in Printing, the act of noting the errors and defects in a printed sheet, with a view to their amendment by the compositor; which is done in the first instance by the printer's reader, previous to transmitting the proof-sheet to the author or editor for such further alterations as may be requisite. The corrections are placed on the margin of each page, opposite the line where the faults occur; as in the following example:

(It is to be observed, that the figures on the margins are not used in Correction correcting, except where, by the corrections being very numerous, the printer might be led to mistake one alteration for another. The figures are here only used for the sake of explanation.)

Though a variety of opinions exists as to the individual by whom the art of printing was first discovered; yet all authorities concur in admitting Peter Schoeffer to be the person who invented cast metal types, having learned the art of cutting the letters from the Guttenbergs; he is also supposed to have been the first who engraved on copper-plates. The following testimony is preserved in the family of Jo. Fred. Faustus of Ascheffelberg: "Peter Schoeffer of Gernheim, perceiving his master Faust's design, and being himself ardently desirous to improve the art, found out (by the good providence of God) the method of cutting the characters in a matrix, that the letters might easily be singly cast, instead of being cast. He privately cut matrices for the whole alphabet; and when he showed his master the letters cast from these matrices, Faust was so pleased with the contrivance, that he promised Peter his only daughter Christina in marriage, a promise which he soon after performed."

But there were many difficulties at first with these letters, as there had been before with wooden ones, the metal being too soft to support the force of the impression; but this defect was soon remedied, by mixing the metal with a substance which sufficiently hardened it."

When corrected according to these Marks, the above will read thus:

Though a variety of opinions exists as to the individual by whom the art of printing was first discovered; yet all authorities concur in admitting Peter Schoeffer to be the person who invented cast metal types, having learned the art of cutting the letters from the Guttenbergs; he is also supposed to have been the first who engraved on copper-plates. The following testimony is preserved in the family of Jo. Fred. Faustus of Ascheffelberg:

"Peter Schoeffer of Gernheim, perceiving his master Faust's design, and being himself ardently desirous to improve the art, found out (by the good providence of God) the method of cutting the characters in a matrix, that the letters might easily be singly cast, instead of being cut. He privately cut matrices for the whole alphabet; and when he showed his master the letters cast from these matrices, Faust was so pleased with the contrivance, that he promised Peter his only daughter Christina in marriage, a promise which he soon after performed. But there were as many difficulties at first with these letters, as there had been before with wooden ones, the metal being too soft to support the force of the impression; but this defect was soon remedied, by mixing the metal with a substance which sufficiently hardened it."

EXPLANATION OF THE CORRECTIONS.

A wrong letter in a word is noticed by drawing a perpendicular line through it, and marking the proper letter on the margin, opposite the faulty letter. See No. 1.

A reversed letter is noticed by making a dash under it, and by the mark No. 2 on the margin.

If letters or words are to be altered from one character to another, a parallel line or lines should be marked underneath the word or letter, viz. for large CAPITALS, three lines; small CAPITALS, two lines; and italics, one line; and on the margin opposite should be written L. Caps, S. Caps, or Ital. See Nos. 3, 11, 22, 23.

When letters or words are set double, or are required to be taken Correction out, a line is drawn through the superfluous letter or word, and the mark No. 4 and 5 placed on the margin.

Where the punctuation requires to be altered, the semicolon, colon, &c. should be marked on the margin with a score behind them, as shown by No. 6; but the period should be encircled, as represented by No. 20.

When a space is wanting between two words or letters, which are to be separated, a caret should be made where the separation ought to be, and the sign No. 7 placed opposite on the margin.

No. 8 describes the manner in which the hyphens and ellipsis lines are marked.

Should a letter or word have been omitted, a caret is put at the place, and the letter or word is marked on the margin, as Nos. 9 and 21.

Where a new paragraph is required, a parallel line or lines should be made, and the same mark placed on the margin, with the letters N. P. or N. L. See No. 10.

No. 12 shows the way in which the apostrophe, inverted comma, asterisk, and other references and superior letters and figures, are marked.

Where two or more words or letters are transposed, they should be marked on the margin above and below, and tr. marked opposite, as done in No. 13, or as shown in Nos. 16 and 25.

Where a space sticks up between two words, a perpendicular line is put on the margin. No. 14.

Where words have been struck out that have afterwards been approved of, dots should be marked under such words, and in the margin be written Sct. No. 15.

Where several lines or words are added, they should be written at the top or bottom of the page, with a reference mark, a corresponding reference being made at the place where the insertion begins (See No. 17); or if the addition be on a separate sheet, then the words See paper insert should be written on the margin.

When a smaller or larger letter than that in which the work is printed is improperly introduced into the page, it is noticed by a perpendicular line being drawn through it, and the mark w/ (wrong found) placed on the margin. No. 18.

Where letters or lines stand reversed, they are noticed by drawing lines above and below them. No. 19.

If a paragraph be improperly made, a line should be drawn from the one sentence to the other, and the words No break written on the margin, as in No. 20.

Where words or letters that should join are separated, the mark No. 24 must be placed under the separation, and the junction signified by the same on the margin.

In all cases, but particularly in those where the author has not in his power to see the proof sheets, accuracy and distinctness of copy are particularly desirable. If attention be paid to right spelling of proper names of persons, places, technical terms, &c., the finishing of sentences marked by the period, that the author's ideas may not be misunderstood, and the handwriting tolerably legible, much time and a very considerable expense will be saved, and the great object of accuracy gained, by those who communicate their sentiments to the public through the medium of the press.

When a proof is returned, finally corrected, for press, the word Press should be written on the first page; or the word Revise, if another proof be wanted.

House of, a place where vagrants and persons guilty of minor offences are confined, and punished by being obliged to labour for a certain period, according to the nature of the offence. The benefits arising to society, and the reformation of offenders, from this mode of punishment, have been variously estimated by different writers, according to the views which they have taken of the effects and consequences of the confinement and restraint to which the criminal is subjected. See Punishments.