A copy editor is usually the only person to read the whole magazine in its entirety, without skimming. This can be a daunting task, especially for a large magazine that has an established brand image to maintain. Accidentally overlooking a misspelled word or name, for example, can lessen the credibility and damage the publication. Thus, the responsibility is huge. Keep in mind the following tips for spotless magazine copy editing.
Checklist for Copy Editing the Magazine Cover
The cover is the most important page, as it is the most exposed. Remember to proofread all the little elements including the:
- Spine: Is any information missing such as the volume or issue number? Is everything spelled correctly? Is the date correct?
- Cover lines: Is the font correct? Are the grammar and spelling flawless? Are there any awkward wordings or complicated words that the general public may not understand? Are there any libelous claims? Are the number lists correct? For instance, if it says “632 ways to look great,” are there really 632 ways, or are there only 629?
- Roof lines: The roof line is a thin strip of banner on the top that may describe what the magazine is about. For instance, Lucky magazine’s roof line is “The magazine about shopping and style.” Is it aligned properly and does it use the right font?
- UPC code: Proofread and make sure the date and price are correct.
Checklist for Copy Editing the Magazine Editorial Content
All magazines follow a style guide such as the widely used AP Style book. Many publications also use an in-house style guide for those gray area questions regarding spelling and style. Remember to check:
- Table of contents: Are there any extra spaces? Are the page numbers correctly referenced? (Turn to the pages to double check.)
- Editorial product spreads: Do the product captions align with the photos? Is the information consistent? Is any photo missing?
- Articles: Look for mistakes in the headlines, subheads, pull quotes, sidebars, diagrams and photo captions. If the end of the article points the reader to another page, is that page number correct? Are there any orphans and widows to fix?
- Slugs: The slugs are the section titles that categorize each subject, e.g., features, beauty, advice, etc. Are they titled appropriately and located at the right spot?
- Footers: Make sure there are no pages numbers that are duplicated, skipped or missing. If the issue is for December, does it say December consistently throughout?
The guidelines above are useful tips for copy editing magazines and spotting errors efficiently from cover to cover. However, no one is perfect and it’s best to keep honing skills by staying well rounded. Revisit old grammar books like Elements of Style, read widely and keep up with helpful sites including CopyEditing.com and the popular blog The Slot.
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