discover that making writing better falls in the category of "we don't have budget for that" and "that" is considered heavy copyediting. One thing this book and this course have made me realize is that I've been undercharging for my services!

[Thomas Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sign at the farm said,

duck, eggs

I thought, "That's an unnecessary comma."



And then it hit me.







"But the work had told upon the Editor. Work of that sort carries its penalties with it. Success means absorption, and absorption spells softening of the brain." --P.G. Wodehouse, 1915, /Psmith, Journalist/.








Now, a short quiz:
https://www.goodreads.com/trivia/work...

[Kimi]

[Katja Labonté · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars & 5/10 hearts. This was my university textbook for two years. It was worth every penny. This book teaches so much about the (copy)editing business. It’s mostly with in-house editors in mind, but works well for freelancers too. It would be impossible for me to list everything it teaches! From why we edit to what to use to edit to writing queries to how to edit graphics… it teaches almost everything, and it teaches it in very readable, interesting language.
The reason why I remove half a star is that the book is very secular and very feminist (although thankfully it doesn’t touch on the topic of “gender neutrality” too much). But the book has a very strong although understated bias against religion, conventions, or conservative ideas, which got old quickly, and became irritating even more quickly; and I got pretty tired of all the women-are-so-oppressed mentality… I’m here to learn how to edit, not to get a crash course on your thoughts about feminism. Also, there were a few instances of language and perhaps a few mentions of unsavoury things… I don’t quite recall though.
I will do a more detailed review later on, because I totally plan to reread this book frequently! This book does have a few issues, but overall it is indispensable and so, so worth reading and studying. I highly recommend it for editors, particularly freelancers.

[Sally Hanan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'll be pulling this out from time to time to read a chapter, but shelving it for now to get it off the currently reading list. It's a great read.

[Mook · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was required reading for my Ryerson copyediting course; unlike several previous textbooks I have bought in the past, this one is an excellent and informative reference.

I have not read it cover to cover (does anyone do that with reference books?), but I have read a solid 95% of it so I feel qualified to give this review.

Easy to read, laid out well, full of good information, great index and glossary - I will definitely be keeping this one and adding it to my shelf of reference books.

[Andy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Half the people on the major freelance editing and writing circuit have desktop published their own books (which they'll happily sell you--in PDF format), and not one that I've read is worth a yard-sale price. Einsohn's book, on the other hand, really gives the entry-level editor what is needed to start the job on the right foot: advice, techniques, processes, and loads of tips and practice segments.

Now, all you need is someone to pay you for being a manuscript tyrant...

[Ayesha Tahir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why did I go ahead and read the rest even tho I have other things to do and no readings were assigned? Idk honestly I’ll just do anything but work I guess.

Solid textbook, v helpful, enjoyed it v much lowkey even tho it’s a book about actual editing fr fr

[Clare · Rating 4 out of 5]

So my last career move was to take a copy editor position at a place that was happy to hire me with just my experience in technical editing and proofreading, and then proceeded to have no training in copy editing at all, let alone the substantive and developmental editing that they also expected. In an unsuccessful bid to self-train, I read The Copyeditor’s Handbook, by Amy Einsohn.

Now, when I say this bid to self-train was unsuccessful, I do not mean that the book did not help me learn a lot about copyediting and improve, as nearly everyone I worked with regularly commented that I was improving. It’s just that it did not save me my job, as the people I worked with and the people who decided who stayed and who got purged were different people, and the latter did not consult the former.

But I am glad I read the book anyway, for it is really an excellent treasure trove of information about what copyediting is, how best to approach it, what makes it different from other kinds of editing (information I sadly had to ignore but which I have filed away for future use in other positions), how office copyediting jobs are usually set up (this was where it was most obvious that the subject of the book was traditional book publishing, which is not what I was doing), and most importantly, how to do it. This involved a lot of exercises. The exercises were particularly great because they had an answer key that not only gave the right answers, but explained them, including style variants that would affect potential correct answers. It’s also written in a lively, occasionally funny voice, and discusses the various controversies, myths, and general sticky points of language in a sensible, well-informed way. I also think it hits a good balance between teaching copyeditors to be conservative in their language use and edits without being cranky, backwards, or elitist.

I may need to invest in my own copy—it seems like a really good resource to have on hand and keep using.

[Brian Griffith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Einsohn once or twice a year. She covers so much, so well, that it's always a helpful refresher. In discussing editorial issues she goes beyond issuing decrees. She compares approaches from different style guides, and quotes contending arguments for a larger problem-solving view. In fact, I have to suspect that her intelligent middle path between dogmatic legalism and unprincipled permissiveness is indeed the key to world peace.

[Gabrielle (Estel.Edits) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great text to build on editorial house styles.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for a possible future post-retirement-retirement job.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are looking for a comprehensive book on copyediting search no farther. This book covers what copyediting is and isn’t, the different levels of copyediting, principles and pitfalls, and grammar.

There are tons of great examples and exercises throughout the book, and the reference section was extremely helpful. The Copyeditor’s Handbook is a great book for both copyeditors and writers.

[Savannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoy this book so much that it is being read front to back. I actually have it as my current nighttime read. Thorough, thoughtful, and very readable; it is indispensable if editing is your line of work.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this over the course of a few months for three different classes on editing. I found some good information inside. Now I plan to read it again at my own pace to absorb the material better.

[Jaclyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

My only issue is that this guide is meant for Americans, and so not always great for specific rules and spelling :(

[Holly-Anne Eilander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent resource, though some extra information is needed for those working outside of the US.

[Rachel Luck · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this baby cover to cover. An extremely valuable resource. Super user friendly and easy to follow.

[Stephen Haines · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the many texts that I had to devour in order to complete an Editing certificate @ University of Washington, so I thought it would be fair to include (in the least) one of them in my reading challenge for the year.

This book is an outstanding resource that very much feels indispensable from other works in this field of work/study. If someone were to only pick this book up, and read it thoroughly, they really could teach themselves to copyedit, if they were committed & sought out other tidbits. I know that I will continue to refer to this book plenty in my life & career moving forward, if only for refreshing on things from time to time.

[Swapnali Saikia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first book purchase when I took up my first job as an editor for technology writing in the corporate world. The found the book extremely helpful, because we hardly had any guidance or training on the art and science of copyediting. What I best liked about this book is the "Reference Book and Resources" section. I bought some of the books recommended in this section, and the learning from those books is manifold.

[Jessyca Yoppolo · Rating 3 out of 5]

I originally read this edition for my editing class and now I am rereading it for work. Granted, I lacked studiousness immediately after finishing my undergraduate degree, so I glanced here and there the first time around. Money is a fantastic motivator.

Although this edition is outdated, it is very well constructed and well rounded. It has a little something for everyone, although it's focus is primarily on book publishing. It doesn't impose a certain style on anyone—it summarizes and compares what a lot of style guides and experts say about copyediting.

It is certainly a useful tool. I wonder what the fourth edition is like . . . (I would have to buy it to find out, but I'm so tired of creating waste by buying paper books that release new editions . . .)

[Elisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

As far as reference books go, The Copyeditor's Handbook is informative, interesting, and easy to read. Einsohn writes clearly and succinctly and leaves no angle of copyediting unexplored. I'm an etymology nerd so I especially loved the footnotes about historic disagreements in terms of editing. Overall, a highly practical manual anyone interested in copyediting should have at the ready.

[Carrow Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was looking for a book about copyediting and this was a repeated referral. After reading, I can see why. It's fantastic in presentation, clear writing, and an easy read. I meant to take a week to read it, but finished it in a few days. The exercises in the book are a great reinforcement of the content and I bring the book with me to writing group now.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A quick reference and a must-have for any editor or writer. I haven't had a grammar lesson, since middle school, so this was a much-needed refresher on grammar, usage, and tricky/confusing word placement. There are exercises at the end of each chapter and corresponding answers in the back. Definitely worth the read/purchase!

[Heather Doughty · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a terrific reference book. The book represents a lot of research and knowledge. Each chapter has many examples to demonstrate problems in writing, including practice sections at the end. It took me a while to read the entire book, but I know it will be a handy reference tool in the future.

[anonymousreader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Everything you ever wanted to know about grammar and punctuation, plus how to mark up a document as you edit. The book also includes sample passages to practice editing at the end of each section.

The author really knows her stuff!

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A comprehensive guide to copyediting ranging from industry standards, editorial styles, common grammatical errors, and best career practices. 10/10 would recommend for any aspiring writer, editor, or book publisher!

[Melisa Blok · Rating 4 out of 5]

A super helpful book on the job of a copyeditor. I found it thorough, informative, and pretty interesting to read, which is saying something for this kind of book.

[Raya P Morrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative, and has great exercises.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

As engaging as a book about copy-editing can be. A great guide for beginners. I skipped the parts that seemed very outdated (i.e. working with hard copies).