Structural Editing
Structural editing is also known as developmental editing. The focus is the organization of the manuscript. Please note that I follow Editors Canada professional editorial standards for structural editing.
1. Assessment. Structural editing starts with an overview of the manuscript in order to assess how effectively it engages your target audience. Purpose and presentation must perfectly align. The goal is to ensure that the manuscript clearly identifies and meets the needs of your audience in an appropriate, context-specific manner.
2. Organization. At this stage of the edit, an outline of your manuscript is created. The focus is on the structure and organization of the existing material. Ideas must flow logically from one section to the next, gaps filled in, and irrelevant sections removed. Headings or subheadings may be introduced to strengthen the material, and all potential visual elements (diagrams, illustrations, maps) are assessed at this stage.
3. Content. [This part - Content - sounds very similar to the part on Organization – even uses almost exactly the same text in places (“Are there gaps in content that need to be filled in”, “irrelevant material that can be deleted”, etc.). I think you either need to rewrite it or maybe make it part of #2 and just call it Organization and Content, and just augment 2 so that it gets the extra stuff (though there’s not a lot of extra stuff).]The final stage evaluates the content of the manuscript. Is there any repetitive or irrelevant material that needs to be deleted? Are there any gaps in content that need to be filled in? Are there any statements or sections of inadequate research, imbalanced content, or that lack of focus? Are there instances where the material could be presented in another form (ie., using a table, or diagram/infographic, lists, appendix)? The final stage evaluates the content of the manuscript. Is there any repetitive or irrelevant material that needs to be deleted? Are there any gaps in content that need to be filled in? Are there any statements or sections of questionable accuracy, inadequate research, imbalanced content, or that lack of focus? Are there instances where the material could be presented in another form (ie., using a table, or diagram/infographic, lists, appendix)?
Stylistic Editing
Stylistic editing is also known as line editing and is normally combined with copy editing. While copy editing mostly focuses on the nitty-gritty of grammar and punctuation, stylistic editing is concerned with clarity, coherence, flow and the use of language. Not too much is changed, however, as the goal is to maintain the authorial voice.
Please note I follow Editors Canada professional standards for stylistic editing.
1. Clarity. Your writing will be analyzed at the level of the paragraph, sentence, and word. Effective paragraph construction is assured. Topic sentences will be examined for clarity; long, unwieldy sentences simplified. The active voice will be engaged, and, where necessary, negative constructions replaced with affirmative ones. General and abstract concepts will be exchanged for specific and concrete terms, and all cliches mercilessly eliminated.
2. Coherence and flow. A manuscript is well-written when the writing flows. Transitions between sentences and paragraphs must be smooth, and all elements of the manuscript should be coherent. Readability is ensured through a final, thorough examination of the length and structure of sentences.
3. Language. It’s important that the language and reading level is appropriate for your intended audience, and that the text follows stylistic conventions for your genre. Jargon may need to be explained. and vocabulary made more suitable to the material. The appropriateness of tone, mood authorial voice, and the level of formality will all be assessed. The text should be engaging and avoid empty phrases and unnecessary modifiers.
Stylistic Editing
Copy editing
Copy editing involves reading your manuscript line-by-line to ensure that there are no grammar, spelling, punctuation, or usage errors. A copy edit also ensures that your material is accurate, consistent, and complete.
Please note that I follow Editors Canada professional editorial standard’s for copy editing.
1. Correctness. Copy editing corrects for errors in grammar (lack of subject-verb agreement, misplaced modifiers, incorrect pronoun case), punctuation (comma splices, misplaced colons, incorrect pronoun case), spelling (typographical errors), and usage (words commonly confused, incorrect idioms and phrases).
2. Accuracy. Copy editing also ensures that references to general information are error-free (including historical details, narrative timelines, calculations, and quotations). I double-check URLs and make sure that visual information is correct (such as labels, cross-references, illustrations; table of contents, menus, and links).
3. Consistency. I have experience with APA, MLA, and CMOS editorial style, and I ensure that your manuscript is consistent with respect to abbreviations, numbers, Canadian/British/American spelling, capitalization, italicization, and URLs. I also review the reference list, footnotes, links, as well as tables and other visual elements (heading and caption styles, numbering) to ensure they follow the same consistent style. I will follow a style sheet if one is provided, otherwise I will create my own.
4. Completeness. A copy editor also ensures that the material is complete. I query or supply missing elements (captions and headings, web links, contact information). I flag places where citations are needed, and I make note of elements that require copyright acknowledgement and/or permission to reproduce (quotations, visual elements).
Copy Editing
Proofreading
Proofreading
Proofreading is the final stage of the editorial process and is distinct from the copy edit. Proofreading examines the manuscript in its final form and corrects for any last-minute written or visual errors.
Please note that I follow Editors Canada’s professional editorial standards for proofreading.
1. Error Correction. Proofreading goes through your document line-by-line and corrects any spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors that the copy editor might have missed. I will ensure that the final proof is complete, and that all elements are prepared for layout, including captions and acknowledgements. I flag typographical and formatting errors, font irregularities, widows and orphans, ill-fitting text, page breaks, and poorly formatted tables and figures. I also check the cross-references, running heads, captions, web page title pages, links and metadata, note alignment, heading styles, line length, image resolution and the appearance of links.
2. Judgment. I flag matters that may affect later stages of production, such as page cross-references, the placement of visual elements, or alterations that might change the final layout. I query and correct inconsistencies in spelling, punctuation, facts, visual elements, navigation elements, metadata, and other content. I also incorporate alterations from authors and other individuals when necessary.
3. Mark-up. I use Adobe PDF markup tools when working online. I can also standard proofreading marks— using a red pen— when working on paper (unless another system is preferred).