blue pencil

Strike out passages

Blue pencil refers to editing or censoring, from the traditional use of blue pencils by editors to mark corrections and deletions on manuscripts.

As a verb, to blue-pencil something is to edit or censor it: The studio blue-penciled several scenes before release.

The term often implies cutting content deemed objectionable rather than mere correction.

Related

censor · copyediting · track changes · redlining · strike through · blackout · press freedom · suppression · embargo · copy desk · galley · gatekeeping · subeditor · annotating · revising · prohibition · critiquing · restriction

Categories
Opposites
editorial action

blue pencilapprove

Formally accept or authorize

pass · accept · stet · retain · keep

expression freedom

blue penciluncensor

Remove content restrictions

unredact · free speech · permit · allow · liberate

content modification

blue pencilexpand

Increase in size

add · augment · amplify · elaborate · embellish

Family

blue, pencil, blues, pencils, blue-pencil, colored pencil, penciled, penciling, penciler

Familiarity
Top 500,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Rated G