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Publishing Glossary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Z
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Database—data stored and managed by a database management system (DBMS). Can be as simple as a mailing list or as complex as needed to provide management of the data for easy access.
DBA—doing business as. Used when a name other than one’s own is the business’s name.
Deadline—the cutoff date by which a task must be completed.
Dedication—the inscription honoring the person(s) who inspired the work. Part of a book’s front matter.
Defamation—a legally actionable attack (either written or spoken) that tends to injure a person’s reputation. A written defamation of character for which one can be sued is called “libel.”
Delete—a proofreading term directing the removal of certain characters or material.
Demographics—a profile of a group (readers, listeners, viewers, etc.) documenting such things as age, sex, marital status, education, socioeconomic level, and hobbies.
Die-cut—the creation of openings, shapes, or folds by cutting away part of the paper stock.
Direct mail—letters or promotional material mailed directly to potential customers.
Dirty copy—heavily edited or marked-up copy that is difficult to read.
Disk—digital media, either removable disk or CD.
Disk drive—a storage device for holding electronic text.
Display ad—a print advertisement larger than a classified ad.
Display type—larger or bolder (boldface) type for heads, subheads, etc., as compared with type used in the text as a whole.
Distributor—a person or company who buys from a publisher, then resells to a bookstore or library. Also sometimes referred to as a “jobber” or a “wholesaler.”
Domain name—the unique name that identifies an Internet site.
Downtime—time when a supplier is not busy and may give better prices. Also the time during which a given piece of equipment is inoperable and/or under repair.
DPI—dots per inch. The more dpi, the sharper the reproduction.
Dummy—a rough layout of how the finished book is to appear.
Dump—a display unit used in bookstores. Book display racks, posters, bookmarks, and other sales materials given to bookstores or other retail outlets to promote a book are called “point-of-purchase (POP) displays.”
Dun and Bradstreet rating—a profile of a company’s financial stability prepared by Dun and Bradstreet.
Duotone—a process for producing an illustration in two colors from a one-color original. Gives a quality of added depth and texture.
Dust jacket—a protective and attractive cover for hardback books. Provides space for visual display and promotional copy. Also called a “dust cover.”
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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Z
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Many thanks to the glossary's authors Tom and Marilyn Ross. Copyright 2006.
Marilyn and Tom Ross co-founded SPAN and are the authors of the classic bestseller, The Complete Guide to Self-Publishing, from which this article is adapted. Click here to learn more, or call 800-331-8355 And for additional information visit www.CommunicationCreativity.com/g |
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