COMM 291: A clarification on putting editorial comments in all-caps

A slightly edited version of an email message clarifying the convention of writing chatter between (among?) editors in all-caps so the chatter doesn't inadvertently get in print ... see my blog post "Writing titles ... odds, ends & edits" below on April 11. Tonight's message was an attempt at clarification:

... I'm about to sign off for the night ... my brain has turned into day-old oatmeal ... I glanced at Achebe piece, and like your edits ... think I'll use most of them. Seems like you're editing with a lighter hand on this one, which is good ...

One thing, though. I wasn't being clear when I was talking about putting editorial notes in ALL-CAPS. It's mostly a device to ensure that chatter between the editors doesn't inadvertently get in print. Our exchange at the beginning of the piece is a good example:

[ED NOTE – I THINK THIS FIRST GRAF IS SOME KIND OF EPIGRAPH – WHY DON’T WE SET IT IN ITAL? AND ATTRIBUTE IT TO ACHEBE IF THAT’S WHAT IT IS – PE]

I AGREE - ...


The caps put everybody on notice that this stuff doesn't go in the magazine.

But edits that you want to be reflected in print still go in caps and lowercase letters. For example, you would use caps and lowers where you change the wording of the sentence in the third graf that reads: "It was is a war ..." The printers will know to make that read "It is a war ..."

I can see I didn't make that clear enough in my first email message, and I think I'm going to post an edited version of this message to The Mackerel Wrapper.

- Doc