IVMANUFACTURING THE BOOK
Sample Galleys.—When the manuscript has been prepared in our offices for the printer, and the time has come to undertake the manufacture of the book, we ask the printer, first, to set a few pages of the manuscript and submit them to us in galley proofs. These are in turn submitted to the author in order that he may study the typography and inform us if we have in any way misunderstood his manuscript and the marks on it. This step is, of course, dispensed with if a definite agreement has been reached in advance as to the typographical details of the book.
When the author has looked over these first galleys, not with the idea of proof-reading but of determining upon the style, we instruct the printer to proceed with the typesetting.
Galley Proofs.—These proofs in duplicate (one set is for the author's files) are first submitted to the author, and accompanying these is a cut dummy which shows the illustrations reproduced as they will appear in the book.
Galley proofs should be read with extreme care, and wherever possible the author should call in some associate or assistant to read them as well, for it is our experience that the author who has spent a great deal of time in the preparation of a manuscript often reads with his memory rather than his eyes and passes the most obvious errors.
When the author returns the galleys with his corrections marked thereon, he should at the same time return the original manuscript. At this time also figure numbers and captions should be added to the illustrations, and an indication should be made by number in the margin of the galleys of the approximate location of the illustrations.
Illustrations are inserted in the pages by the printer as near the point of reference as the limitations of make-up will permit.If, as happens in rare cases, an illustration must be inserted in a given paragraph, this should be clearly indicated on the galley proof.
Page Proofs.—The printer then proceeds to make the book up into pages, and duplicate page proofs are forwarded to the author. These again should be read carefully to make sure that all corrections which were indicated in the galleys have been properly made, and returned to us for final casting into plates. Changes, and additions other than typographical corrections, which involve the overrunning and rearranging of lines or pages, often mean the remake-up of many pages of type and an expense that is usually out of all proportion to the good accomplished. Corrections and changes should, therefore, always be made in the galley proofs, to avoid the difficult question of author's corrections, which is discussed on page 18.
The duplicate set of page proofs should be retained by the author for use in preparing his index, in order that the copy for the index may be forwarded as soon after the final shipment of page proofs as possible.
Answering Queries.—Frequently the proof-readers query certain points in the manuscript on the galley or page proofs. It is important that the author note these queries in all cases and indicate his decision regarding the questions so raised.
Proof-reading.—In technical books especially, good proof-reading is essential. We use every effort to submit proofs which follow closely the original copy, but the experienced author knows that he himself cannot exercise too much care in proof-reading. The amount of damage which has been done to the reputation and sales of many otherwise excellent technical books, by carelessness in proof-reading, would astound the inexperienced author.
One set of galley and one set of page proofs which the author receives are marked with the printer's corrections, generally in green or red ink. The set containing the printer's marks should be returned with the author's corrections added. The duplicate set the author should keep for his own files.
For the guidance of those who are inexperienced in proof-reading, we give herewith a reproduction of a sheet showing the ordinary proof-reading marks. It is helpful if the author follows this general system in marking his proofs. It is essential that the corrections be clearly marked.