EXPLANATION OF MARKS ON SPECIMEN PROOF SHEET.

If it is desired to change any letters to capitals, small capitals, or Italics, the desired change is indicated by putting under the letters to be changed three lines for capitals, two for small capitals, or one for Italics, and writing in the margin opposite Caps., Sm. Caps.,

or Ital.

Capitals or small capitals are ordered changed to common letters by drawing a line under them, and writing in the margin l. c., an abbreviation of "lower case," the printer's name for the box in which the ordinary letters are kept.

To change from Italic to Roman, or from Roman to Italic, draw a line under the words to be changed, and write in the margin, either Ital. or Rom., as the case may be.

To correct a wrong letter, word, or mark of punctuation, draw a line through it, and write opposite, in the margin, what is to be substituted. In the case of a single letter, the erasure is made by a vertical line; but in the case of two or more letters, or complete words, a horizontal line is drawn.

Any omission (word, letter, or punctuation point) is written in the margin. A caret shows where to introduce what is thus marked in. When there is so much omitted that there is not room for it in the margin, it is written at the top or bottom of the page, and a line is used to show where it is to be introduced; or the error may be indicated by writing in the margin, Out: see copy.

A period, when marked in, should be inclosed in a circle. Apostrophes, quotation points, reference marks, superiors, and inferiors, should likewise be partly inclosed in a character like a V.

The hyphen, when marked in, should appear in the form of two short horizontal lines, and should be followed by a line nearly vertical. A dash should be placed between two such verticals.

Attention is drawn to an inverted letter by underscoring it, and writing opposite to it the character used in second line of proof sheet.

When it is necessary to expunge a letter or word, draw a line through it, and place in the margin a character resembling a d of current hand, which stands for the Latin word dele (erase).

When a letter or word should be transposed, a line is drawn around it, and carried to the place where it should stand, and the letters tr. are placed opposite. Or the transposition may be indicated by figures showing the desired order.

A character of an improper size or shape is noted by drawing a short line under it, and writing in the margin w.f., signifying wrong font. If letters that should join stand apart, draw a curved line beneath and another above the space that separates them, and repeat both curves in the margin. If space is wanting between two words, insert a caret where the space should be, and in the margin opposite make a character like a music sharp. A small line should be drawn under letters that are imperfect or dirty, and a cross like an X should be put in the margin.

When black marks appear between words (showing that the "spaces," or blank pieces of type are too high), attention is drawn to them by a mark like a double dagger in the margin.

To order the crooked letter of a word straightened, two parallel horizontal lines should be put in the margin, and such letters as are out of place should be underscored; or, if this irregularity extends through several lines, draw inclined lines in the text, as in latter part of proof sheet. When the ends of lines are uneven, a vertical line should be drawn beside them, and the word line be placed in the margin.

The omission of a lead is indicated by writing Lead opposite the place of omission, and drawing a short horizontal line where it is to be inserted. The removal of a lead is indicated by the dele sign, with the word Lead in the margin and a short horizontal line in the text to indicate the place.

A new paragraph is indicated by a paragraph mark in text and margin, or the words New par. in margin. When it is desired to combine two or more paragraphs into one, write in the margin No break, or Run on, and draw a connecting line between the paragraphs.

To move a word farther to the right or left, brackets should be put in the text and margin. The right- or left-hand bracket is used, according to the direction in which the word is to be moved.

If it is desired to retain a word which has been marked out, dots are placed beneath it, and the word stet (let it stand) is written in the margin.

A suggestion is made by writing in the margin Qy. (an abbreviation for Query) with the suggestion.

A line nearly vertical is put after all points in the margin, to separate the different marks, and to call attention to those which are liable to be overlooked.

SPECIMEN PROOF SHEET

ILLUSTRATING MARKS USED IN CORRECTION OF ERRORS.

Sm. Caps.

n

WILLIAM FALCONER.

William Falconer was the son of a a barber in

/ Edinburgh, and was born in 1730. He had very few

Λ

Λ

.

I

avantages of education, and (went to sea in early life) in the Merchant service. He afterward became mate was of a vessel that wrecked in the Levant and was saved,/ with only two of his crew this catastrophe formed Lead the subject of his poem entitled "The Shipwreck," on which his reputation as a writer chiefly rests. Early win w in 1769, his "Marine Dictionary" appeared, which Rom. hasbeen highly spoken of by those capable of esti -/ an. mating its merits.

Foun same |

In this-seam year, he embarked on the Aurora but y Com

A

e

V

quot.

the vessel was never heard of after she passed the
Cape; the poet of the Shipwreck is therefore sup-
posed to have perished by the same disaster he had
himself so graphically describd ¶ The subject of
"The_Shipwreck," and its authors fate, demand our
sympathy and interest. If we pay respect to the
ingenious scholar how much more interest must 9 Lead.
we take in the "shipboy on the high and giddy
mast," cherishing the hour which he may casually

1

Λ

snatch from danger and fatigue

refined visions of fancy

/

1-1

SPECIMEN PROOF SHEET

AS CORRECTED.

WILLIAM FALCONER.

WILLIAM FALCONER was the son of a barber in Edinburgh, and was born in 1730. He had very few advantages of education, and in early life went to sea in the merchant service. He afterward became mate of a vessel that was wrecked in the Levant, and was saved with only two of his crew. This catastrophe formed the subject of his poem entitled "The Shipwreck," on which his reputation as a writer chiefly rests. Early in 1769, his "Marine Dictionary" appeared, which has been highly spoken of by those capable of estimating its merits. In this same year, he embarked on the "Aurora;" but the vessel was never heard of after she passed the Cape: the poet of "The Shipwreck" is therefore supposed to have perished by the same disaster he had himself so graphically described.

The subject of "The Shipwreck," and its author's fate, demand our interest and sympathy. If we pay respect to the ingenious scholar who can produce agreeable verses in leisure and retirement, how much more interest must we take in the "ship boy on the high and giddy mast," cherishing refined visions of fancy at the hour which he may casually snatch from danger and fatigue!