Robert Hobkirk's Blog: Hobkirk Blog - Posts Tagged "proof-reading"
hyphen or a dash
8/23/15
Proof reading for publication Blind Date, I came upon several hyphens where dashes should have been if I was going to put out a kosher copy.
Way back in the day, in the land of typewriters there was a dash symbol on the key board and writers used it. (BTW it's used without spacing.), but along came the computer keyboard and on the American keyboard (keyboards are different all over the world) there was no dash symbol. U can insert it with Num on lock + Control + Alt + Minus sign, but that's a hassle. So the folks started using hyphens instead of dashes.
The morning I was pondering this, I looked at the morning paper and noticed that they used a hyphen instead of the proper dash. I looked in an old printing of Our Winter of Discontent and noticed they used dashes, but how strange it looked when used properly without spacing.
I thought if I changed my hyphens to dashes, folks would think it's an error because today it's so uncommon; therefore, in the proof I left the hyphens in. I wouldn't worry about it being kosher, reformed would do.
Proof reading for publication Blind Date, I came upon several hyphens where dashes should have been if I was going to put out a kosher copy.
Way back in the day, in the land of typewriters there was a dash symbol on the key board and writers used it. (BTW it's used without spacing.), but along came the computer keyboard and on the American keyboard (keyboards are different all over the world) there was no dash symbol. U can insert it with Num on lock + Control + Alt + Minus sign, but that's a hassle. So the folks started using hyphens instead of dashes.
The morning I was pondering this, I looked at the morning paper and noticed that they used a hyphen instead of the proper dash. I looked in an old printing of Our Winter of Discontent and noticed they used dashes, but how strange it looked when used properly without spacing.
I thought if I changed my hyphens to dashes, folks would think it's an error because today it's so uncommon; therefore, in the proof I left the hyphens in. I wouldn't worry about it being kosher, reformed would do.
The horror of it - Proof Reading
My stuff gets proof read 4 times for glitches, like typos. With each read I find errors I didn't see before as if the paper is possessed by the glitch demon. This punishment should only be given out to horror writers if there is going to be any merit to the saying "you reap what you sow."
Even reading a classic, I'll find a glitch now and then. Stuff happens.
Even reading a classic, I'll find a glitch now and then. Stuff happens.
