Yearbooks are items that you will cherish not only with family and friends but your own children and grandchildren. You will both laugh and cry when looking back at it. Your yearbooks will standout for all the wrong reasons if they are filled with spelling and grammar mistakes.
If you are the editor or part of the editing team of your yearbook here are a few tips to consider so you don’t get “egg on your face” not only after books are printed but also for years to come.
- Check spellings of all names. There is nothing worse then having a student (or teacher) come to you and tell you that their name is spelled wrong after the book is printed. It is almost like getting a tattoo. Once it’s there, it’s there forever. Don’t assume spellings of names are correct even if they seem easy. Before anything is printed get an official name list and go one by one in checking the spelling of each name.
- Read the book before it is printed. From front cover to the back, read out loud every single page not just to you but also to others. While something may sound normal when reading to yourself, it may sound diferent when reading to others. In addition, multiple eyes are better than just two eyes. Have a checklist in place so not just one person is responsible for the entire book’s spelling and grammar.
- Sign offs are important. Make sure every student and faculty member signed off on the spelling of his or her name before it goes to print. This makes the spellings bullet proof. In regard to grammar, have one of your English teachers who isn’t on the yearbook committee also read through the book before it goes to print. You would be surprised what a professional will find.
There is nothing worse than having your class yearbook filled with errors. Just one error is too many. While no one is perfect, by putting a proofing plan in place ahead of time will make your yearbook a true and more importantly, memorable success.