Chicago Style Workout 14: Editing Tables
This workout centers on paragraphs 3.82–89 of CMOS 18. Advanced editors might tackle the questions cold; learners can study he relevant section in CMOS before answering the questions.
Section 8.1 in the Spotlight
It’s not always obvious whether a word should be capitalized. We know to cap proper names of people, holidays, cities, and countries. But what about words like dad, state, or president? Confusion arises when the same word is capped in one context and lowercased in another:
Chicago Style for the Singular They
Since the announcement that the 17th edition of The Chicago Manual of Style will arrive in September, there has been a lot of buzz about some of the announced changes to the Manual. We’ll be looking closer at some of the changes over the coming weeks. First up is the pronoun they when it refers to a singular antecedent.
Announcing The Chicago Manual of Style, 17th Edition
Yes, the rumors are true: there will be a new CMOS in September! In the seven years since the 16th edition’s debut we’ve seen large shifts in the way we read, write, edit, and do research. The 17th edition will address these changes as well as incorporate many of the suggestions and queries we’ve received over the
But Is It Wrong?
One of the primal joys in life is to do good work. When the suit fits, the accounts balance, or the pie crust is flakey, someone takes pride in it.
In editing, it feels good to make corrections, tidy things up, and serve the reader. It feels good to put knowledge into practice. And—admit it—it feels good to spot an error! . . . Problems arise when
Chicago Style Workout 13:
Permissible Changes to Quotations
This workout centers on paragraph 12.7 of CMOS<.em> 18. Of course, any change to a quotation of someone else’s work must be made with extreme care. Even advanced editors might wish to take a look at CMOS before answering the questions.
Section 6.119 in the Spotlight
Many quotations end with a period or comma:
“He’s gone.” She turned away.
“Indeed,” he said.
Others end with a question mark or exclamation point, in which case
Chicago Style Workout 12:
Inclusive Numbers
Do you know Chicago style for number ranges? Is it 142–3, 142–43, or 142–143? This month’s workout, “Inclusive Numbers,” covers paragraphs 9.60–64 in CMOS 17.
Sections 5.212–15 in the Spotlight
Can you spy anything wrong with the following sentences?
Erin Brenner and Laura Poole talk about getting a start in copyediting
Today CMOS Shop Talk launches a new occasional series called “Getting a Start in . . . ,” in which we ask publishing professionals how they came to do the jobs they do. In this post, editor Carol Saller talks to Erin Brenner and Laura Poole, who own and operate the Pilcrow Group, Inc., which includes Copyediting newsletter and its training division.
