The blank page, once filled with your carefully chosen words, returns adorned with a silent, cryptic language. Lines snake through sentences, circles embrace commas, and odd symbols perch like watchful gargoyles in the margins. This is not arbitrary defacement; it’s the language of editorial feedback, a system designed to elevate your writing from good to remarkable. For many, however, these marks remain an intimidating enigma, a barrier to improvement rather than a pathway.
This definitive guide will demystify editing marks, transforming them from perplexing hieroglyphs into clear, actionable instructions. We will delve into the logic behind common symbols, explore their nuanced applications, and provide concrete examples that illustrate their meaning in real-world contexts. By the end of this journey, you will not only understand how to decipher these marks but also how to anticipate them, refine your prose preemptively, and ultimately become a more precise, powerful communicator.
The Editorial Mindset: Why Marks Matter
Before dissecting individual symbols, it’s crucial to grasp the overarching purpose of editing marks. They are a shorthand for efficiency. Imagine your editor meticulously retyping every correction, every suggestion. It would be an unfeasible, time-consuming nightmare. Marks allow for rapid, standardized communication of common issues.
More importantly, editing marks are a silent conversation between editor and writer. They represent an editor’s effort to preserve your voice while enhancing clarity, conciseness, and correctness. Understanding them is akin to learning the rules of a game; once mastered, you can play strategically, anticipating potential pitfalls and crafting more effective prose from the outset.
Furthermore, these marks transcend simple grammar. They address issues of flow, logic, redundancy, style, and even the emotional impact of your words. They nudge you towards a more sophisticated understanding of language and its persuasive power.
Decoding the Universal Symbols: A Foundational Lexicon
While specific editors might have slight variations, a core set of symbols is universally recognized. Mastering these is your first, crucial step.
Insertion: Adding What’s Missing
The most frequent request from editors is often to add something. This can range from a forgotten comma to an entire missing word or phrase.
Symbol: Caret ($\wedge$)
Meaning: Insert the text indicated above the caret (if handwritten) or at the point of the caret (if digital).
Example:
Original: The quick brown fox jumped over the dog.
Edited (Handwritten): The quick brown fox jumped over $\wedge$ lazy the dog.
Interpretation: Insert “lazy” before “the dog.”
Correction: The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog.
Nuance: The caret is versatile. It can indicate a single character, a word, or even a sentence fragment. Always look at the text accompanying the caret for the specific insertion.
Example (Digital context): In digital editing (e.g., Track Changes in Microsoft Word), insertions are typically shown in a different color and underlined or bolded.
Original (Digital): The cat sat on mat.
Edited (Digital, Track Changes): The cat sat on the mat.
Interpretation: “the” has been inserted.
Deletion: Removing Superfluous Elements
Just as often, editors seek to streamline your prose by removing unnecessary words or phrases. Clutter obscures meaning.
Symbol: Strikethrough (–) or a loop through the text.
Meaning: Delete the text indicated.
Example:
Original: He was very, very happy indeed.
Edited (Handwritten): He was very, very happy $\sout{\text{indeed}}$.
Interpretation: Delete “indeed.”
Correction: He was very, very happy. (Or, even better, “He was very happy.”)
Nuance: A common form of deletion involves repeated words or phrases, known as redundancy. Editors often use a horizontal line or a series of loops.
Example:
Original: She began to start her new project.
Edited (Handwritten): She began to $\sout{\text{start}}$ her new project.
Interpretation: “Began” and “start” are redundant. Delete “start.”
Correction: She began her new project.
Digital Context: Deletions in digital editing are usually shown in a different color and with a strikethrough.
Original (Digital): She felt very much incredibly happy.
Edited (Digital, Track Changes): She felt very much incredibly happy.
Interpretation: “very much” has been deleted.
Transposition: Rearranging for Flow
Sometimes, words or phrases are present but in the wrong order, interrupting the natural flow of a sentence or diminishing its impact.
Symbol: Curved line looping over and under the words. ( resembles an “S” laid on its side). Alternatively, the symbol “tr” in the margin.
Meaning: Transpose (change the order of) the indicated words or phrases.
Example:
Original: He quickly walked to the store.
Edited (Handwritten): He walked $\,\overset{\curvearrowright}{\text{quickly}}\,$ to the store.
Interpretation: Move “quickly” to after “walked.”
Correction: He walked quickly to the store.
Nuance: This mark is particularly useful for improving sentence rhythm and emphasis. A misplaced adverb can significantly weaken a sentence.
Example (Complex Transposition):
Original: After the meeting, discussed we the next steps.
Edited (Handwritten): After the meeting, $\overset{\curvearrowright}{\text{discussed we}}$ the next steps.
Interpretation: Change “discussed we” to “we discussed.”
Correction: After the meeting, we discussed the next steps.
Substitution: Replacing for Precision
When a word isn’t quite right – perhaps it’s imprecise, informal, or simply less impactful – editors will suggest a replacement.
Symbol: Original text struck through, with the new text written directly above or in the margin with a connecting line.
Meaning: Replace the struck-through text with the new text.
Example:
Original: He went to get some grub.
Edited (Handwritten): He went to get some $\sout{\text{grub}}\;^{\text{food}}$.
Interpretation: Replace “grub” with “food.”
Correction: He went to get some food.
Nuance: This often applies to word choice (diction) or formality. An editor might replace a colloquialism with a more formal term, or a generic verb with a more descriptive one.
Example (Improving Diction):
Original: She walked in a swift manner.
Edited (Handwritten): She walked in a $\sout{\text{swift manner}}\;^{\text{swiftly}}$.
Interpretation: Replace “in a swift manner” with “swiftly.”
Correction: She walked swiftly.
Punctuation Precision: The Tiny Titans
Punctuation marks are the silent architects of meaning. A misplaced comma can change the entire sense of a sentence. Editors pay meticulous attention to these seemingly small details.
Insertion of Punctuation
Symbol: Caret ($\wedge$) with the punctuation mark above it.
Meaning: Insert the specified punctuation mark.
Example:
Original: She bought apples oranges and bananas.
Edited (Handwritten): She bought apples $\wedge$ , oranges $\wedge$ , and bananas.
Interpretation: Insert commas to separate items in a list (Oxford comma preference shown).
Correction: She bought apples, oranges, and bananas.
Common Scenarios: Commas (serial, introductory, non-essential clauses), periods, semicolons, colons, quotation marks, apostrophes.
Example (Apostrophe):
Original: The childrens toys were scattered.
Edited (Handwritten): The children $\wedge$ ‘ s toys were scattered.
Interpretation: Insert an apostrophe for possession.
Correction: The children’s toys were scattered.
Deletion of Punctuation
Symbol: Punctuation mark circled, or a diagonal slash through it. Often, a margin note will indicate “delete” or “rom” (remove).
Meaning: Remove the indicated punctuation mark.
Example:
Original: He asked, “Where are you going?”
Edited (Handwritten): He asked $\,\sout{\text{,}}\,$ “Where are you going?”
Interpretation: Remove the comma. (Direct quote often flows without a comma if it’s not preceded by a reporting clause).
Correction: He asked “Where are you going?”
Common Scenarios: Overused commas, unnecessary hyphens, redundant punctuation.
Changing Punctuation
Symbol: Original punctuation struck through, new punctuation written above or next to it.
Meaning: Replace the existing punctuation mark with a different one.
Example:
Original: The rain poured down; it was a deluge.
Edited (Handwritten): The rain poured down $\sout{\text{;}}^{\text{.}}$ it was a deluge.
Interpretation: Replace the semicolon with a period to create two separate sentences.
Correction: The rain poured down. It was a deluge.
Common Scenarios: Changing a comma to a semicolon, a semicolon to a period, or adjusting quotation marks.
Formatting Finesse: Shaping the Appearance
Editing marks don’t just correct text; they also guide its visual presentation, ensuring readability and adherence to stylistic conventions.
Capitalization
Symbol: Three lines drawn under a letter for capitalization ($\equiv$) or a diagonal line through a capitalized letter to make it lowercase.
Meaning: Capitalize the specified letter or make it lowercase.
Example (Capitalization):
Original: The book was titled “a tale of two cities.”
Edited (Handwritten): The book was titled “$\equiv$a $\equiv$tale of $\equiv$two $\equiv$cities.”
Interpretation: Capitalize the first letter of each major word in the title.
Correction: The book was titled “A Tale of Two Cities.”
Example (Lowercase):
Original: He is a Doctor.
Edited (Handwritten): He is a $\sout{\text{D}}^{\text{d}}$octor.
Interpretation: Make “Doctor” lowercase as it’s not a proper noun here.
Correction: He is a doctor.
Paragraphing
Symbol: The paragraph symbol (¶) in the margin, often with a line indicating where the new paragraph should begin. Or an “NP” (New Paragraph).
Meaning: Start a new paragraph at the indicated point.
Example:
Original: He walked into the room. He saw his friend. They embraced.
Edited (Handwritten): He walked into the room. $\para$ He saw his friend. They embraced.
Interpretation: Create a new paragraph for the second sentence to break up the thought or introduce a new subject.
Correction:
He walked into the room.
He saw his friend. They embraced.
Nuance: Often, a continuous block of text is hard to read. Editors will suggest new paragraphs to improve readability, signal a shift in topic, or provide visual breaks.
No Paragraph (Run-In)
Symbol: A line connecting the end of one paragraph to the beginning of the next, often with a “run in” or “no ¶” note in the margin.
Meaning: Merge two existing paragraphs into one.
Example:
Original:
The dog barked loudly.
It wagged its tail happily.
Edited (Handwritten): The dog barked loudly. No $\para$ It wagged its tail happily. (with a connecting line between the two lines)
Interpretation: These two sentences should be in the same paragraph as they relate closely.
Correction: The dog barked loudly. It wagged its tail happily.
Indent
Symbol: A sharp angle like a right arrow pointing into the text.
Meaning: Indent the line or block of text.
Example: Used for block quotes, poetry lines, or lists where specific indentation is required by a style guide.
Straighten or Align
Symbol: A horizontal wavy line through a block of text, or vertical lines to indicate alignment.
Meaning: Align text (e.g., margins, columns). Often used for formatting tables or lists that aren’t properly aligned.
Structural & Stylistic Directives: Beyond Grammar
These marks go beyond mere grammatical correctness, addressing the broader architecture and impact of your writing.
Word Choice / Diction
Symbol: A circle around the word with a suggestion in the margin, or simply the suggested word written above the circled one. A wavy underline might also be used to highlight a word that needs replacement.
Meaning: The identified word is imprecise, weak, repetitive, or inappropriate for the context/tone.
Example:
Original: She utilized the pen.
Edited (Handwritten): She $\,\sout{\text{utilized}}^{\text{used}}\,$ the pen.
Interpretation: “Utilized” is often too formal or pretentious when “used” suffices.
Correction: She used the pen.
Nuance: Editors often aim to simplify language, remove jargon, or enhance vividness through stronger verbs and more precise nouns.
Awkward / Unclear / Ambiguous
Symbol: “Awk,” “Uncl,” “Amb,” or a question mark (?) in the margin, often accompanied by an underline or circle around the problematic phrase.
Meaning: The highlighted section is difficult to understand, grammatically incorrect in a convoluted way, or open to multiple interpretations.
Example:
Original: Running quickly down the street, the dog barked at the mailbox.
Edited (Handwritten): Running quickly down the street, the dog barked at the mailbox. (with “Awk” in the margin, and “Running…” underlined)
Interpretation: This is a dangling modifier. Who is running quickly? The dog or the person writing? It’s awkward phrasing; it implies the mailbox is running.
Correction: As the person ran quickly down the street, the dog barked at the mailbox. (Or: The dog, running quickly down the street, barked at the mailbox.)
Nuance: These marks demand critical thinking. The editor isn’t providing the answer, but highlighting a problem you need to solve by rephrasing for clarity.
Redundancy / Wordiness
Symbol: “Redundant,” “Wordy,” or “W” in the margin, often with parts of the sentence circled or struck through.
Meaning: Phrases or words that repeat information or add no new value.
Example:
Original: He combined two things together.
Edited (Handwritten): He combined two things $\sout{\text{together}}$. (with “Redundant” in margin)
Interpretation: “Combined” already implies “together.”
Correction: He combined two things.
Nuance: This is a common issue. Look for phrases like “basic fundamentals,” “past history,” “end result,” “free gift.”
Verbosity / Conciseness
Symbol: “Concise,” “Tighten,” “Vt” (for verbosity) in the margin.
Meaning: The passage is too long for the information it conveys. It needs to be condensed without losing meaning. This is often a broader issue than simple word redundancy.
Example:
Original: Due to the fact that the weather conditions were highly unfavorable, the outdoor event was regrettably canceled.
Edited (Handwritten): Due to the fact that the weather conditions were highly unfavorable, the outdoor event was regrettably canceled. (with “Concise” in the margin, and perhaps a wavy line under the whole sentence)
Interpretation: This sentence is overly verbose.
Correction: Because of unfavorable weather, the outdoor event was canceled.
Nuance: Editors are constantly seeking efficiency in prose. Look for prepositional phrases that can be replaced by single words, or complex clauses that can be simplified.
Active/Passive Voice
Symbol: “Active” or “Pv” (passive voice) in the margin, often with the passive verb underlined.
Meaning: The sentence is currently in passive voice, and the editor prefers active voice for clarity, directness, and impact.
Example:
Original: The ball was hit by the boy.
Edited (Handwritten): The ball was hit by the boy. (with “Active” in margin, “was hit” underlined)
Interpretation: Change to active voice where the subject performs the action.
Correction: The boy hit the ball.
Nuance: While passive voice has its legitimate uses (e.g., when the actor is unknown or unimportant), overuse can lead to sluggish, indirect, and unclear prose.
Parallelism
Symbol: “Parallelism” or “||” in the margin, often with the non-parallel elements underlined.
Meaning: Items in a list or series should maintain consistent grammatical structure.
Example:
Original: She enjoys running, swimming, and to cycle.
Edited (Handwritten): She enjoys running, swimming, and to cycle. (with “||” in margin, “to cycle” underlined)
Interpretation: The list uses gerunds but ends with an infinitive.
Correction: She enjoys running, swimming, and cycling.
Nuance: This applies to words, phrases, and clauses. Lack of parallelism creates awkwardness and disrupts flow.
Consistency
Symbol: “Consistent,” “Style,” or simply a note in the margin.
Meaning: Maintain consistency in spelling, hyphenation, capitalization, number usage, and formatting throughout the document.
Example:
Original: The client’s email address was incorrect. She checked her e-mail address on Tuesday.
Edited (Handwritten): The client’s email address was incorrect. She checked her $\sout{\text{e-mail}}\;^{\text{email}}$ address on Tuesday. (with “Consistent” in margin)
Interpretation: Choose one spelling (“email” or “e-mail”) and stick to it.
Correction: The client’s email address was incorrect. She checked her email address on Tuesday.
Nuance: Consistency is paramount for professionalism and readability. This applies to things like using “Advisor” vs. “advisor,” “10” vs. “ten,” or “U.S.” vs. “US.”
Marginal Notes and Editor’s Instructions
Not all feedback comes in precise symbols. Editors often use the margins to provide broader guidance, explanations, or questions.
Queries (Questions)
Symbol: Question mark (?), “Query,” “Q,” or “To Author” (TA) in the margin.
Meaning: The editor has a question about something in your text. This could be a factual discrepancy, a point of confusion, or a suggestion for expansion.
Example:
Text: The company’s profits soared in 2023.
Margin: ? What was the percentage increase? (or: Is this accurate?)
Interpretation: The editor wants more detail or verification.
Action: Provide the requested information, clarify the point, or explain why it’s not relevant.
Suggestions / Recommendations
Symbol: “Consider,” “Suggest,” “Opt,” or sometimes just the editor’s initials with an idea.
Meaning: The editor isn’t demanding a change but offering an alternative for your consideration.
Example:
Text: The wind was blowing hard.
Margin: Consider “gale-force wind” for more impact.
Interpretation: The editor thinks there’s a stronger word choice. It’s up to you to accept or reject.
Action: Evaluate the suggestion. Does it improve your writing? If so, incorporate it. If not, be prepared to explain your reasoning (politely!).
Comments / General Feedback
Symbol: Often a longer note written in the margin or on a separate page.
Meaning: Broader feedback on a section, paragraph, or the overall piece. This could be praise, a request for more development, or identification of a recurring issue.
Example:
Margin (next to a paragraph): Excellent analysis here. Could you expand on point X?
Action: Address the comment directly. If asked to expand, do so.
Style Guide Reference
Symbol: Often a specific abbreviation (e.g., “AP” for Associated Press, “CMOS” for Chicago Manual of Style) or page/section number.
Meaning: The highlighted text violates a specific rule in the style guide the editor is using.
Example:
Text: She graduated college in 2020.
Margin: CMOS 8.6
Interpretation: Check Chicago Manual of Style, section 8.6, regarding the capitalization of “college.” (Often, “college” is lowercase unless it’s part of a proper noun).
Action: Consult the relevant style guide and make corrections accordingly. This reinforces the importance of knowing your target style.
The Art of Responding to Edits
Understanding the marks is only half the battle. How you respond to them is equally critical for your growth as a writer.
- Don’t Take it Personally: Editing is not criticism of you, but rather a service to your writing. Editors are on your side, working towards the best possible version of your text. Detach your ego from your words.
- Review Systematically: Go through the document mark by mark. Don’t jump around.
- Understand the “Why”: For every mark, ask yourself why the editor made that suggestion. Is it for clarity, conciseness, grammar, style, or logic? Understanding the rationale helps you internalize the lesson, preventing similar errors in the future.
- Accept Most Changes: A good editor’s suggestions are usually valid. Unless a change fundamentally alters your intended meaning or voice in a way you don’t agree with, it’s often best to accept it.
- Query Back Thoughtfully: If you disagree with a change or don’t understand a mark, don’t just ignore it. Ask for clarification. Formulate your question clearly and respectfully. “Could you explain why this comma was removed?” is better than “Why did you take out my comma?!”
- Learn and Internalize: The ultimate goal is to reduce the number of marks on future drafts. Pay attention to recurring marks. If you consistently get feedback on passive voice, actively review your writing for it during your self-editing phase.
- Proofread After Edits: Even after incorporating all suggestions, do one final proofread. Editors are human and can introduce new errors or miss existing ones.
Conclusion: Empowering Your Prose
Editing marks are not indictments; they are signposts on the path to improved communication. By learning this specialized language, you gain insight into the mechanics of effective writing, the subtleties of style, and the ultimate pursuit of clarity and impact. This mastery empowers you to transform raw ideas into polished, professional prose, making your voice not just heard, but understood, appreciated, and remembered. Embrace the marks, learn from them, and watch your writing ascend to new heights.