Revising with Style Manuals
This assignment was done for module #10 for the discussion Copyediting for Consistency and Style.
We were tasked copyediting using a particular style manual for reference. I chose the Government Publishing Office Style Manual (2016).
The manual can be found at this link:
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GPO-STYLEMANUAL-2016/pdf/GPO-STYLEMANUAL-2016.pdf
Question:
Should you include a comma in these sentences?
1. After all the project has to come in on time.
2. Without the editor's keen eye we certainly would have missed the mistake.
Answer:
According to Section 8.42, "The comma is used between an introductory modifying phrase and the subject modified."
Yes, both sentences should include commas.
1. After all, the project has to come in on time.
2. Without the editor's keen eye, we certainly would have missed the mistake.
Question:
Should you write "four new items" or "4 new items"?
Answer:
According to Section 12.1, "Most rules for the use of numerals are based on the general principle that the reader comprehends numerals more readily than numerical word expressions, particularly in technical, scientific, or statistical matter." Furthermore, according to Section 12.4, "Units of measurement and time, actual or implied, are expressed in figures."
4 new items.
Question:
How would you write these Chinese names: Su Zhixun or Zhang Xinjin?
Answer:
According to Section 5.26, "In the spelling of nongeographic words transliterated from Chinese, Japanese, or any other language that does not have a Latin alphabet, copy is to be followed literally."
Su Zhixun or Zhang Xinjin (Keep the names as is).
Question:
How do you cite a website in a reference list?
Answer:
According to Section 2.128, "There are many styles available to bibliographers, for there are many classes of documents."
It seems that this manual accepts multiple ways to format bibliographies or references. A note at the end of this section states the following "Consistency is more important in bibliographic style than the style itself."
Question:
How do you cite a quotation taken from a journal article?
Answer:
Also according to Section 2.128, "Clarity may be maintained by capitalizing each word in book titles, with only the first word in the title of articles."
In this instance, the manual still accepts multiple ways of formatting, however suggests to only capitalize the first word of the journal title instead of the entire title.
Question:
Do you need a comma after every introductory element?
Answer:
According to Section 8.42, "The comma is used between an introductory modifying phrase and the subject modified."
Yes, a comma is needed after every introductory element.
Question:
You are copyediting a document that describes a fossil that dates from 700 B.C.E. What does that mean, and is it wrong?
Answer:
In Section 9.7, the manual provides a list of example abbreviations, including "A.D." and "B.C."
Following this style, the date would be written as 700 B.C.
700 B.C.E. stands for "Before Christian Era". It is not particularly wrong, but not accepted for this style manual.
Question:
Should there be a comma after "Pandora" in this sentence?
"The class covers Greco-Roman mythological figures, including Zues/Jupiter, Pandora and Hestia/Vesta."
Answer:
According to Section 8.46, "The comma is used after each member within a series of three or more words, phrases, letters, or figures used with and, or, or nor."
Yes, a comma is needed after "Pandora" because there are three or more words used with "and".