What  was  the  plane  doing  at  NAS  Bennington when it was attached to the USS Loach? What is the name of the squadron, and where is the carrier operating? A  good  copy  editor  should  anticipate  these questions. With a little copy editing, the story may look as  follows: A   Navy   ground   crewman   was killed  by  the  spinning  blades  of  an aircraft   propeller   last   night   at   U.S. Naval Air Station Bennington. The man was identified as Airman George A. Pine, 20, son of  Mr. and Mrs. Andrew  S.  Pine  of  8238  Earwig  St., Chicago, Ill. The accident occurred at 7:45 p.m., Japan  time,  while  the  crewman  was directing  an  E-2  Hawkeye  from  the flight line onto a taxiway during a night exercise. Pine  noticed  a  flare  pot  near  the plane’s right landing gear and signaled the  pilot  to  stop.  As  he  attempted  to move the object from the plane’s path, he slipped in front of the aircraft and fell  into  its  spinning  propeller. The plane and pilot are attached to Airborne Early Warning Squadron 779, normally based aboard the USS  Loach. They   were   participating   in   night operations  at  NAS  Bennington,  while the carrier was docked at Yokosuka. NAMES “Names  make  news,”  but  they  also  make  headaches for  the  copy  editor.  Is  the  man’s  name  Haufman, Hoffman  or Haufmann?  Did  the  writer  accidentally leave the “h” off the name  Smit, or is that how the name is actually spelled? How about the name  Frances  Jones in a news story? The writer implies it is a he, but males usually do not spell their names that way. The names Pat, Carol, Marion, Jean, Gale, Merle and Terry can be either male or female. Therefore, the use  of  such  a  name  without  the  knowledge  of  the person’s   gender   could   lead   to   some   embarrassing situations. And what do you do when you run across a name like Stanley Wozniawirsbinski? You may not be in Figure 6-2. refer it to the writer for verification. 6-8 able to pronounce it, but you had better make sure that it  is  spelled  correctly. To   eliminate   confusion   for   the   typist   or   word processor   when   a   name   like   Ppandrwske   or Wozniawirsbinski is correct as written, simply draw a box around the odd but properly spelled name, as shown NUMBERS “Numbers  do  not  lie,”  but  a  good  copy  editor frequently  proves  them  wrong.  Always  be  wary  of numbers   involving   money,   ages,   dates,   addresses, distance,  performance  records,  statistical  data  and  other compilations. If a number looks questionable, always A BM1 may be only 23 years old, but most likely he is 32. A seaman whose age is listed as 42 may really be  24.  ‘he  JO  who  wrote  the  story  may  have  hit  the wrong  keys  on  the  keyboard  Another  story  says  that ET1 Jack Kelly was married four years ago. However, his children are mentioned and their ages are listed as 7 and 9. Readers will want to know why. The beginning of a story may say that seven men were killed or injured in a plane crash, yet the casualty list may contain the names of only six. Readers will want to know what happened to the seventh name. A story may  announce  the  opening  of  a  new  commissary  on Monday,  January  18.  A  check  with  your  calendar, however, indicates that Monday, January 18 is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and commissaries are not normally open on federal holidays. Watch for the logic in statistical data. Double-check league  standings  to  be  sure  the  numbers  of  wins  and losses  balance.  Do  not  use  postal  box  numbers  for addresses.  People  receive  their  mail  in  boxes.  However, In general, spell out all numbers from one to nine, and use numerals for 10 and above. Numerals are used exclusively  in  tabular  and  statistical  matters,  records, election returns, times, speeds, latitude and longitude, temperatures,  highways,  distances,  dimensions,  heights, ages, ratios, proportions, military units and dates. Fourth of  July  and  July  Fourth  are  exceptions  as  are  Fifth Avenue, Big Ten and Dartmouth Eleven. Times  are  6:30  p.m.  Monday  or  6:30  Monday evening.  (Never  use  6:30  p.m.  Monday  evening. Evening and p.m. are synonymous.) In   a   series   of   numbers,   apply   the   appropriate guidelines:  There  are  three  10-room  houses  and  40 they do not live in them.