"Went to press" is a common phrase in the publishing industry referring to the process of finalizing and printing a publication. In phonetic transcription, it is pronounced as /wɛnt tə prɛs/. The "w" is pronounced as a voiceless labial-velar approximant, the "e" is pronounced as a mid-front unrounded vowel, the "n" is pronounced as an alveolar nasal, the "t" is pronounced as an aspirated voiceless alveolar stop, the "o" is pronounced as a mid-back rounded vowel, the "p" is pronounced as an aspirated voiceless bilabial stop, the "r" is pronounced as an alveolar trill, the "e" is pronounced as a mid-front unrounded vowel, and the "s" is pronounced as a voiceless alveolar fricative.
"Went to press" is an idiomatic expression often used in the context of publishing and journalism, which refers to the final stage of producing or printing a publication before it is distributed to the public. This term originated from the traditional method of publishing, where texts were literally pressed onto paper using a printing press.
When someone says that a book, newspaper, or magazine "went to press," it means that the publisher or editor has given the final approval for the content to be printed and made available for circulation or sale. This stage signifies that the editing, proofreading, layout design, and other necessary production processes have been completed, and the publication is ready for mass production.
Typically, the phrase "went to press" implies that any further alterations or modifications to the content are no longer possible or would cause significant delays. Once a publication has gone to press, the text and illustrations or images are set in stone (or rather, ink on paper).
In the digital age, where most publications are digital or online, this phrase is still used metaphorically to describe the finalization and readiness for distribution of a piece of content, such as an article, blog post, or website. In this context, "went to press" signifies that the content has undergone all necessary revisions and edits, and is now prepared for public consumption or dissemination.