RULES AND REASONS.
Something thai " Occasional " Corrkßpomdkxtß should read and heed. The Boston Tratucript gives the following nine commandments to those who write*now and then to the press :—- ---1. Write upon one side of the leaf only. Why ? Because it is often necessary to cut the pages into " takes " for the compositors, and this cannot be done when both sides are written upon.
2. Write clearly and distinctly, being particularly careful in the matter of proper names and words from foreign, languages. Why ? Because you no right to ask either editor or composi-' tor to waste his time :in puzzling out the results of your selfish'carelessness. 8. Don't write in the microsopic hand. Why ? Because the compositor has to read it across his case'at a distance of nearly two feet. Also, because the editor often wants to make additions and other changes. 4, Don't begin at the very top of the first page. Why? Because if you have written a head for your article, the editor will probably want to change it, and if you have not—which is the better wayhe must write one. Besides, he wants room in which to write his instructions to the printer as to.the type to be used, where and when the proof is to be sent, &c. s.'Never roll your manscript, Why? Because it maddens and exasperates every one who touches it—editor, compositor, and proof-reader. 6. Be brief. Why? Because people don't read long stories. The number of readers which any two articles have is inversely proportioned to the square of their respective lengths. That is a half-column article is read by four times as many people as one of double that length. 7. Have the fear of the waste paper basket constantly and steadily before your eyes. Why ? Because it will save you a vast amount of useless labour, to say nothing of paper and postage. 8. Always write your full name and address plainly at the end of the letter. Whyt Because it will often happen that the editor will want to communicate with you, and because he wants to know the writer's name as a guarantee of good faith. If you use a pseudonym or initials, write your own name and address below it. It will not be divulged. 9. "These precepts in thy memory keep," and for fear you might forget them, cut them out and put them where you can readily run through them when tempted to spill innocent ink.
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Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 277, 14 March 1879, Page 2
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411RULES AND REASONS. Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 277, 14 March 1879, Page 2
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