Copyediting Workshop

Dr Anice George, Dean of Manipal College of Nursing, Manipal welcomed the gathering and introduced the chief guest, Dr Neeta Inamdar, Professor and Head, Department of European studies and Chief Editor, Manipal Academy of Higher Education Press. In her address, Dr Inamdar mentioned the various nuances of copyediting. She also explained regarding the editorial process. She also pointed out the subtle differences between correctness and courtesy and how these could be incorporated in our day-to-day writing. Dr Baby S Nayak, Professor, Dept of Child Health Nursing, Manipal College of Nursing, Manipal Academy of Higher Education and Chief-Editor of Manipal Journal of Nursing and Health Sciences (MJNHS) presented the overview of the workshop. Dr Elsa Sanatombi Devi, Professor and HoD, Dept. of Medical Surgical Nursing, Manipal College of Nursing, Manipal and the organizing secretary of the workshop delivered the vote of thanks. 

The first session of the day was on “Introduction to copyediting and Style guides: APA and Vancouver”. Mrs Gracy Samjetsabam, Editorial coordinator of Manipal Academy of Higher Education Press, deliberated on this session. She stressed on the Cs of copyediting: Clear, Correct, Concise, Cohesive, Coherent, Comprehensible, Complete and Consistent. She also explained the difference between literary editing and technical editing. The APA style guide was also deliberated upon. The second session was on “Technicalities of copyediting” and this was dealt by Mr Srinivas Kumar N Acharya, Assistant Professor at the Dept. of European studies, coordinator for Dwaita Philosophy Resource Centre and in-charge editorial coordinator of MUP. He explained the various tricks and techniques, a copyeditor could use in Microsoft word during the process of copyediting. The post-lunch session on “Grammar and Language” was taken by Ms. Sreedevi Sasidharan Nair. She explained how one could avoid common grammatical errors in one’s writing and explained the important grammar rules. Next session was taken by Mr Aravind N, who is the Design and Production manager of MUP who spoke on “Importance of Design”.  

Following this session, the participants were involved in “Exercises in Language and style writing”. This interactive session was facilitated by Mrs Gracy Samjetsabam and Ms Sreedevi Sasidharan Nair. The workshop ended with closing remarks from Dr Baby S Nayak, Professor, Dept. of Child Health Nursing, Manipal College of Nursing, Manipal Academy of Higher Education and Chief-Editor of MJNHS. Mementos were presented to the resource persons of the workshop by Dr. Mamatha S Pai, Professor and HoD, Dept of Child Health Nursing, Manipal College of Nursing, Manipal Academy of Higher Education and Managing editor of MJNHS. Dr Sonia RB D’Souza, Associate Professor, Dept of OBG Nursing, Manipal College of Nursing, Manipal Academy of Higher Education and organizing secretary of the workshop was the Master of Ceremony.