Re: RARA-AVIS: Fact checkers & proofreaders/copy editors

From: Rene Ribic ( rribic@optusnet.com.au)
Date: 16 Apr 2002


> But I see these kinds of problems even at big-name publishers, and I
> suspect the problem is the
> publisher, cutting back on production costs by eliminating multiple
drafts
> (with editorial
> commentary) and copy-editing.
>
> Ray
>

I mentioned a while back my edition of Lawrence Block's SUCH MEN ARE DANGEROUS (an excellent book, by the way) from Carrol & Graf. IIRC, I said that the book contained more typos than pages. I haven't actually counted the typos but I don't think that statement was an exaggeration. I've noticed that many US paperbacks have been very poorly proofread but this particular tome would have to be the worst example I can recall. I feel confident in saying that it couldn't have been proofread at all - even a casual reader with no proofreading/copy editing experience would have done a far better job. How a publisher of Carroll & Graf's size could foist such shoddy product on the market I don't know - they are doing both the author & the reader/customer a great disservice. Is this just another example of economic rationalism, i.e. never mind the quality, think of the profit margin?

Rene

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