What was the plane doing at NAS Benningtonwhen it was attached to the USS Loach?What is the name of the squadron, and where isthe carrier operating?A good copy editor should anticipate thesequestions. With a little copy editing, the story may lookas follows:A Navy ground crewman waskilled by the spinning blades of anaircraft propeller last night at U.S.Naval Air Station Bennington.The man was identified as AirmanGeorge 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 wasdirecting an E-2 Hawkeye from theflight line onto a taxiway during a nightexercise.Pine noticed a flare pot near theplane’s right landing gear and signaledthe pilot to stop. As he attempted tomove the object from the plane’s path,he slipped in front of the aircraft andfell into its spinning propeller.The plane and pilot are attached toAirborne Early Warning Squadron 779,normally based aboard the USS Loach.They were participating in nightoperations at NAS Bennington, whilethe carrier was docked at Yokosuka.NAMES“Names make news,” but they also make headachesfor the copy editor. Is the man’s name Haufman,Hoffman or Haufmann? Did the writer accidentallyleave the “h” off the name Smit, or is that how the nameis actually spelled? How about the name Frances Jonesin a news story? The writer implies it is a he, but malesusually do not spell their names that way.The names Pat, Carol, Marion, Jean, Gale, Merleand Terry can be either male or female. Therefore, theuse of such a name without the knowledge of theperson’s gender could lead to some embarrassingsituations. And what do you do when you run across aname like Stanley Wozniawirsbinski? You may not bein Figure 6-2.refer it to the writer for verification.6-8able to pronounce it, but you had better make sure thatit is spelled correctly.To eliminate confusion for the typist or wordprocessor when a name like Ppandrwske orWozniawirsbinski is correct as written, simply draw abox around the odd but properly spelled name, as shownNUMBERS“Numbers do not lie,” but a good copy editorfrequently proves them wrong. Always be wary ofnumbers involving money, ages, dates, addresses,distance, performance records, statistical data and othercompilations. If a number looks questionable, alwaysA BM1 may be only 23 years old, but most likelyhe is 32. A seaman whose age is listed as 42 may reallybe 24. ‘he JO who wrote the story may have hit thewrong keys on the keyboard Another story says thatET1 Jack Kelly was married four years ago. However,his children are mentioned and their ages are listed as 7and 9. Readers will want to know why.The beginning of a story may say that seven menwere killed or injured in a plane crash, yet the casualtylist may contain the names of only six. Readers will wantto know what happened to the seventh name. A storymay announce the opening of a new commissary onMonday, January 18. A check with your calendar,however, indicates that Monday, January 18 is MartinLuther King Jr. Day, and commissaries are not normallyopen on federal holidays.Watch for the logic in statistical data. Double-checkleague standings to be sure the numbers of wins andlosses balance. Do not use postal box numbers foraddresses. 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 usedexclusively 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. Fourthof July and July Fourth are exceptions as are FifthAvenue, Big Ten and Dartmouth Eleven.Times are 6:30 p.m. Monday or 6:30 Mondayevening. (Never use 6:30 p.m. Monday evening.Evening and p.m. are synonymous.)In a series of numbers, apply the appropriateguidelines: There are three 10-room houses and 40they do not live in them.
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