What is document editing?
Editing refers to revising written text to improve clarity, readability, and overall flow, as well as to ensure correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, and syntax. A professional editor can also provide suggestions for the content or other components of a document.
Publishers often offer different levels of editing. Text editing focuses on the language used and focuses primarily on spelling, grammar, punctuation, and syntax. The editor will also look at word usage, repetition, inconsistencies, and jargon. Most likely, a professional editor will ask you when you submit your work if your work should follow a particular style. You should inform the editor whether the document should follow US or UK English, for example, or whatever else you need in particular, such as using a formal, academic, or business tone.
It is important that your editor knows what you need from it early in the editing process. This includes the level of editing you need, any particular styles your document needs to follow, and when you need to receive the edited document.
Substantive editing (also called content editing) is the most intensive form of editing. Here the structure, organization, style and presentation of your document will be analyzed. Sections can be moved in your document, text is cut from one part and added to another part, and parts of the document can be rewritten for clarity.
Most editors will edit any references or bibliographies included in your work, but you should check with your editor to make sure this is done as well. References and bibliographies can be difficult to put together properly, so it helps to have a second set of eyes to review this section. You should also provide the publisher with information on how the references should be formatted.
Most editors like to communicate with their clients during the editing process. This could be by emailing you inquiries or adding comments to the document. This lets you know that the publisher cares about the work they are doing and also allows you to participate in the process, allowing the publisher to know what you want. Document editors should always be available to answer questions during and after the editing process.
The final stage of editing is proofreading, where someone makes sure that all errors have been corrected. Proofreading essentially ensures that the publisher has done a good job. Most publishers have all texts corrected after they have been edited by their staff because, as noted above, it helps to have a second set of eyes to check things out. A document must go through several stages of editing and proofreading so that it is as error-free as possible.
Professional editors generally use track changes when editing a document. This allows you to see what has been changed; You can then accept or reject the changes made. It is important that you, as the author and owner of the document, understand how to use change tracking. Even the most established authors have their work edited and reviewed. I’m going to say it again! It is always helpful to have a second set of eyes to review a document.
Originally posted at https://www.EditorWorld.com.