What type of editing do you need?
A good editor can make a good writer look even better. Most professional writing actually goes through multiple edits before publication. The type of editing you need will largely depend on the complexity of the material and whether it is a first draft or more polished version. Below I describe three different levels of editorial services I provide.
Proofreading
The most basic level of editing is proofreading. This type of editing involves looking at spelling, grammar, punctuation and proper sentence structure. Although the spelling and grammar checks on most word processing programs, including Microsoft Word, are great tools, you should not rely on them to catch everything. Did you mean to use their, they’re or there? It’s or its? It takes a set of human eyes to know the difference. Proofreading will clean up the small errors that could otherwise cause your readers to stumble so you can deliver a clear, professional message. This level of editing is usually reserved for the final draft of your writing, so you are not cleaning up blocks of text that might change significantly or be deleted altogether during content revisions.
Copy editing
Copy editing involves not only proofreading, but also checking any facts and figures in your writing. Because this often involves some research, it can take longer than basic proofreading. This type of editing can be particularly important in establishing credibility in your writing.
Content editing
Content editing is also sometimes called line editing because the editor is looking at each line to make sure that it clearly expresses the writer’s intention and flows with the rest of the work. This is where information gaps, inconsistencies, weaknesses in structure or departures from the overall tone or the writer’s voice can be identified. Usually, this level of editing should be conducted on the first draft, to identify any necessary structural changes or areas where content needs to be added or trimmed.
If you are not sure which type of editing would be best for your work, I would be happy to help. E-mail a short description of your work, including its purpose and intended audience, along with a one-page, representative sample of the text, to McCormickEditorial@gmail.com, and I will suggest the level of editing that would be most helpful to you.