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Although I have in the precedent Exercises shew’d the Accomplishments of a good Compositer, yet will not a curious Author trust either to his Care or Abilities in Pointing, Italicking, Capitalling, Breaking, &c. Therefore it behoves an Author to examine his Copy very well e’re he deliver it to the Printer, and to Point it, and mark it so as the Compositer may know what Words to Set in Italick, English, Capitals, &c.

For his Italick Words he draws a line under them thus: For English Words he draws two lines under them thus; and for Capitals a line of Pricks thus, or else draws a line with Red Inck.

If his Copy, or any part of it, be Written in any Foreign Language, he is strictly to spell that Foreign Language right: Because the Compositer, as I said in the Preface to this , takes no notice of any thing therein but the very Letters, Points and Characters he finds in his Copy.

If an Author have not (through haste in Writing) made Breaks in proper places; when he comes to peruse his Copy he may find cause to make several Breaks where he made none: In such a case he makes a Crotchet [ thus, at the Word he would have begin his new Paragraph.

Thus in all particulars he takes care to deliver his Copy perfect: For then he may expect to have his Book perfectly Printed. For by no means he ought to hope to mend it in the Proof, the Compositer not being obliged to it: And it cannot reasonably be expected he should be so good Natured to take so much pains to mend such Alterations as the second Dictates of an Author may make, unless he be very well paid for it over and above what he agreed for with the Master-Printer.

The next Exercises (God willing) shall be the Press-mans Trade, The Office of the Ware-house-keeper, The Customs of the Chapel, And a Dictionary to explain the hard Words and Phrases used in the whole Practice of Typography: Which will be the Conclusion of this Second Volume.