Blue pencil (editing)

Blue pencil (editing)
A red and blue pencil.

A blue pencil is a pencil traditionally used by an editor or sub-editor to show corrections to written copy. The colour is used specifically because it will not show in some lithographic or photographic reproduction processes; these are known as non-photo blue pencils. For similar reasons, sometimes red pencils are used since their pigment will not reproduce by xerography.

With the introduction of electronic editing using word processors or desktop publishing, literal blue pencils are seen more rarely, but still exist in metaphor.

The "blue pencil test" is used by courts of tort law as a method for deciding whether contractual obligations can be partially enforced.

It is also used pejoratively to mean censorship.[1][2][3]

References

  1. ^ Macdonald, Marrianne (14 November 1996), "Blue pencil for sex and violence in BBC code", The Independent, http://www.independent.co.uk/news/blue-pencil-for-sex-and-violence-in-bbc-code-1352234.html, retrieved 2009-05-04 
  2. ^ Goodley, Simon, ed. (24 March 2007), "Business diary: By Gum! It's eyes down for a full house in the cinema", The Daily Telegraph, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/citydiary/2806101/B.html, retrieved 2009-05-04 
  3. ^ The Lord Chamberlain's Blue Pencil, The Economist (US), October 1990, http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-8965882.html, retrieved 2009-05-04 

External links

  • Johnston, John (30 August 1990), The Lord Chamberlain's Blue Pencil, Hodder & Stoughton, ISBN 978-0340525296 



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  • blue pencil — noun : any instrument (as a blue pencil) with which an editor makes deletions; also : the act or an instance of deleting the book is a good one; vigorous use of a blue pencil would have made it better Keith Hutchison * * * blue pencil noun A… …   Useful english dictionary

  • blue-pencil — Bluenoser Blue nos er); a Nova Scotian potato, etc. [Webster 1913 Suppl.] blue pencil lue pencil v. t. to change, delete, or abridge (a portion of a text) with a blue pencil (or as if with a blue pencil), as in the editing process; of books, etc …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • blue-pencil — /blooh pen seuhl/, v.t., blue penciled, blue penciling or (esp. Brit.) blue pencilled, blue pencilling. to alter, abridge, or cancel with or as with a pencil that has blue lead, as in editing a manuscript. [1885 90] * * * …   Universalium

  • blue-pencil — /blu ˈpɛnsəl/ (say blooh pensuhl) verb (t) (blue pencilled or, US, blue penciled, blue pencilling or, US, blue penciling) to alter, abridge, or cancel with or as with a pencil that makes a blue mark, as in editing manuscript, or in censoring …  

  • blue pencil — noun Date: 1886 a writing instrument used for editing; also the act or practice of blue penciling …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • blue-pen|cil — blue pencil, 1. a pencil (traditionally blue) used to make corrections, deletions, or other changes in editing a manuscript: »Most people imagine that an editor s life consists in sitting in an armchair wielding a blue pencil (Science News). 2. a …   Useful english dictionary

  • Editing — Quarters of the news editor , one a group of four photos in the brochure Seattle and the Orient (1900) collectively captioned The Seattle Daily Times Editorial Department See Wikipedia:How to edit a page for information on editing Wikipedia. To… …   Wikipedia

  • Non-photo blue — (or non repro blue) is a common tool used in the graphic design and print industry. It is a particular shade of blue that can not be detected by graphic arts cameras. This allows layout editors to write notes to the printer on the print flat (the …   Wikipedia

  • Bluenoser — Blue nos er); a Nova Scotian potato, etc. [Webster 1913 Suppl.] blue pencil lue pencil v. t. to change, delete, or abridge (a portion of a text) with a blue pencil (or as if with a blue pencil), as in the editing process; of books, etc. [WordNet …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • revise — Synonyms and related words: alter, amend, amendment, blue, blue pencil, blueprint, change, cold type proof, color proof, computer proof, copy, copy out, correct, correction, do over, draft, draw up, duplicate, edit, editing, emend, emendate,… …   Moby Thesaurus

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