What exactly is copyediting?
If you’re a new or existing entrepreneur, you’ve probably heard the word “copy” thrown around an awful lot. But what are we really talking about here? What exactly is copyediting? Is it the same as copywriting? (And speaking of which, are copywriting and copyrighting the same thing? – more on this in an upcoming post!)
The fundamentals of copyediting
Copyediting defined
“Copyediting is the process of reviewing and correcting written material to improve accuracy, readability, and fitness for its purpose. Furthermore, it ensures that a written work is free of error, omission, inconsistency, and repetition.”
The goals and processes of a good copyeditor
A copyeditor’s goal is to ensure that a written work is clear, concise, correct, comprehensive, and consistent. We achieve these “Five C’s of Copyediting” through both mechanical and substantive editing.
In the mechanical edit, a copyeditor will correct all spelling, grammatical, and punctuation errors in a given work. Additionally, we suggest modifications to visual aspects of a piece (e.g. typeface, spacing, and overall structure) to improve readability.
During the substantive edit, a copyeditor will address more nuanced issues that arise in the writing process. Working closely with the author, a thoughtful copyeditor aims to ensure that the author’s objective is met by providing commentary and suggested revisions for how material can be presented more effectively. While these edits may sometimes be substantial, a copyeditor always preserves the author’s voice. Considerations made by the copyeditor at this stage include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Who is the target audience?
- What is the intended use of this piece?
- Is the content complete and accurate?
- Is the organization easy to follow and useful for the reader?
- Do the style, tone, and design adequately match the concept and goals of the piece?
Why work with a copyeditor?
At Albatross Editing, you will work with a single, certified copyeditor on all your projects. Working together consistently is beneficial because it permits uniform, reliable feedback that can help you build skills over time. A strong rapport with an editor who is familiar with your subject matter is invaluable when building a brand or business.
If you lack confidence in your writing skills, you will receive gentle feedback regarding issues in your writing as well as suggestions on how you can improve clarity and organization. My goal is to help you produce polished content, while also helping you to become a better writer.
If you are overwhelmed by the amount of content you are creating as a new business owner, a copyeditor can ease your stress. I can help you manage large quantities of writing and ideas by taking the time to understand your company’s message, tracking patterns in your past projects, and illuminating instances where themes can be reincorporated in new projects to improve your brand’s consistency.
If you are a perfectionist, you may be struggling to finalize and publish your content; a copyeditor can help with this, too. Let me worry about the fine tuning while you memorialize your ideas. Whether you’re worried about poor grammar, comma usage, or missing a run-on sentence, I’ll have your back. Stay focused on posting more frequently – you can rely on me to catch the small mistakes.
Even if you are comfortable with your writing skills, copyediting is still beneficial. Studies show that people are more likely to do business with companies that publish written content containing little-to-no errors. While an author may be able to proofread their own work, a copyeditor will review with a more critical eye. Hiring a copyeditor to be your second set of eyes could help you catch mistakes you may have missed simply because you are too familiar with the work. Copyediting your work increases your probability of gaining your potential clients’ trust.
Whether it is a blogpost, article, website, book, e-mail, or coaching material – a well-seasoned copyeditor can alleviate your stress by eliminating the guess work. Don’t worry that you never learned grammar in middle school and have no idea what a gerund is. Likewise, stop stressing that you have not written something longer than a grocery list in over a decade.
Writing is a skill that improves over time and with practice. As your copyeditor, I can lead you in the right direction to establish better writing skills. Right now, your job is simply putting pen to paper and creating content. My job is making sure it makes sense – for you and your client.
Copyediting services & rates at Albatross Editing
Albatross Editing provides light, medium, and heavy levels of copyediting. To learn which level is ideal for you, and/or to learn more about our copyediting services, feel free to contact me or DM me on social media.
Based on your preference, I follow guidelines in either the Chicago Manual of Style or Associated Press Stylebook. Should you wish to deviate from any rules in your chosen style manual, I’m comfortable adapting those changes and maintaining a style sheet for your records.
Rates for copyediting projects are determined on a case-by-case basis. Quotes are generally returned within 24-hours of receiving a request. In order to obtain a quote for your project, please contact me for more information.
