Copyediting for Nupedia

See also our copyediting instructions and policy.

We have a continuing need for people who can do a good job of copyediting articles in either (or both) of American English or British English.  (Within the next year or two, we will be prepared to accept and copyedit articles in other languages as well.)

There are a number of good reasons to join us as a copyeditor.  It's interesting and, for a perverse few no doubt, fun.  If you copyedit three articles (no matter how short), we'll send you a Nupedia t-shirt or coffee cup.  If you purchase one of our required copyediting books, then after you've copyedited three articles, we will reimburse you the full price you paid for those books.  (See below for details.)

It's also excellent practice and really a good education for those who are excellent writers but who haven't paid very close attention (e.g., to the point of studying usage guides on a regular basis) to their grammar and usage.

Most importantly, it represents a crucial part of the whole Nupedia editorial process.  That being the case, we give credit to the people who copyedit any given article--including a biographical note, if you wish.  For example, see the very end of the Irish traditional music article, and click on the names that follow "lead copyeditors."  In addition, you get the knowledge that you are contributing to an important, long-term, worthwhile, serious project.

We do not check copyeditor qualifications, except insofar as an author examines your qualifications you when you sign up to copyedit an article (see below).  Your work as a copyeditor will be checked publicly, however, and so you'll be expected to have an excellent command of the English language--grammar, usage, spelling, etc.  Among our copyeditors are a number of college professors, professional copyeditors, English literature students, and other word hounds.

To become a Nupedia copyeditor, follow these simple steps, and if you have any questions you can always get direction and advice from Nupedia's Chief Copyeditor at rose.parks@att.net.

1. Sign up as a Nupedia member.  This will allow us to give you credit when you copyedit an article.  So, also, please fill out your member profile information, particularly the part that says "YOUR BIO."  (Note, when you get to the latter page, that the purpose of the "MEMBER PROFILE" section is to help editors learn more about you.  Your "MEMBER PROFILE" is not publicly-viewable;  it is "YOUR BIO" that is publicly-viewable.)

2. Join either the American English copyediting group or the British English copyediting group (archives are here and here).  The system sends notices of new articles to copyedit to these lists.  In addition, if you are at all interested in discussing general issues of copyediting policy, please sign up for copyedit-l (archives are here).

3. Read our copyediting instructions and policy.  This is absolutely essential.

4. Purchase or otherwise obtain (we don't condone theft, but libraries are nice) copies of (1) The Chicago Manual of Style, preferably the most recent edition (the 14th), and (2) either Fowler's Dictionary of Modern English Usage, the second edition (if you join the British English copyediting group), or Bryan A. Garner's recent and excellent Dictionary of Modern American Usage (if you join the American English copyediting group).  Unfortunately, we require that you have these references.  They'll cost you $40-$50 from amazon.com or buy.com.  We are willing to reimburse you for this cost (just ask)--after you have copyedited three articles for us.  We apologize for this initial cost you will have to incur; we might offer to reimburse you from the beginning, but for the fear that too many people might take this as an opportunity to get a few books for free, and with no intention of copyediting any articles for the project.

5. Obtain reimbursement by sending the relevant receipts to: Nupedia Reimbursements, 3585 Hancock Street, Suite A, San Diego, CA, 92110, U.S.A.  Or you can fax copies to (619) 296-1754.