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When trying to choose a copy-editing or proofreading book that will be a useful and timeless reference resource, most students will want to be sure to pick a book that is the best value for the price. In order to achieve this, it is worth considering the benefits offered by each type of book.

Firstly, It is important to decide whether you need a copy-editing book or a proofreading book. This is a wide field and it would be impossible for any book to cover all the information in depth. Those looking for a general introduction to the technical writing and editing field may find a book explaining the steps in book production, manuscript submission, drafts, editing stages, pre-publication and general proofing useful.

It is useful to look for a book that explains the actual business of editing copy, or even a reference guide to keep on hand if you are already in the field. With the phenomenal rate of change in new technologies, it is also important to check that books cover new developments in the industry.

A truly useful copy-editing book should have a structured design with information that is easy to follow. This encourages quick learning, uptake and recall. Chapters should be quite detailed, and should cover finer points such as fonts and computer editing.

Checklists and a bibliography should be included and should be comprehensive and useful. A good copy-editing book should be able to take readers through from the manuscript stage of book examples, right through to the finished volume.

Any new writer wanting to change career to enter the lucrative field of technical or medical writing would do well to read about the process first. Even successful technical writers who wish to move up to the higher realms of copy-editing will be better able to do their best with regularly updated study. As professional writers, they will then be better equipped to fulfil any brief they are given as they will understand the whole book production process so well.

Writers looking for proofreading checklists, however, should go for an actual manual. This more work-a-day type of guide will have checklists, proofreading mark lists and charts they can refer to. Such books are often referred to as Style Books or Style Sheets for example one popular one is the Chicago manual of style.

When choosing a reliable proofreading guide, it is useful to check out the topics being covered in the book. It almost goes without saying that a valuable and substantial work should

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