Working With Manuscripts

A manuscript is the original written or typewritten work of an author that is used to prepare a mailable or printable document. The manuscript may contain:

• Abbreviations that must be spelled out.
• Correction symbols or marks that must be interpreted and applied.

When writing a draft, the author may use abbreviations or contracted words to save time. Some of these abbreviations are commonly used, as is shown in the table below. However, many abbreviations have been made up by the writer. Therefore it is necessary for you to read carefully and interpret the meaning of the document you are typing. Develop a wide vocabulary and learn how to use words correctly.

Manuscript Correction Signs

Manuscript correction signs are a standard set of signs and symbols used to indicate corrections on proofs. These marks are placed both in the text and in the margin. The following table shows some of the most commonly used manuscript correction signs.