Types of editing services provided
What are the different types of editing?
When looking for an editor, many people don’t realize there are several types of editing. And a lot of people, if they’re not very familiar with the details of editing, mistakenly refer to editing as proofreading. Proofreading is definitely one type of editing. In fact, it is the final stage of editing.
The four main types of editing, and the order in which they are performed, are substantive (or structural) editing, line (or stylistic) editing, copy editing, and proofreading.
What is a copy edit?
If you’re happy with the organization and style of your manuscript, you may just need a copy edit. With a copy edit, I will make sure your spelling, grammar, punctuation, and word usage is correct. I will ensure that your writing is clear, consistent, coherent, concise, and correct. You may have heard this referred to as the 5 C’s (or 5 Cs) of copy editing. Incidentally, your copy editor can also advise you if it should be written as 5C’s or 5Cs (in this case, I go with the Chicago Manual of Style).
When I provide a client with a copy edit, I address three types of issues: mechanical, language, and content issues. Here is a breakdown of those categories.
Mechanical Issues
spelling
punctuation
hyphenation
capitalization
number treatment
Language Issues
grammar
language usage
word choice
Content Issues
consistency
bias-free language
How much does copy editing cost?
We all like to see prices on a website when we are shopping for something! Unfortunately, it’s difficult to give an exact price for editing your manuscript without first seeing it. The more editing and the types of editing that have to be done on each page, the longer it will take. This determines the cost, since time is money.
If you’d like to get a good idea of my price to edit your material, the easiest thing to do is contact me. If necessary, I can even provide a short sample edit for you to get a better idea of how my editing can help you and your readers.
You can also refer to the price list provided by the Editorial Freelancers Association.
Other types of editing available
What is structural editing?
A structural (or substantive) edit is done before other types of editing. I will look at the big picture of your manuscript and improve its organization and content.
Organization
Is your message laid out in a logical order, or does some material need to be reordered, pared down, elaborated upon, or even rewritten? I will also make suggestions if I think you need to add any material.
Contact me if you have questions about a structural edit or if you feel it’s what you need.
What is line editing?
Everyone’s style is different. A line, or stylistic, edit will improve the clarity and flow of your writing and make sure the language used is appropriate for your audience.
Maintaining your voice
I may write transitions (or improve existing ones) to ensure a smooth and logical flow from sentence to sentence and paragraph to paragraph. Preserving your unique voice, style, and tone is essential during a stylistic edit.
Drop me a line if you have questions about a stylistic edit or if you wonder if it’s a good fit for your present needs.