Editing: Part 1 – What is editing?
January 22, 2008 by Lillie
Table of contents for Editing
- Editing: Part 1 – What is editing?
- Editing: Part 2 – What are the different kinds of editing?
- Editing: Part 3 – When should I start editing?
- Editing: Part 4 – What are style guides and why do I need them?
- Editing: Part 5 – What steps should I follow when I edit?
- Editing: Part 6 – What should I look for when I edit?
- Editing: Part 7 – Do I need an outside editor?
Several weeks ago, I wrote about a post about roundups, themes, and link love posts. I mentioned that I intend to write one series each month and asked for input on subjects readers would like to know more about. Word vixen left this comment:
I’d personally like to know more about editing. Particularly whether it’s better to take a course in editing, or just buy a style book and study it.
Let’s start with understanding what editing is. Misconceptions abound, even among “editors.” One client brought me a manuscript that was riddled with grammatical errors, fragments and run on sentences, and wrong word usages. He told me he had paid an editor to edit the manuscript but wasn’t happy with the results. No wonder! Apparently, the “editor” ran spell and grammar check and accepted the first recommendation every time. Instead of improving the manuscript, he made it much worse.
Although I depend on spell-check to catch typos and those certain words I always misspell, I probably reject more suggestions than I accept. Spell-check is useful only to alert you to possible errors, and grammar-check is wrong more often than it’s right.
The American Heritage Dictionary defines editing this way:
To prepare (written material) for publication or presentation, as by correcting, revising, or adapting.
Often people think of editing primarily as making corrections, which is, of course, an important part of editing. However, editing isn’t just correcting what’s wrong. It’s also improving what’s right.
I tell my clients that my goal is to make their work sound like them … only better.
My plan for this series is to focus on self-editing but also to include information that will be helpful to you if you are hiring a freelance editor or working with an editor at a publishing house. Please comment if there are specific topics you’d like covered or particular questions you’d like answered.
In Part 2, we’ll discuss the different kinds and degrees of editing.
“Spell-check is useful only to alert you to possible errors, and grammar-check is wrong more often than it’s right.”
Lillie, you got that right! I’d say grammar check is 98% wrong in my experience! I don’t know why MS dares to call it one!
This looks like a good series, Lillie, and I’m looking forward to reading the whole thing.
Oh Boy! This is like digital candy for me … yum! No calories, but plenty of substance. Thanks for this series. I look forward to future posting on the subject.
Georganna @ A Writer’s Edge
One surprise I’ve found when talking with others who perform editing services is that we all don’t agree. Each editor has her special quirks. I try to lay mine out for potential clients and stress that I will do whatever the client wants. Left on my own, however, I’ll change most passive sentences to active voice, remove serial commas (this year) and rewrite any sentence beginning with “There were” or “It was”.
I think too many writers still believe some mythological “rules” govern writing beyond even various style guides.
[...] always written series posts consecutively (as the editing series just completed). However, I’ve noticed that other blogs spread their series over a longer [...]
I remember when I was a freshman in high school and I asked my father to edit my english composition. I was expecting him to fix my spelling and grammar. He came back to me and said, “Well I like the first part of your very first sentence.” Thus began my numerous rewrites for my father. And yes, I did get an “A”
Robert,
You’re probably close when you say grammar check is right about 2% of the time. Usually it’s a total waste of time and likely to cause more errors than it corrects.
Thanks, Georganna. Please jump in with your contributions.
Georganna,
I agree with you on changing passive to active and getting rid of “There were,” etc.
However, I always add serial commas unless the piece I’m editing is for a newspaper or other publication that uses APA style. A perfect example that we don’t all agree.
I intend to make clear that my suggestions are my opinions only and others have different ideas. If I fail to do this, bring me back in line. Links to other resources should give readers a range of ideas to choose from.
Jason,
That exercise probably formed an excellent foundation for your future writing.
At least your father started off with something positive.