The Copyeditor’s Handbook is a manual for learning copyediting skills. Copyeditors, a style manual and a dictionary are not enough. With this book, Amy Einsohn will teach you how to use these references.
She starts with a perspective on the task of copyediting: How heavy a hand should you wield? How long should it take you? How should you structure and pace your work?
Next she tackles the rules of English under the various headings of punctuation, spelling, grammar, style, etc. But she does more than just give you rules. She explains the rationale for the rules, gives you the range of opinions about those rules, and helps you choose which rules to keep and which to ignore. You can’t just use a style manual and expect to be a good writer or copyeditor.
My advice if you’re a writer, a copyeditor, or a person who works with copyeditors: get this book, read it twice, and keep it handy on your shelf as a reference. The Copyeditor’s Handbook is weighty reading because it provides serious learning.