Dumb question: Why do editors want photo-copied versions of manuscripts?

[DerekG]

I read this on nearly every submission guideline page: Why is it important to them?

Is it unprofessional to send in the original?

Please be kind...I'm a youngin'.

[sally343434]

1. So you won't want them returning it.

In the old days, before copiers were everywhere and before computers, they would ask you to send a SASE for them to return the thing when it got rejected. It is, after all, your property!

[vpigrad]

2. Another reason...

I've never heard the part about returning things, but that makes sense.

According to my brother-in-law, who works for the NY Times, they always ask to never be shown originals, because then they're in the bad position of having to evaluate the legitimacy of the document. If they only have access to the copies, then they have less work to do and less work for the fact checkers.

[OldLeftieLawyer]

3. How can you tell..........

.......... the original from a copy if it's coming off a printer?

Do people still use typerwriters and Xerox copies and stuff like that?

I am so out of touch.

That part about SASE is real. My agent told me they get about 5,000 unsolicited mss. a year. Their postage bill would be huge if they had to pay to return all those mss.