William Allen White

School of Journalism
and Mass Communications

Index to Editing

Grammar &
other goodies
  Affect and effect
  Because of & due to
  Lie and lay
 • Pronouns: Three cases
  Sequence of tenses
  Subjunctive mood
  That and which
  That (when to use it)
  The “that/which” challenge
  Who and whom

Editing from A-Z
  Attribution
  Conciseness
  Comment on the comma
  False purpose
  Improving leads
  Photo captions
  Quotations
  Sources
  Sports
  Ziilch

Spelling is EZ
  Spelling hints: It's EZ!
  Spelling lists: “a” to “zenith”
  Dan Quayle Memorial Rule

Words for the wise
  Right word: Don't “flout” it
  Word lists: Define this!

Man bites dog!
Headlines
  Writing effective heds
  Good headlines
  Problem headlines
  Haiku & limericks
  Headline tips

Oh, no,
not numbers!
  Accurate numbers
  Business numbers

Other stuff
to know
  General knowledge guide
  Grading
  Prof's pet peeves
  Qualities of an editor
  Study tips

Some good links
& some hijinks

  Almanac, etc.
  AP Style's “Top 15”
  Ask.com
  Atlas
  Dictionary (Webster's)
  Dictionary Web site
  Encyclopedia Britannica
  Google
  Great web search site
  Kansan Style Guide
  National Geographic maps
  Newspapers, etc.
  The New York Times
  Quote search
  Thesaurus
  University Daily Kansan
  Unbelievable, but true



Welcome to Professor Gibson's

   

Assignments Visitors: What Who is E-mail your Syllabus
& updates do you think? Malcolm G? queries & ideas Fall '08

Hello. Welcome to “Making Words Work” — the world of editing as it is preached and practiced by Malcolm Gibson, a former newspaper editor professing journalism at the William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Kansas in Lawrence.

     This is his warm and fuzzy electronic guide to good editing. You have access to the entire course packet for Multimedia Editing (introductory editing), as well as other goodies that can help, inform and, in some cases, entertain. Lurking among the links are even a few surprises, most of them pleasant.

Shoe, May 11, 2005 © Tribune Media Services

     Editing is an important process, one you must take seriously. As  H.G. Wells is credited with saying (you do know who he is, don't you? If not, click on his name. It might be on a quiz!):
“No passion in the world is equal to the
passion to alter someone else's draft.”

    Yes, editing can be fun — and a power trip, too! 

     (H.G. Wells also said: “There comes a moment in the day, when you have written your pages in the morning, attended to your correspondence in the afternoon and have nothing further to do. Then comes the hour when you are bored; that's the time for sex.” Sorry, no time to be bored here!)

     This site is not the product of one person's effort. It, as with all good journalism, is collaborative. I've begged, borrowed and stolen material from many people, especially my editing colleagues here: Doug Ward, Chuck Marsh and, especially, the late John Ginn. I also must thank the many others who came before me, most especially Bruce Swain and the late John Bremner, and others who've stopped here: Lori Demo, Tom Eblen and Bonnie Short. I also give profound thanks to many of my students who have offered a multitude of suggestions and examples, mostly good.

     If you have any comments, suggestions or corrections, please e-mail me at mgibson@ku.edu.

     Thank you.

© 1997-2008 Malcolm D. Gibson
The materials in Malcolm Gibson's Wonderful World of Editing, aka Making Words Work, are copyrighted. Students, teachers and professionals are free to access and use its resources. Teachers are fee (and encouraged) to use the materials for classroom (instructional) use with proper credit (though Prof. Gibson would like to know just so he has an idea of who's using it and how.) For all others, other than personal use, permission must be received from Malcolm Gibson, 120 Stauffer-Flint, William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications, 1435 Jayhawk Blvd., University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045-2350. (785) 864-7667. E-mail: mgibson@ku.edu. Credits: Artwork and photos found in this course guide are either personal photographs, free access art from the Web or art from PrintMaster Premier (c) 1998 Mindscape, Inc. In addition to this page, PrintMaster Premier artwork can be found in the following pages: General Knowledge Guidelines, Grading, Photo Captions, Prof's Pet Peeves, Sports, Study Tips, Unbelievable, But True and stories linked through that page, No Link, and Zilch. Comments and suggestions are welcomed..  Updated Sept. 4, 2008.
 

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