1. The publishing world has two types of written material:
edited and unedited. The former is clear, correct, consistent, reliable
and readable. Unedited copy usually isnt. It tends to contain
grammatical bloopers and errors of usage. It is usually wordy, vague,
disorganized and repetitive.
2. All articles chosen to be run in our publications pass through two
types of editing. The content of the articles is chopped by the various
directorates to ensure technical accuracy. The articles are also edited by
the staff in Code 70 for style and meaning. Some articles are edited quite
heavily; in every case, the Code 70 staff can support their changes by
citing the rules of grammar and syntax, or professional references on
literary style.
3. Sometimes, technical experts who have not worked with professional
editors do not understand the purpose of editorial changes. Perhaps they
think everything is simply an arbitrary, happy-to-glad change, and that
the result is a free-for-all of personal preference. Or they dont
recognize the vast difference between the conversational, colorful
language of magazine journalism and the pedantic, bureaucratic language of
manuals and instructions.
4. The Code 70 staff is not perfect; typos and misspelled words do get
by us. Anyone who reads copy should mark these errors. If you think an
editor has misinterpreted something an author said, feel free to explain
your concern and suggest a correction. But please fight the urge to write
"Use the original" when the original contains errors.
5. If you write an article, don't take offense when it gets edited.
Even the most accomplished writers get edited, and most of them learn to
enjoy the fact that their editors are helping them look better.
Professional writers look upon editors in the same way that pro athletes
look upon coaches: people who help them perform better, improve and excel.
Our editors improve articles and make them easier to read. We want nothing
less than well-written articles in our magazines. The Code 70 staff isnt
expert in aviation or surface operations or maintenance. We depend on you
for the technical accuracy of our articles. We are, however, expert when
it comes to leads, transitions, sentence and paragraph structure, tone,
vocabulary and style.
Writing 101
| What is a magazine article?
| Why articles get edited | Writing tips
| Writing process | Ten steps
| Basic Template
| How to shoot pictures | How to send your article |
