What is editing?
Updated: Aug 12, 2021
Once you have developed and structured your manuscript and are satisfied with its shape, it is time to bring in a copy editor. The copy editor goes down to the sentence level of your prose and focuses on grammatical and spelling errors, inconsistencies, and syntactic mishaps that reduce readability. The main concern here is mechanical correctness, consistency and language flow. Some of the things editors look at include:
Punctuation
Hyphenation
Capitalization
Spelling
Grammar
Syntax
Dialogue tags
Word usage and repetition
Font and font size consistency
Descriptions: consistency and clarity
Usage of numbers or numerals
Glaring factual inaccuracies
Formatting references/citations/indexes
Point of view: inconsistencies/unintentional shifts
Readability of text on the small and large scale
For an additional fee, I can compile a comprehensive Style Guide, which can help you during the editing stages of a follow-up book, or can be applied to your company's literature as a whole.
What is the difference between line editing and copy editing?
Line editing and copy editing sound similar but their focus is different: while copy editing focuses on the technical correctness of your writing, line editing aims to make your style smoother and your prose flow with the meaning you want to put behind it. A full copy edit may include line editing, although often they are separate activities. A line editor will look at:
Word choice in terms of effect
Sentence structure
Chosen tenses and point of view
Tone of narration
How scenes and images are described
The sound and flow of your writing
A line editor provides detailed advice on how to ensure your prose has the effect you want it to on your readers. Spelling, grammar, syntax, punctuation will not be addressed as closely, unless they have a direct impact on the content, or they are too glaring to be ignored.
If you are looking for an editor, drop me a message through the Contact Form and we can discuss your needs.