COPYREADING AND

HEADLINE WRITING

Copyreading

Proofreading

Correcting
errors
made
by the
reporter

Correcting
the errors
made by the
typesetter
or
printer

COPYREADING VS. PROOFREADING

Copyreading is just another

word for editing. A copyreader is
an specialist who improves the
story.

A good copyreader must:

- Be good in English/Filipino.
- Know his stylebook.
- Have mastery of copyreading
symbols.
- Know the papers policy.
- Be observant of the details.
(grammar, spelling, punctuation,
correct usage)

Steps in copyreading:
1. Get an overview of the story.
2. Correct the grammar,
punctuation, spelling.
3. Verify the accuracy of facts and
determine whether the story
contains all essential
information.
4. Correct errors in lead facts,
proper subordination of details
and paragraphing.
5. Look out for editorializing, biases
and possible grounds for libel.
6. Write the headline

THE COPYREADING
SYMBOLS

1. Punctuation Marks
Symbols Meaning Outcome
The
Bionic
Woman

Emphasize The
quotes
Bionic
( Lagyan
Woman
ng panipi)

Dr Arthur Emphasize Dr. Arthur

Cruz Jr
period
Cruz Jr.
(Lagyan ng
tuldok)

Punctuation Marks
Symbols Meaning Outcome
said , I
must go.

Emphasize Said, I
comma
must go.
(Lagyan ng
kuwit)

2. Numbers and Abbreviation

Symbols Meaning Outcome
in Nov
.

Spell out
(Isulat ng
buo ang
salita)

in
November

Doctor
Arthur Cruz Abbreviate Dr. Arthur
Cruz

Numbers and Abbreviation

Symbols Meaning Outcome
twenty
boys

2 girls

Use
20 boys
numeral
(Palitan ng
bilang)
Two girls
Spell out
(Palitan ng
salita)

3. Special forms of type

Symbols Meaning Outcome
Manila,

Capitalize MANILA,
(Palitan ng Philippines
malaking
titik)

4. Letters and word changes

Symbols Meaning Outcome
meet on
Saturday

those b
oys

Bridge over meet

Saturday
Close up
space
those boys
(Pagtatang
gal ng
espasyo)

4. Letters and word changes

Symbols Meaning Outcome
Fe Cruz
Principal

recieve

Transpose Principal Fe
(Paglilipat Cruz
ng
magkalapit
na salita)
receive
Transpose
(Paglilipat
ng
magkalapit

4. Letters and word changes

Symbols Meaning Outcome
h
pamlet
to
went
market

insert
pamphlet
letter
(Pagsisingit
ng titik)
went to
insert word market
(Pagsisingit
ng salita)

4. Letters and word changes

Symbols Meaning Outcome
Manila
Paper

Lower case manila

(Palitan ng paper
maliit na
titik)

received
free gifts

Delete
received
word
gifts
(Pagtatang
gal ng

4. Letters and word changes

Symbols Meaning Outcome
judgement Delete
judgment
letter
develope
within
develop
skill
Delete
skill
letter
before/afte
r a word
(Pagtangga
l ng titik sa

4. Letters and word changes

Symbols Meaning Outcome
the most
talented
and
enthusiasti
c principal
Allright
wehave
time

Kill
the
(Pagtatang principal
gal ng mga
linya o
mga
salita)
Insert
space

All right we
have time

4. Letters and word changes

Symbols Meaning Outcome
We were
indeed very
happy
because

Run in
copy
(Pagdugtu
ngin)

5. Others
Symbols Meaning Outcome
Paco,
Manila

Welfrido
Kruz

Indent for
Paco,
paragraph Manila
(Wastong
pasok ng
talataan)
Spell as
Welfrido
written
Kruz
(Pagpapan

5. Others
Symbols Meaning Outcome
stet

One boy
came
Elected
prexy

Restore
One boy
text
came
(Pagpapan
atili)
Elected
Center
prexy
subhead
(Pagpapagi

5. Others
Symbols Meaning Outcome
Bantamweight
champion in
getting a job.
He said

No new
paragraph
New
paragraph
the unfinished task

Syllabicate
(Wastong
the unf- pagpapantig) the gong
inished task
set in boldface
(Pagpapaitim
the gong
ng tipo)

5. Others
Symbols Meaning Outcome
She read Set in Italics Les
(Limbagin
Les
Miserables
Miserables ng pahilis)
Story is
finished
30 or #
(Pagwawaka
s)
more or pa Story is
unfinished
(May

Headline Writing
A headline is the
title of the story

HEADLINE WRITING

News stories have no titles; they have

headlines. Headlines perform the following
functions:

1. They advertise the stories. They arouse

interest so the people will read the stories.
2. They summarize the story.
3. They beautify the page. They bring balance,
symmetry and beauty to a well arranged
page.
4. To grade the news as to importance

Mga Anyo ng Ulo ng Balita

STRUCTURES OF
HEADLINES

Pantay kaliwa
( Flush left)
EXAMPLE:
2 sundalong bihag

pinalaya ng NPA

Pantay kanan ( Flush

right )
EXAMPLE:

Edukasyong pangagham isinulong ng DepEd

Dropline
EXAMPLE
Timpalak kagandahan,
kalinisan
ng barangay, inilunsad ng
LGU

Hanging

Indention

Taguring terorista
sa CPP-NPA hadlang
sa peace talks - Joma

Baligtad na piramide
(inverted pyramid)
EXAMPLE

Senator Pimentel kakalas

sa oposisyon

Crossline

o barline
EXAMPLE:
Roxas, pinuri ng pamunuan ng
industriyang tuna

Flushline

o full line
EXAMPLE:
Habambuhay na kulong
sa nanghalay na vendor

Mga Dapat Tandaan sa Paguulo ng Balita

1.

Basahin ang istorya upang

makuha ang pangkalahatang
pangkaisipan.
2. Kunin ang mahahalagang salita
upang gawing batayan sa pag-uulo.
3. Ang mga salitang gagamitin sa
pag-uulo ay karaniwang nasa
pamatnubay. Gamitin ang
pinakamaikling salita sa pag-uulo.

Mga Dapat Tandaan sa Paguulo ng Balita

1.Iwasan ang nagbabanggaang

ulo o dalawang ulo ng balitang
magkalinya at may
magkasinlaking tipo.
2.Huwag maglagay ng tuldok sa
katapusan ng ulo ng balita.
3.Lagyan ng simuno at pandiwa
ang ulo ng balita. Simulan ito
sa simuno at huwag sa
pandiwa.

Mga Dapat Tandaan sa Paguulo ng Balita

4.Huwag gumamit ng mga
pantukoy sa panimula.
Mali: Ang bayaning taxi
driver sa US, Pinoy na ulit
Tama: Bayaning taxi driver
sa US, Pinoy na ulit
5. Huwag paghihiwalayin ang
mga tambalan o mga
salitang magkakaugnay.

Mga Dapat Tandaan sa Paguulo ng Balita

Mali:

Bayaning taxi
driver sa US
Pinoy na ulit
Tama: Bayaning taxi driver
sa US, Pinoy na ulit
9. Gamitin ang kuwit (,) bilang
pamalit sa at

Mga Dapat Tandaan sa Paguulo ng Balita

Mali:

GMA at Gordon dadalo sa Tuna festival

Tama: GMA,Gordon, dadalo sa Tuna festival
10. Kung gagamit ng tahasang sabi bilang
ulo, lagyan lamang ng isang panipi. Ngunit
kung ang pinagkukunan nito ay ibinigay,
huwag nang lagyan ng panipi. Lagyan na
lamang ng gatlang ang huling titik ng ulo at
ibigay ang apelyido o dinaglat na pangalan
ng kilalang taong nagsabi.
Hal.

Si Miriam ang teacher ko- Lapid

Mga Dapat Tandaan sa Paguulo ng Balita

Maaari

ring unahing banggitin ang nagsabi

bago ang sinabi nito. Lagyan ng tutuldok ang
pagitan ng nagsabi at ang sinabi nito.
Hal. Solon: Ceasefire muna sa bangayan sa
bagong buwis
11. Ang unang titik lamang ng ulo at ng mga
tanging pangngalan ang ilimbag sa malaking
titik.
Mali: POPULASYON NG METRIAN, TUMAAS NG
18.9
Tama: Populasyon ng Metrian, tumaas ng
18.9

Mga Dapat Tandaan sa Paguulo ng Balita

12.

Huwag magtapos sa pang-angkop,

pantukoy o pang-ugnay sa dulo ng linya.
Mali: Paaralang Metrian, nagbukas ng
ekstensyon sa San Jose
Tama: Paaralang Metrian, nagbukas
ng ekstensyon sa San Jose
13. Huwag bumanggit ng pangalan
maliban
kung ang tao ay kilalala.
Mali: Bilbao, kampeon sa Natl Poped Quiz
Tama: Estudyanteng Metrian , kampeon na
Natl Poped Quiz

Mga Dapat Tandaan sa Paguulo ng Balita

14.

Iwasan ang opinyon sa ulo ng balita

Mali: DepEd-GenSan naglaro nang mahusay
sa basketbol, 49-102
Tama: SSS, inilampaso ng DepEd-Gensan
sa basketbol , 49- 102
15. Iwasan ang paggamit ng negatibong
pandiwa
Mali: Palarong Pambansa, hindi matutuloy
Tama: Palarong Pambansa, ipinagpaliban

Mga Dapat Tandaan sa Paguulo ng Balita

16.

Gumamit ng mabisa at makatawag

pansing pandiwa.
Mahina: Alaska, tinalo ng SMB, 74-103
Mabisa: Alaska nilampaso ng SMB, 74103
17. Iwasan ang paghihiwalay ng pangukol sa layon nito.
Mali: NSPC, gaganapin sa
Lunsod ng Surigao
Tama: NSPC, gaganapin
sa Lunsod ng Surigao

TIPS TO HEADLINE WRITERS

1. Read the story for general meaning.
2. Search the key words on which to
base your headline.
The Philippines proposed
yesterday immediate adoption of an
emergency program that will have an
effective impact on the ruinously
low world market price of sugar.
3. Clues to the headlines are usually in
the lead.
What happened?
Who did what?
How did it happen?

4. Use brief and shortest words possible.

5. Use colorful nouns; vigorous, active verbs.
6. Have a subject and a verb.
Avoid starting with a verb, the headline
might sound as if it were giving orders.
Not:
But:

Revise money
mart guidelines
CB revises
money mart
guidelines

7. Omit articles

(a, an, the)

comma instead of AND.

9. Use single quotes in headlines.
8. Use a

When your assertions and the sources are given,

quotation marks are not needed, a one-em dash
will serve the purpose.
Basketball team

brings home bacon

10. Omit forms of to be especially when used as

a helping verb.
Isip chosen editor
11. Avoid splitting words that naturally go together.
Wrong: BHS observes Buwan
ng wika with tilts
Right:
BHS holds Buwan ng Wika tilts

12. Use the exclamation point sparingly.

13. Use the down style - only the first word and proper nouns are
capitalized.

Faculty honors Bacani

14. Dont leave a preposition at the end of the line.
Wrong:
Mentors call for
reform of schools
Right:
Mentors call
for reform of schools
15. Use only widely known abbreviations.
16.

Be positive, dont use negatives in headlines .

They weaken not only the headline but also the stories.
Not: US doesnt trust PekingMoscow normalization overtures
But: US wary on Peking-Moscow
normalization overtures

17. Use kickers to attract attention.

18. Dont use X-mas for Christmas.
19. Use the present tense for past stories and the
infinitive for future stories.
20. Write numbers in figures or spell them out
depending upon your need for your unit counts.

Verbal deadwood useless

phrasing of any sort.
1. for the reason that - because
2. at the present time now
3. affixed his signature - signed
4. were united in holy matrimony were
married
5. abrasions and contusion cuts and bruises
6. acquaint - tell
7. adequate bus transportation enough
buses
8. ahead of schedule - early
9. a man by the name of man named

10. assistance - aid or help

11. at an early date soon
12. attempt - try
13. beverage - drink
14. bifurcation division/split
15. attire wore
16. called a halt - stopped
17. cloudburst heavy rains
18. conflagration fire
19. constructed of wood made of wood or
wooden

Redundancy- unnecessary
repetition of ideas.
1. advance prediction
2. fatal killing
3. final conclusion
4. other alternative
5. got up at 6 a.m. in the morning
6. in our modern world of today
7. spherical in shape
8. blue in color
9. heavy in weight
10. sinampal sa mukha
11. isinandal ang likod
12. pasan sa balikat

Headline vocabulary
1. attacks hits
2. supports backs
3. increase - hike
4. stops - nips
5. approval nod
6. syndicate gang
7 investigation probe
8. disapprove scrap
9. ended - busted
10. approve uphold

PAGBILANG NG YUNIT

Lahat

ng maliliit na titik ( maliban sa

j,i,l,t,f at w,m) = 1 yunit
Ang maliliit na titik na j,i,l,t,f
= yunit
Ang m at w = 1
Lahat ng malalaking titik ( maliban sa
I,M at W)
= 1 yunit
Ang I
= yunit
Ang M at W
= 2 yunit

30