Typos, grammatical errors, muddled sentences and inconsistencies will undermine the authority of your text. If you are writing to be read, then make sure your words work. My job is to ensure your copy is accurate, consistent, flowing and clear, but still sticks as far as possible to your original work.
COPY-EDITING
Copy-editing varies in scope, from a light grammatical polish through to more intensive rewriting. And all professional writers, no matter how experienced, benefit from the fresh perspective and technical knowledge of a copy editor. The intention is to bring out the best in your writing, and the level of intervention needed depends on the state of the material and, of course, your preferences.
A copy editor will:
- establish consistency throughout the text by implementing a style sheet to ensure uniformity of layout, grammatical devices, punctuation and spelling;
- bring clarity to copy by rewriting muddled passages and straightening out sentence structure;
- avoid repetition or overuse of certain words and phrases. All writers have grammatical and textual tics, but it usually takes a second pair of eyes to weed these out;
- ensure the copy is appropriate for the target market. This can include anglicising books written for an American or international audience, and ensuring content is age-appropriate;
- make sure the text is technically correct with watertight grammar, spelling and punctuation; and
- fact-check everything. Factual accuracy is essential in all published material. If you get basic facts wrong, you risk losing credibility.
PROOFREADING
Proofreading is the last stage in the editorial process – the final filter before text is sent off or published. The Copy Editor’s proofreading service will correct spelling, punctuation and grammatical errors, and ensure that text is consistent, with no snags or muddled sentences. Material for proofreading should have already been through the copy-editing process.
Get in touch today to find out how I can help you with your book
