galley
Quick Summary
A galley proof is an early version of typeset text, pulled from a galley—a long tray holding a column of type. This proof is created before the text is arranged into final pages.12
In traditional letterpress printing, compositors would select individual type characters from a case and arrange them, word by word, into a composing stick to form a line of text. Spaces were added to ensure the line was justified to the correct length. Once a line was complete, it was placed into a galley. This process was repeated to fill the galley with columns of text.34
Galley proofs are used to check for errors and make corrections before the text is formatted into its final page layout. This step is crucial in ensuring accuracy in printed materials like newspapers and books.42
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