The Hawaiian gazette., 1889-11-12
HINTS TO NEWSPAPER CONTRIBUTORS

There are not few scholars, fitted
for even the Chair of Rhetoric, who
are sadly uninformed in the matter
of writing for newspaper. Possibly
they could write book, but their
communications must receive little
often a good deal Of doctoring''
before they are put into the hands
of a periodical compositor. Oh
course, the grammar will usually
by no means uniformly-be satisfac-
tory. What they err in pertains
mainly to the mechanical makeup
of the manuscript. We note a few
particulars where a long experience
has discovered amazing defects.
l. Authorizations are an abomina-
ton. No one who really knows
show to to write for the paper" ever
gives "Pres." for President, or az
Pres" for Vice-President, or Thurs
for Thursday. Certain authorizations
are established and printed as such
Mr." Hon." Mass" ESQ.,
for examples. But when it is ex-
pected that the compositor will put
in every letter of a word, those who
know show to write for the paper
will write out every word. In edi-
torial offices where the incumbent
feels at liberty to be autocratic, the
sight of an abbreviation is the occa-
sion of instant doom. More humble,
we usually fight down vexation
and fix the manuscript.
2. 1t seems little thing to COM
plain of the writing on little bits of
paper. Marriage notices often come
on slips less than the size of ones
hand. These one must stick to a
bigger sheet, else the danger of its
blowing away is imminent. Nothing
should be put on sheet of less size
than note paper: we are always glad
when the size is that of letter sheet
OF course we make no complaint of
postal cards.
3. Paragraphing is largely arbit-
airy. 1t ought to have regard to the
physical appearance. Some of the
English newspapers will give a whole
column without break. OF course
the paragraph should be made
where the sense requires it; and also
provided the sense is not disturb
ed-with a view to the mechanical
appearance. But our special point
is, that one who "knows how to write
for the paper" will himself indicate
and dlstinctly-where the para
graph is to begin. We should say
that the frequent failure to do this
is stupid, but for the fact that intelli-
gent people are often thus negligent.
In most newspaper offices a
manuscript is often given in parts to
different compositors. Therefore
but one side of the sheet should be
written upon.
5. In this age paper is cheap. We
hate to see communication without
a caption, and with the first line so
near the top that the editor, guess
ing what the proper title is, must
get new sheet on which to write it.
Be generous in the use of paper.
6. Sometimes a news item, a mar
rage notice, and a business matter
will be crowded in on the same
sheet. Then they must be rewritten,
or else scissors and paste must be
put to use in getting them apart.
Every separate matter should be
written on a separate sheet
Z. Finally-for ministers especi-
aIly-care should be taken in refer
ence to Scripture citations. Abso-
lutely, full half the references to
chapter and verse are erroneous.
Further, the quotation is almost
certain to contain an omission or
other mistake. This statement may
seem almost incredible. But we,
who know by much observation,
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