PRINTING. 
resembling the Greek theta & is put for dele, 
to intimate that something, as a point, 
letter, word, &c. dashed in that line, is to 
be taken out If any thing is to be insert- 
ed, the place of insertion is marked with a 
ca^et, A, and the thing to be inserted writ- 
ten in the margin. Where a space is want- 
ing between two words, or letters, that are 
intended to be separated, a parallel line 
must be drawn where the separation ought 
to be, and a mark, somewhat resembling 
aflat in music placed in the margin. 
An inverted letter or word, is noticed by 
making a dash under it, and a mark, near ly 
resembling the dele character reversed. 
Mr. Slower observes, that marking turn- 
ed letters tries a corrector’s skill in knowing 
the true formation of them ; without which 
it would be better to mark them in the 
same manner as they do wrong letters,which 
is done by dashing out the wrong letter, and 
writing the right one in the margin, unlps 
they are very sure that they can distinguish 
b, d, n, o, p, q, s, u, x, z, when they are 
turned, from the same letters with their nick 
the right way. Where a space rises up be- 
tween two words, it is noticed by a cross -1- 
in the margin. When any thing is transposed 
it is denoted thus : 
I 4 3 
onistake 
for You mistake your merit; and in the 
margin is added tr. for transposition. Where 
a new paragraph is required, a line in the 
shiqie of a crotchet [ is made, and the same 
mark placed in the margin ; also where a 
paragraph ought not to have been made, a 
line is drawn from the broken-off matter to 
the next paragraph ; and in the margin is 
written iVo break* If Italic letters are to be 
changed for Roman, oi; vice versa, a line is 
drawn, thus , under the letters, and 
Rom. or Ital. is written in the margin. Where 
words have been struck out that are after- 
wards approved of, -dots are marked under 
such words, and in the margin is written the 
word Met. AVhere the punctuation is re- 
quired to be altered, the semicolon, colon, 
and period, are encircled in the margin. 
The comma and other points are marked as 
letters and words, viz. with a long oblique 
line immediately before them; which line is 
intended to separate the different correc- 
tions from each other that occur in the 
same line. When letters of a different 
fount or size are improperly introduced into 
the page, they are noticed by a small dash 
■drawn through them, and the letters ui.f. 
in the margin. There are some other marks 
used in correcting ; such as V f®*' supe- 
rior; where it is necessary to insert the 
apostrophe, the star, or other reference 
marks, and superior letters ; Cap. for capi- 
tal, L. C. for lower case, &c. 
After a proof sheet has been read , and ihe 
errata thus noticed by the corrector, or, m 
he is more usually called, the reader, it is 
again put into the hands of the compositor, 
who proceeds to correct in the metal what 
has been marked for correction in the proof. 
He then unlocks the form on the imposing- 
stone, by loosening the quoins or wedges 
which bound the letters together. He 
then casts his eye over one page of the 
proof, noticing what letters, &c. are re- 
quired. Having gathered as many correc- 
tions, from the cases, between the thumb 
and fore-finger of his left hand, as he can 
conveniently hold, and an assortment of 
spaces, on a piece of paper, or in a small 
square box with partitions in it, he takes a 
sharp-poirited steel bodkin in his right hand. 
Placing the point of the bodkin at one end 
of the line, and the fore-finger of his left 
hand against the other, he raises the whole 
line sufficiently high to afford him a clear 
view of the spacing. He then changes the 
faulty letters or words, and alters his spaces 
before he drops the line. 
The first proof being corrected, another 
is pulled, to be again put into the hands of 
the reader, or sent to the author for exami- 
nation. This proof being read and correct- 
ed as before, a revise is pulled, to see whe- 
ther all the errors marked in the last proof 
are properly corrected. When the sheet is 
suppos^ to be correct, the forms are given 
to the pressman, whose business it is to 
work them off when tliey are so prepared 
and corrected ; in doing which four things 
are required ; paper; ink, balls, and a press. 
The paper is prepared for use by being 
dipped, a few sheets at a time, in water,and 
afterwards laid in a heap over each other, 
to make the water penetrate equally into 
every sheet, a thick deal board is laid upon 
the heap, on which is placed heavy weights 
according to the size of the heap. The rea- 
son why the paper is to be w'etted before it 
is in a fit state to be printed upon, is, Ihat 
it may be made sufficiently soft to adhere 
closely to the surface of the letter, and take 
up a proper quantity of ink, that it may re- 
ceive a fair and clear impression. It is 
also necessary to wet the paper, lest its stiff 
and harsh nature, when dry, should injure 
the face of the letters. 
