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What is the difference between proofreading and editing?
Editing is carried out at an earlier stage than proofreading.
Editing involves reading through the document in detail and includes: making sure it makes sense; improving poor English; correcting poor grammar and spelling mistakes; applying the publisher’s house style and ensuring consistency; checking references; checking captions and illustrations; making sure permissions and acknowledgements are in place and so on.
Editing may also be referred to as “copy-editing” as editors are editing “copy” (which can be hard copy, e.g. for a book, or online copy, e.g. for a web page).
Once the editor’s changes have been applied (for example, by a typesetter or a web developer), the document may be passed to a proofreader.
Proofreading involves checking through the proofs to make sure the editor’s changes have been applied correctly (for example, by the typesetter or web developer). The proofreader may also spot errors or problems that were missed in earlier versions.
Proofreaders mark these changes clearly so that a final set of proofs or a final version of the document can be created for publication.
Further information about editing and proofreading can be found at the Society for Editors and Proofreaders.
For help with proofreading, editing or copywriting, please contact me.
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How do I know if you are a good editor, good proofreader or good copywriter?
I have had a good level of education and achieved excellent results in training. I also believe in continuing professional development. Read more about my professional standards.
I have worked with a range of clients on different kinds of editing, proofreading and copywriting projects. See my client list.
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What is a style guide?
Most publishers and many companies have an in-house style guide or style manual.
A style guide gives the organisation’s rules and preferences about a range of style issues such as how to format or punctuate lists, which spelling variants to use, how to organise heading levels, which rules to follow on capitalisation and so on.
Style guides can be very long and may be published as books (such as The Oxford Manual of Style or The Economist Style Guide). These kinds of guides are often referred to by others when setting styles for their own documents.
Many companies create and use their own style guides, which may be anything from a single sheet of A4 to a booklet of 20 pages or more. Following a style guide helps a company to convey itself as professional and consistent, and to support its brand.
Read more or ask me to set up a style guide for you.
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What is search engine optimisation?
Search engine optimisation (or “SEO”) is the process of making your web site appear higher in the search results of a search engine. The higher your ranking, the more people are likely to find your site.
Part of this process involves making sure the written content on web pages is likely to be picked up by search engines.
Working alongside your web developer, I can write or edit content to make your web pages more search-friendly.
Read more, or ask me to help with writing or editing for SEO.
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Do you do indexing?
No, this is a very specialist area. If you are looking for help with indexing, please contact the Society of Indexers.
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