What was the plane doing at NAS Bennington
when it was attached to the USS Loach?
What is the name of the squadron, and where is
the carrier operating?
A good copy editor should anticipate these
questions. With a little copy editing, the story may look
as follows:
A Navy ground crewman was
killed by the spinning blades of an
aircraft propeller last night at U.S.
Naval Air Station Bennington.
The man was identified as Airman
George A. Pine, 20, son of Mr. and Mrs.
Andrew S. Pine of 8238 Earwig St.,
Chicago, Ill.
The accident occurred at 7:45 p.m.,
Japan time, while the crewman was
directing an E-2 Hawkeye from the
flight line onto a taxiway during a night
exercise.
Pine noticed a flare pot near the
planes right landing gear and signaled
the pilot to stop. As he attempted to
move the object from the planes path,
he slipped in front of the aircraft and
fell into its spinning propeller.
The plane and pilot are attached to
Airborne Early Warning Squadron 779,
normally based aboard the USS Loach.
They were participating in night
operations at NAS Bennington, while
the carrier was docked at Yokosuka.
NAMES
Names make news, but they also make headaches
for the copy editor. Is the mans name Haufman,
Hoffman or Haufmann? Did the writer accidentally
leave the h off the name Smit, or is that how the name
is actually spelled? How about the name Frances Jones
in a news story? The writer implies it is a he, but males
usually do not spell their names that way.
The names Pat, Carol, Marion, Jean, Gale, Merle
and Terry can be either male or female. Therefore, the
use of such a name without the knowledge of the
persons gender could lead to some embarrassing
situations. And what do you do when you run across a
name like Stanley Wozniawirsbinski? You may not be
in Figure 6-2.
refer it to the writer for verification.
6-8
able to pronounce it, but you had better make sure that
it is spelled correctly.
To eliminate confusion for the typist or word
processor when a name like Ppandrwske or
Wozniawirsbinski is correct as written, simply draw a
box around the odd but properly spelled name, as shown
NUMBERS
Numbers do not lie, but a good copy editor
frequently proves them wrong. Always be wary of
numbers involving money, ages, dates, addresses,
distance, performance records, statistical data and other
compilations. If a number looks questionable, always
A BM1 may be only 23 years old, but most likely
he is 32. A seaman whose age is listed as 42 may really
be 24. he JO who wrote the story may have hit the
wrong keys on the keyboard Another story says that
ET1 Jack Kelly was married four years ago. However,
his children are mentioned and their ages are listed as 7
and 9. Readers will want to know why.
The beginning of a story may say that seven men
were killed or injured in a plane crash, yet the casualty
list may contain the names of only six. Readers will want
to know what happened to the seventh name. A story
may announce the opening of a new commissary on
Monday, January 18. A check with your calendar,
however, indicates that Monday, January 18 is Martin
Luther King Jr. Day, and commissaries are not normally
open on federal holidays.
Watch for the logic in statistical data. Double-check
league standings to be sure the numbers of wins and
losses balance. Do not use postal box numbers for
addresses. People receive their mail in boxes. However,
In general, spell out all numbers from one to nine,
and use numerals for 10 and above. Numerals are used
exclusively in tabular and statistical matters, records,
election returns, times, speeds, latitude and longitude,
temperatures, highways, distances, dimensions, heights,
ages, ratios, proportions, military units and dates. Fourth
of July and July Fourth are exceptions as are Fifth
Avenue, Big Ten and Dartmouth Eleven.
Times are 6:30 p.m. Monday or 6:30 Monday
evening. (Never use 6:30 p.m. Monday evening.
Evening and p.m. are synonymous.)
In a series of numbers, apply the appropriate
guidelines: There are three 10-room houses and 40
they do not live in them.