You’ve written a book, academic paper, training programme or corporate
brochure – and now you want to publish it. But before you do that, you need to
have the text edited. The editor is your first critical reader, and as
such they will spot all those places where your text fails to shine in the way
you intended it to. There are generally three levels of editing:
Proofreading
This is the lightest level of involvement and is suitable for the final
check before the text is published. Proofing consists of a check for
superficial errors such as misspelled words, missing punctuation, extra
paragraph breaks, incorrect formatting and any other gremlins that might have
been missed in a full copy edit. A proofread does not include any text
improvements – it is simply a process to catch the last little errors before
publishing. The proof edit usually happens on a hard-copy printout of the
document or on the final typeset draft. A proofread alone, without any other
editing, is only recommended if you are a strong writer and have thoroughly
checked your text beforehand.
Copy editing
Copy editing is a more intensive process that involves looking at things
like writing style, sentence flow, word repetition and overall structure. An
edit can involve some rephrasing of passages and reworking of complex sentences
to improve readability or clarity of argument. After the copy edit, the
text is returned to you to approve the changes and to attend to any other notes
the editor has made. There might be a bit of going back and forth between you
and the editor to get particular passages just right.
There are
generally three levels of copy editing:
Light edit
A light copy edit looks at the usual grammar and punctuation issues and
makes relatively minor changes to the text, including occasional rephrasing for
clarity. It is suitable for text written by fluent English speakers who
are fairly skilled with the written word. The editor will use margin comments
for anything that might need the author’s attention and may suggest deletions
or additions of material where necessary. A light copy edit does not correct
structural issues (logical argument, arrangement of chapters, plot holes, etc)
though the editor will insert margin comments if anything looks like it needs
more work.
Medium edit
A medium edit is a bit more hands-on than a light edit and may include
more rephrasing and reworking of passages. This level of editing is suitable
for second-language speakers or those who feel they want some help with
expression and clarity. It includes minor restructuring, for example, moving
paragraphs around, changing the heading levels, or suggesting new headings to
clarify the content. It also includes more detailed involvement with logical
argument and with expression.
Heavy/Substantial
edit
This level is also sometimes called content editing because in addition
to text and grammar issues it looks at the content and the meaning of what is
written about. The editor looks at the logical argument being expressed or the
story being told and assesses whether it all fits together and works as
intended. If not, the content editor will rephrase and rework sections of text,
and might recommend that the author provide new text to fill in any
gaps. This level of editing is suitable for those who want substantial
help with the text and a considerable amount of reworking and restructuring.
Note that although a copy edit will correct typos and other basic
errors, some mistakes will still slip through, and some new ones will probably
also be created in the editing and approval process. For this reason, it
is highly recommended that you also add a final proofread before
publishing.
Get an editing services quote
Thesis Doctor SA assist their clients with heavy edit.
Therefore, we are looking forward to helping you make your novel, thesis or
other writing project really shine. Contact to get a quote on your editing or
proofing job.
Other related topics
1. Experimental Design- are you asking the right questions
2. Common Mistakes Non-Native English Speakers Make – Part 1: Spelling and punctuation
3. The 7 common mistakes first time publishers make
5. What would a PhD graduate advise a new PhD student?
6. How to structure a dissertation?
7. Guide on Checking and Correcting Academic References Effectively and Efficiently
8. What Editors Look For In a Good Manuscript?
Follow Us on: Website Facebook Page Instagram YouTube Channel
Contact Us: Skype call or Chat WhatsApp BisApt
No comments:
Post a Comment