Editing

Copy EditingOnce your first draft is written, and you

have checked to insure that you have reported the information accurately and fairly, you are ready to copy edit the article.

Check that everything is spelled right – use a dictionary. Check names for spelling.

Check for errors in grammar and in matters of fact (did you say that the capital of Ontario is Ottawa?)

Using Numbers in Your Factual Story Write out numbers under nine. Write out a number at the beginning of a sentence. If

other numbers are used in the sentence, they also should be written out so that the expression is consistent.

Write out the age of a person. Use words to indicate the time of day OR use figures when

followed by a.m. or p.m. Use figures for dates, house numbers, page numbers,

telephone numbers, and numbered divisions of a book (chapters, paragraphs, sections, rules etc.)

Use figures for numbers in dollars and cents. Use words for rounded amounts. Use figures when presenting scores and stats information. Use figures for percents, but write out the word “percent” Fractions are generally written as words or decimals. Use figures to express decimals. When citing a number

less than one in decimal form, write a zero before the decimal point to avoid misreading.