What is copyediting?
A copyeditor checks language and style to ensure the meaning is clear, it is acceptably expressed and the content is consistent. Content refers to textual and visual content. A copyeditor should check all of the following.
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Appropriate use of language
Grammar Syntax Spelling Punctuation Clarity of expression References Accuracy of cross references:
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Consistency of language
Structural parallelism Terms used Spelling Capitalisation Hyphenation Abbreviations Numbers and quantitative data References Follow a house-style if required Consistency of visual content Typography Heading hierarchy Page layout Figures Tables Captions Follow a house-style if required |
How does copyediting work?
I usually copyedit on screen. If you would prefer me to copyedit on hard copy, please see the paragraph below, 'Can I have my document copyedited in hard copy?'
When I copyedit on screen, I use Microsoft Word's Track Changes facility. This means that every change I make is 'tracked', and all suggestions or queries are inserted as comments in the margin using the Track Changes comments feature. When I have finished copyediting your document, I will return it to you as a tracked-changes (TC) version showing all of the suggested changes and my comments and queries.
This gives you, the author, complete control over the final version of your document. You can carefully go through the tracked-changes version, accepting or rejecting each individual suggested change and reading my comments and/or queries in the margin, choosing whether to take on board my suggestions. It is, after all, your document.
If your document requires a medium or heavy copyedit, I might recommend you return the document to me for a second pass after you have reviewed the changes and attended to my suggestions and queries. This is because the author-review process can result in new errors, which I can quickly eliminate for you.
When I copyedit on screen, I use Microsoft Word's Track Changes facility. This means that every change I make is 'tracked', and all suggestions or queries are inserted as comments in the margin using the Track Changes comments feature. When I have finished copyediting your document, I will return it to you as a tracked-changes (TC) version showing all of the suggested changes and my comments and queries.
This gives you, the author, complete control over the final version of your document. You can carefully go through the tracked-changes version, accepting or rejecting each individual suggested change and reading my comments and/or queries in the margin, choosing whether to take on board my suggestions. It is, after all, your document.
If your document requires a medium or heavy copyedit, I might recommend you return the document to me for a second pass after you have reviewed the changes and attended to my suggestions and queries. This is because the author-review process can result in new errors, which I can quickly eliminate for you.
Can I have my document copyedited on hard copy?
Yes, you can! You can either post a hard-copy version or email an electronic version of your document to me. I will print it and mark up the copy using standard proofreading marks.
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