Next SD/PEN Meeting:
Wednesday
September 24, 2008
6:30 pm

Reference Tools

Dictionary

". . . invaluable when editing . . ."

Dictionaries

Most copy editors use several dictionaries, one or two of which may look more dog-eared than the rest. Specialized dictionaries are invaluable when editing for specific fields such as medicine, law, biotechnology, computer technology, or the government. Here are some of the more commonly used dictionaries.

Style Guides

Even the most astute editors grapple with difficult style and usage questions. Many of these questions are resolved by following house style (the common style used by the publisher or company for whom the editor is working). But often, style decisions must be made by the editor, who will usually turn to one of several style and usage guides on the market.

Thesauruses

Sometimes writers use words that have negative connotations, that are imprecise, or whose usage is confusing. Editors use thesauruses to suggest alternatives.

Online Resources

Although the Internet is still a fairly new resource for some editors, many are finding it to be the simplest way to resolve discrepancies, such as dates of historical events or the correct spelling of famous names.