Editing - The Art and Skill of Perfecting Text
Ranked #11,177 in Education, #248,645 overall
When Writing is Edited, It Is Polished, Refined, and Made Better!
Editing can ensure that your document is cohesive--that it is consistent throughout and thus "hangs together".
There are some editors who are excellent and prolific writers. But there are also editors who hate to write (but when they do, they can generally write well).
MS-Word Document Edited and Commented on With "Track Changes" Mode Turned On
What's Your Favorite Editing Guide? Vote for It Here!
The Copyeditor's Handbook: A Guide for Book Publishing and Corporate Communications by Amy Einsohn
The Copyeditor's Handbook is a lively, practical manual more...0 points
Copyediting: A Practical Guide by Karen Judd
Filled with sound, practical advice, this book is more...0 points
The Fine Art of Copyediting by Elsie Myers Stainton
"This second edition documents the updates that more...0 points
McGraw-Hill's Proofreading Handbook by Laura Killen Anderson
Expert advice to perfect your proofreading skills McGraw-Hill's more...0 points
The McGraw-Hill Desk Reference for Editors, Writers, and Proofreaders(with CD-ROM) by K. D. Sullivan, Merilee Eggleston
Packed with customizable editing tools--this practical, more...0 points
Words into Type (3rd Edition) by Marjorie E. Skillin, Robert Malcolm Gay
This is the definitive text for questions of manuscript more...0 points
Garner's Modern American Usage by Bryan A. Garner
The first edition of Garner's Modern American Usage more...0 points
Copyediting & Proofreading For Dummies (For Dummies (Language & Literature)) by Suzanne Gilad
Turn your knack for language into a lucrative career more...0 points
There are Many Types of Editing--and Proofreading and Copyediting are Two of Them
Copyediting--This type of editing is more comprehensive and not only checks your document line by line for typos, misplaced punctuation, usage errors, and misspellings, but also checks for inconsistencies within and throughout the text, wordiness, dead-wood, lapses in logic, organizational problems, and other problems.
Developmental Editing--This is perhaps the most comprehensive of the editing types. It involves interaction with the author of the work and perhaps also with the intended publisher of the work in a consultative mode. A lot of dialog will take place as the editor discusses the organization, logic, and format of the writing--in addition to catching typos, misspellings, usage problems, and inconsistencies in the manuscript.
Editing by the Bay--eBay, That Is!
The Metrics of Editing.... Yes, Editing Takes Time... and Goes Through Pages!
Editing takes time... and the more pages that need editing, the more time it will take. Depending on what kind of editing you require, different time periods must be scheduled for the effort (in other words, you can't reasonably expect a 300-page manual edited overnight--although it might be possible, you might miss the "quality").
Proofreading--this can range from about 10 pages per hour for "easy reading" to 4 pages per hour for technical, scientific, medical, or other highly specialized and complicated topic.
Copyediting--this can range from about 6 pages per hour for "easy reading" to about 2 pages per hour for the highly specialized and complicated topics.
Developmental editing--this can range from about 4 pages per hour for "easy reading" to about a page per hour for the highly specialized and complicated topics.
These ranges are based on standardized pages consisting of double-line-spaced, 12-point font (Times-Roman or Courier), with at least 1" margins on all sides, on standard photocopy or bond white paper. Using these metrics, an average page contains about 250 words (specifically if Courier font, double-line-spaced, 1" margins, and white-bond paper is used).
Editing--Making Your Point with All Sorts of Goodies!
Editing? How Is It Done? How Does It Work?
--A good understanding of the grammar and usage of the target language. This being said, the editor of a target language should be a native speaker of that language. This is the only way that the editor will be able to discern the subtle nuances and idiomatic expressions that are common in the target language.
--Good eye for patterns and logic. By seeing patterns and the logic flow, you can recognize when the pattern changes or the logic takes a side-track from the main point of the writing. This may be a warning sign--and must be discussed with the writer to see what the intention is.
--Know what kind of grammar you subscribe to. Are you a "Prescriptive" grammarian (follow the rules no matter how awkward or strange it sounds to your ear) or a "Descriptive" grammarian (commit to the rules described by observations and study on how the language works as used by the mainstream speakers of the target language).
--You better like reading. Lots of it. Lots of different topics. Lots of writing styles. Lots of personalities.
Book Editing Is Work, But It's Also Fun! (For Those of Us Who Like to Read!
And... until you *do* become an editor, you can go to my editorial services site to get the help you may need on your manuscripts--whether it be a book, a novel, a white paper, business documents, or other forms of writing. Let me know if you'd like help.
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You Want Your Own Editorial? Write It (and Edit It, of Course) Here!
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Heather_Todd
Jan 4, 2010 @ 9:58 am | delete
- Great lens...editing is a process that many have a hard time doing. Luckily there are professional editing services available that can make sure the formatting, grammar, and overall flow are consistent.
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mbrownauthor Feb 13, 2009 @ 9:21 pm | delete
- The editing process was the most stressful of my journey to getting my first book published. Even though my editor pointed out the necessary changes and suggestions, I had to do the actual editing on my computer. It was a great experience, though!
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by EditorDave
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Editing. Everyday. It's What Us Editors Do!
Everyday Editing
Amazon Price: $15.21 (as of 05/31/2012)
If you have that constant urge to pull out a red (or blue) pen and edit your local newspaper when you read it... or, you have the urge to drive over alongside the road and pull out a red marker and edit a large sign... then this book will improve those skills at recognizing those major bloopers... the typos, the spelling errors, and the grammatical gaffes.
Do You Hold Your Truths to be Self-Edited?
Line by Line: How to Edit Your Own Writing
Amazon Price: $3.74 (as of 05/31/2012)
This book will help you with your writing by showing you ways you can improve --from an editor's viewpoint. The best way to learn how to write is sometimes not in an English grammar and composition classroom. Sometimes the best way to learn how to write is from the comments and fixes from an experienced editor. This book gives you that!
Are You Scientifically or Technically Inclined? And, You Like Reading and Editing?
Then, this book is for you! Learn to be a technical or scientific editor!
How to Edit Technical Documents: Workbook
Amazon Price: $8.50 (as of 05/31/2012)
I've been a technical/scientific editor/writer for the past 28 years--and this book makes a nice addition to my references on the bookshelf near my desk. This book is a valuable reference and source of information for anyone wanting to improve in technical and scientific editing (and writing)!
