Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-02-08
WRITING FOR THE PAPER.
A Few Short and Simple Rules--The
Accumulation of Authorizations,
From the Christian Leader.

From the Christian Leader
There are not a few scholars, fitted for even
the chair of rhetoric, who are sadly uniformed
in the matter Of writing for a newspaper. Pos
sibly they could write a book, but their COM
munications must receive a little-often good
deal-of "doctoring" before they are put into
the hands of q periodical compositor. OF
course the grammar will usually-by no means
uniformly-be satisfactory. What they err in
pertains mainly to the mechanical makeup of
the manuscript. We note q few particulars
where long experience has discovered amaz-
ing defects.
1. Authorizations are an abomination. No
one who really knows show to write for the
paper" ever gives pres" for President, or "v.
Pres" for Vice-President, or Thurs for
Thursday. Certain abbreviations are estab-
lished and printed, as ''Mr., !" Hon." Mass, /"
Esq; /" for examples: But when it is expected
that the compassion will put in every letter of
word, those who know ''how to write for the
paper" will Ur-ite out every word In editorial
offices where the incumbent feels at liberty to
be autocratic the sight of an abbreviation is
the occasion of instant doom. More humble,
we usually fight down vexation and fix the
manuscript.
2. 1t seems a small thing to complain of the
writing on little bits of paper. Marriage no.
tees often come on slips less than the size of
one 8 hand. These we must stick to 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.
8. Paragraphing is largely arbitrary. It
ought to have regard to the physical appear
ance. Some of the English newspapers will
give whole column without break. Ofcourse
the paragraph should be made where the sense
requires it; and also-provided the sense is not
disturbed-with view to the mechanical APP
pearance. But our special point is. that one
who ''knows how to write for the paper" aciH
himself indicate-and distinctly-where the
frequent failure to do this is stupid. but for
the fact that intelligent people are often thus
negligent.
4. In most newspaper offices 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 title, and with
the first line SO near the top that the editor
guessing what the proper title is, must get q
new sheet on which to write it. Be generous
In the use of paper.
s. Sometimes news item, marriage notice
and business matter will be crowded in on
the same sheet. Then they must be rewritten,
or else scissors and pasts must be put to use in
getting. them apart. Every separate matter
should be written on a separate sheet.
Z. Flnally-for ministers especially--care
should be taken in reference to scripture cita-
tons. Absolutely fila half the references to
chapter and verse are erroneous! Further the
quotation is almost certain to contain an omis-
sion or other mistakel This statement NAV
seem incredible. But we who know by much
observation. speak by authority.
We might extend this inventory of things
which those who write for papers, need to
know, and knowing need to practice. But for
the present let these seven particulars suffice