PROOF. 449 PROOF-READING. may be better than an impression on paper of llie first state, because prints on vellum are care- iLiUy taken and because of the exceptional beauty of a print upon this particular material. Again, the first state may be only known from the second state or other subsequent states by some ver}- slight and hardly noticeable modification. PROOF. In law, the establishment of facts alleged in the pleadings in a judicial proceeding by competent legal evidence. It is, therefore, the result of evidence, as distinguished from the evidence itself. However, the words proof and evidence are frequently used as synonymous, even by the courts, and when this is done, proof means simply competent legal evidence, as distinguished from irrelevant and incompetent hearsay evi- dence. See EviDENi E. PROOF-READING. The reading of printers' proofs, for correction of errors in the type, or. by authors or editors, for final approval or altera- tion. Proofreaders are sometimes called cor- rectors of the press, and their work correction of the press, especially in Great Britain. Of course, the assembling of types, one by one. from their boxes in the printer's case, or the striking of a corresponding number of keys in machine composition, is not done by the average worker without accidents, making errors that need cor- rection ; and the work, besides the mere technical niinutiiB, comprehends reproduction from hand- writing that presents many points of perplexity. In fact, typographic composition is liable to error in more ways than any person not a printer could possibly imagine. Thus it may be seen that correction through proof-reading is a most important feature of the production of printed matter. In fact, sometimes the work done on proofs is one of the largest items of expense. Special marks are universally used by printers in correcting proofs, and authors and editors will find advantage in knowing and using these marks, mainly because of their inherent sim- plicity. Absolute simplicity in indicating changes, however, is the only essential desidera- tum. If a desired change is shown on the margin of a proof so plainly that it cannot be misunderstood, its conformity or non-conformity to technicality is of no consequence. One method of marking a proof will almost surely fail, and that method is one that suggests itself instinc- tively to the novice. It is that of making changes within the bounds of the text, such as a line through an extra letter or word that should be taken out. or writing a comma or other point after a word, with no mark in the margin. Proofs have been so corrected, and great disap- pointment felt because the final result showed neglect of the corrections. In the words of a puzzled editor who was shown how to change a sentence; "Why. it's nothing but common sense!" Some of the words in the sentence were to remain, but they ^yere to have a different position (they were to be 'transposed'), and it was thought that through some special tech- nicality they must be preserved: but the advice was that the whole sentence be crossed out and the wliole new one be written in. directly in line with the erasure. Markings for correction may be enumerated as follows: (1 ) In ordering the removal of anvthins not desired, a novice might write a full direction, as 'This is to be taken out:" but the proof-render makes in the margin, opposite a crossed letter, word, or words, the sign Jt. which is merely a specialized form of the initial letter of the word dele, meaning 'take out." One way secures the result as well as the otiier. but the second plainly shows its economy, which exemplifies that of all marks peculiar to proof-reading. Frequently a number of corrections must be made in the same line, and in this case the only really arbitrary mark is used, being a vertical stroke, placed after each marginal item, merely for separation. Some readers make such a stroke after each correction in the left-hand margin, but before those in the right-hand. It is better always to have it follov, as that practice becomes so instinctive as to free the mind from unneces- sary formality, and so assists toward concentra- tion of attention, which is the key to success. (2) A wrong letter is corrected bj' making a stroke tlirough it and writing the proper letter in the margin. Exact system in the arrangement of marginal items is very desirable. Thus, a line may contain a number of errors, and it is much easier for the compositor to trace the corrections if made in regular order, exactly in line with the corresponding faults. It is well worth while to cultivate the liabit of using the margin on the left for corrections in the first half of the line, and that on the right for others; also to write the first one well out toward the left edge, and the first on the other side near the print. Some proof-readers make the first mark on the right distant from the print, and those for later posi- tions nearer, thus undoubtedly causing loss of time to the correctors of the type, who have to trace out the correspondences. (3) Change of place, whether of a letter, a word, or many words, is called transposition. Such change within a line is indicated by a line drawn above, below, or around the first letter, word, or words, and under or above those follow- ing, to a caret indicating the new place for the matter shifted, and by "tr.' written in the margin. For transposing letters merely, it is much better to cross them and write the letters themselves in proper order, especially for machine composi- tion. To transpose paragraphs, a line is made alongside the first and a connecting line to its new place, and 'tr.' is vrritten opposite the first, ilanr write 'transfer,' btit 'transpose' is the printers' word. (4) For change of type, a line should be drawn under the text and 'rom.' written for substitution of roman instead of italic, 'ital.' for changing ro- man to italic, 'I.e.' for lower-case, 's.c' or 's. caps' for small capitals, and 'c' or 'caps' for capitals. For a single letter or two letters together it is economical to write the letters themselves in the niargin, with one line underscoring for italic, two lines for small capitals, and three for capitals; but in changing a single letter it is better to write the letter itself, in its proper form, than to use the abbreviations indicating that form, because thus only one character is written in- stead of four or more. One line is sufficient in any case under the tvpe that is to be removed. In manuscript one line of underscoring directs the use of italic: two. small capitals; and three, capitals. ( .5 ) To correct tvpe of wrong form — too heavy, too light, etc. — 'w.f..' meaning 'wrong font' (type of a wrong kindl. is written. (6) A direction to leave unchanged anything that has been crossed is given by making dots
