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Editorial Services

 

Why hire an editor?

As an author, you may seek to work with a copy editor, substantive editor, or technical editor to help ensure that your words will accurately, and perhaps even elegantly, convey your ideas to your readers in a format that helps them engage with the content. Editors are advocates for both writers and readers. A trained eye can help avoid common problems:

Spelling, grammar, punctuation, and usage errors. Electronic spelling and grammar checkers are helpful but miss many errors.

Lack of clarity. An author may be too close to his or her work to identify wording that is confusing or ambiguous or that assumes knowledge the reader may not have.

Poor organization. An editor can suggest ways to reorder the text for maximum clarity.

Internal contradictions. Does a character have black hair on page 27 and red hair on page 132? Does the author appear to favor one argument at the beginning of the work and another later on?

Failure to follow guidelines. Sometimes an author struggles to adhere to length limits or to master unfamiliar citation and bibliographic formats, especially under time pressure. An editor can help with meeting style requirements.

An author may sometimes work with more than one editor—for example, a developmental editor to help with major issues of organization, clarity, and internal consistency and a copy editor to help "clean up" the final text.

What do various types of editors do?

Copy Editor
A copy editor (also called a line editor or manuscript editor) performs varying functions. Basic copyediting tasks include correcting errors in spelling, grammar, punctuation, usage, and syntax. Copyediting also involves ensuring consistency in style, voice, and format; smoothing transitions; verifying cross-references; and pointing out material that is unclear, ambiguous, or potentially offensive to readers.

Developmental Editor
A developmental editor "develops" a manuscript, working closely with the author or publisher, by attending to the organization, scope, style, and tone of the manuscript.

Substantive Editor
A substantive editor "adds value" to the text by making content suggestions. A substantive editor who specializes in one or more technical content areas may be called a technical editor.

Technical Editor
A technical editor works with manuscripts as diverse as how-to manuals; software manuals; and scientific, technical, legal, and financial documents to help authors more clearly communicate information.

Proofreader
A proofreader provides editorial quality control, generally checking for problems in wording, internal consistency, and overall appearance. A proofreader also ensures that each page conforms to design and layout specifications, working on pages created by the typesetter or page designer.

Project Editor
A project editor manages entire projects, for example, from raw manuscript to bound book. He or she may be responsible for hiring and supervising editorial specialists (writers, editors, proofreaders, and indexers) and design specialists (graphic designers, typesetters, photo editors and researchers, and illustrators). The project editor may work with permissions, marketing, sales, or other administrative staff and is often responsible for a project's budget and schedule.

Manuscript Evaluator
A manuscript evaluator reviews a manuscript and produces a detailed written evaluation—a guide to improving the work—that covers matters such as content, clarity, style, tone, and grammar. He or she may also make recommendations regarding intended audience(s), publishers, and formats for presentation and publication.

Fact Checker or Researcher
A fact checker/researcher verifies the accuracy of a manuscript’s content.

Translator
In addition to rendering text from one language into another, a translator may offer copyediting or substantive editing services.

Indexer
An indexer creates the back-of-the-book index for nonfiction books or prepares metadata (i.e., "tags") for effective search and retrieval.

Copyright © 2007 Cambridge Academic Editors Network