ABSTRACT
One of the most important aspects to get right is spelling and punctuation. For some publications the copy will go through a hefty sub-edit before going to press, where errors will be picked up, but for others, especially if they have a small editorial staff, there may be nothing more than a quick read through. Some journalists will be self-publishing their work. Whatever the scenario, it is vital that the copy you submit is not littered with mistakes. Many publications will have their own style guide and will be able to send you a copy on request if it is not freely available online. This will outline how they spell certain words, whether they use US or UK English, how to refer to people, use job titles, treat numbers, etc. Some publications employ fact-checkers as an extra line of defence against misinformation sneaking into a story.
