Rules for Writing to the Newspaper
Cover Image: Masthead of Ka Hoku o ke Kai, printed in February 1884.
Aloha Nūhou Monday!
The newspaper business was difficult enough without having to worry about people following the basic rules for submissions to be published. Newspapers like the Hoku o ke Kai would publish their rules to make their readership aware of proper formatting.
Image: “He Mau Rula no ke Kakau ana i ka Nupepa.” Ka Hoku o ke Kai, February 1884, p. 340
Some Rules for Writing to the Newspaper.
Rule 1—Write in black ink on regularly ruled white paper.
Rule 2—Do not write from one corner to the other, but leave about 1 to 1½ inches on the left side of the paper without writing within that area.
Rule 3—Do not write on the second side of the paper, but leave that side, and resume writing on the third side, and count that as side two.
Rule 4—Number each page that you write on, lest there be confusion and lack of clarity.
Rule 5—Write with good penmanship, clearly, and without smudging.
Rule 6—Make all paragraphs clear.
Rule 7—If you make a mistake writing, do not erase the words with your hand, but strike through with ink from your pen.
Rule 8—For italics [hua italia], draw a single line below; for small capital letters, two lines; and for uppercase letters, three lines.
Rule 9—Do not use abbreviations which the typesetter will not understand.
Rule 10—After everything you want to write is set, read it once more to see if it is good or not.
Rule 11—Do not sign your name using a pseudonym.
Image: Detail of dingbats printed on sheets and affixed to the inside front cover of Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, year 1864, copy 3.
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This post is part of He Aupuni Palapala: Preserving and Digitizing the Hawaiian Language Newspapers, a partnership between Bishop Museum and Awaiaulu with assistance from Kamehameha Schools. Mahalo nui loa to Hawaii Tourism Authority for their support. Learn more about this project here.
