Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of illustrations
- Preface to the fourth edition
- Preface to the third edition
- Preface to the second edition
- Preface to the first edition
- Acknowledgements
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Preliminary copy-editing, design and specimen pages
- 3 Preparing the text for the typesetter
- 4 Illustrations
- 5 Proofs
- 6 House style
- 7 Preliminary pages
- 8 Indexes
- 9 Other parts of a book
- 10 Bibliographical references
- 11 Literary material
- 12 Multi-author and multi-volume works
- 13 Science and mathematics books
- 14 Other special subjects
- 15 Reprints and new editions
- 16 On-screen editing
- Appendixes
- Glossary
- Select bibliography and other resources
- Index
15 - Reprints and new editions
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 August 2012
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of illustrations
- Preface to the fourth edition
- Preface to the third edition
- Preface to the second edition
- Preface to the first edition
- Acknowledgements
- 1 Introduction
- 2 Preliminary copy-editing, design and specimen pages
- 3 Preparing the text for the typesetter
- 4 Illustrations
- 5 Proofs
- 6 House style
- 7 Preliminary pages
- 8 Indexes
- 9 Other parts of a book
- 10 Bibliographical references
- 11 Literary material
- 12 Multi-author and multi-volume works
- 13 Science and mathematics books
- 14 Other special subjects
- 15 Reprints and new editions
- 16 On-screen editing
- Appendixes
- Glossary
- Select bibliography and other resources
- Index
Summary
An ‘impression’ is a number of copies printed at any one time. When a book is reprinted or reproduced from the same setting of type, with only minor alterations, this printing is a ‘new impression’ or a ‘reprint’. The term ‘second [or new] edition’ should not be used unless the text has been significantly changed or supplemented. The term ‘new edition’ should be used with caution, as it can lead to problems when a further new edition is needed. It is better to use ‘second’, ‘third’, ‘fourth’, etc. The word ‘edition’ is also used to distinguish different bindings (for example a paperback edition) or a reset version even if the text remains unchanged; such uses of the word ‘edition’ should be distinguished from real new editions, in which the text has been changed (see examples on pp. 396–7).
REPRINTS
Traditionally, publishers hold a ‘corrections file’ in which they keep any corrections sent by the author or other people. In addition, authors are usually asked whether they have any small corrections for a reprint. Before contacting them it is sensible to check the corrections file, to see whether the author has already sent some corrections (and whether these can be made easily); also whether the author should be asked about corrections sent in by other people. Some ‘errors’ are matters of opinion rather than of fact.
Now that printers hold electronic files of the final version of most books, copies can be printed ‘on demand’.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Butcher's Copy-editingThe Cambridge Handbook for Editors, Copy-editors and Proofreaders, pp. 390 - 399Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2006