COPYREADING AND

HEADLINE WRITING
Discussed by:
Paul Joseph A. Nuval
Instructor, Department of Development Communication
Co-Adviser, The Mountain Collegian
Benguet State University

With Notes from:

Arniel A. Dumigsi
Romulo A. Bagacina, Jr.
The Mountain Collegian
(Archive: The Mountain Collegian)
Copyreading Proofreading
Correcting Correcting
errors made the errors
by the made by the
reporter typesetter or
printer
COPYREADING VS. PROOFREADING
Copyreading – is just another word for
editing. A copyreader is an specialist who
improves the story.
A good copyreader must:
- Be good in English/Filipino.
- Know his stylebook.
- Have mastery of copyreading
symbols.
- Know the paper’s policy.
- Be observant of the details. (grammar,
spelling, punctuation, correct usage)
Considerations in Copyreading:
1. Grammar
2. Punctuation
3. Spelling
4. Accuracy of facts.
5. Proper headlining
THE COPYREADING
SYMBOLS
 1. Punctuation Marks
Symbols Meaning Outcome
“The Bionic Emphasize “ The Bionic
Woman ” quotes ( Woman”
Lagyan ng
panipi)
Dr Arthur Dr. Arthur
Cruz Jr Emphasize Cruz Jr.
period
(Lagyan ng
tuldok)
 Punctuation Marks
Symbols Meaning Outcome
said , “ I Emphasize Said, “I must
must go.” comma go.”
(Lagyan ng
kuwit)
 2. Numbers and Abbreviation
Symbols Meaning Outcome
in Nov. Spell out in November
(Isulat ng buo
ang salita)

Doctor Abbreviate Dr. Arthur

Arthur Cruz Cruz
 Numbers and Abbreviation
Symbols Meaning Outcome
twenty boys Use numeral 20 boys
(Palitan ng
bilang)

2 girls Spell out Two girls

(Palitan ng
salita)
 3. Special forms of type
Symbols Meaning Outcome

Manila, Capitalize MANILA,

(Palitan ng Philippines
malaking titik)
 4. Letters and word changes
Symbols Meaning Outcome

meet on Bridge over meet Saturday

Saturday
Close up those boys
those b oys space
(Pagtatanggal
ng espasyo)
 4. Letters and word changes
Symbols Meaning Outcome

Fe Cruz Principal Transpose Principal Fe

(Paglilipat ng Cruz
magkalapit na
salita)
recieve Transpose receive
(Paglilipat ng
magkalapit na
salita)
 4. Letters and word changes
Symbols Meaning Outcome
h
pamlet insert letter pamphlet
(Pagsisingit ng
to titik)
went market insert word went to
(Pagsisingit ng market
salita)
 4. Letters and word changes
Symbols Meaning Outcome
Manila Paper Lower case manila paper
(Palitan ng
maliit na titik)

received free Delete word received gifts

gifts (Pagtatanggal
ng salita)
 4. Letters and word changes
Symbols Meaning Outcome
judgement Delete letter judgment
within
develope skill Delete letter develop skill
before/after a
word
(Pagtanggal ng
titik sa
simula/dulo)
 4. Letters and word changes
Symbols Meaning Outcome
the most Kill the principal
talented and (Pagtatanggal
enthusiastic ng mga linya o
principal mga
salita)
Allright All right we
wehave time Insert space have time
(Paghihiwalay
ng mga salita)
 4. Letters and word changes
Symbols Meaning Outcome
We were indeed Run in copy
very happy
because
(Pagdugtungin)
 5. Others
Symbols Meaning Outcome
Paco, Manila Indent for Paco,
paragraph Manila
(Wastong
pasok ng
talataan)

Spell as Welfrido
Welfrido Kruz written Kruz
(Pagpapanatili)
 5. Others
Symbols Meaning Outcome
stet
One boy Restore text One boy
came (Pagpapanatili) came

Center
Elected prexy subhead Elected
(Pagpapagitna prexy
ng mga salita)
 5. Others
Symbols Meaning Outcome
Bantamweight No new
champion in getting a paragraph
job. He said
New paragraph
the
the unf- Syllabicate un-
inished task (Wastong finished task
pagpapantig)
the gong set in boldface the gong
(Pagpapaitim ng
tipo)
 5. Others
Symbols Meaning Outcome
She read Les Set in Italics Les Miserables
Miserables (Limbagin ng
pahilis)
Story is finished
30 or #
(Pagwawakas)
Story is
more or pa unfinished (May
karugtong pa)
 Headline Writing

A headline is the title of

the story
HEADLINE WRITING
News stories have no titles; they have headlines. Headlines
perform the following functions:

1. They advertise the stories. They arouse interest so the

people will read the stories.
2. They summarize the story.
3. They beautify the page. They bring balance, symmetry
and beauty to a well arranged page.
4. To grade the news as to importance
TIPS TO HEADLINE WRITERS
1. Read the story for general meaning.
2. Search the key words on which to base
your headline.
The Philippines proposed yesterday
immediate adoption of an emergency
program that will have an effective impact
on the “ruinously” low world market
price of sugar.
3. Clues to the headlines are usually in the
lead.
What happened?
Who did what?
How did it happen?
4. Use brief and shortest words possible.
5. Use colorful nouns; vigorous, active verbs.
6. Have a subject and a verb.
Avoid starting with a verb, the headline might sound as
if it were giving orders.

Not: Revise money

mart guidelines
But: CB revises
money mart
guidelines
7. Omit articles (a, an, the)
8. Use a comma instead of AND.
9. Use single quotes in headlines. When your
assertions and the sources are given, quotation marks are
not needed, a one-em dash will serve the purpose.
Basketball team ‘brings home bacon’
10. Omit forms of to be especially when used as a helping
verb.
Isip chosen editor
11. Avoid splitting words that naturally go together.

Wrong: BHS observes Buwan

ng wika with tilts
Right: BHS holds Buwan ng Wika tilts
12. Use the exclamation point sparingly.
13. Use the down style - only the first word and proper nouns are capitalized.
Faculty honors Bacani
14. Don’t leave a preposition at the end of the line.

Wrong: Mentors call for

reform of schools
Right: Mentors call
for reform of schools

15. Use only widely known abbreviations.

16. Be positive, don’t use negatives in headlines. They weaken

not only the headline but also the stories.
Not: US doesn’t trust Peking-
Moscow normalization overtures
But: US wary on Peking-Moscow
normalization overtures
17. Use kickers to attract attention.
18. Don’t use X-mas for Christmas.
19. Use the present tense for past stories and the infinitive for
future stories.
20. Write numbers in figures or spell them out depending upon
your need for your unit counts.
Verbal deadwood – useless phrasing of any
sort.
1. for the reason that - because
2. at the present time - now
3. affixed his signature - signed
4. were united in holy matrimony – were
married
5. abrasions and contusion – cuts and bruises
6. acquaint - tell
7. adequate bus transportation – enough buses
8. ahead of schedule - early
9. a man by the name of – man named
10. assistance - aid or help
11. at an early date – soon
12. attempt - try
13. beverage - drink
14. bifurcation – division/split
15. attire – wore
16. called a halt - stopped
17. cloudburst – heavy rains
18. conflagration – fire
19. constructed of wood – made of wood or wooden
Redundancy- unnecessary repetition of
ideas.
1. advance prediction
2. fatal killing
3. final conclusion
4. other alternative
5. got up at 6 a.m. in the morning
6. in our modern world of today
7. spherical in shape
8. blue in color
9. heavy in weight
10. sinampal sa mukha
11. isinandal ang likod
12. pasan sa balikat
Headline vocabulary

1. attacks – hits
2. supports – backs
3. increase - hike
4. stops - nips
5. approval – nod
6. syndicate – gang
7 investigation – probe
8. disapprove – scrap
9. ended - busted
10. approve – uphold
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