WHAT IS COPY EDITING?

The process of copy editing is ultimately to ensure a document / manuscript is:

• Clear
• Correct
• Concise
• Consistent
• Complete

WHAT IS MY JOB AS COPY EDITOR?

In order to make sure the above FIVE Cs are achieved, I will go through your document / manuscript looking at the following aspects:

• Sentence and paragraph length
• Accuracy of any quotes / dates / facts / spellings of names and places
• Make sure the text of the document / manuscript is suitable for the intended audience – for example, are English spellings used when the book is intended for an American audience?
• Content – is it written in the correct order? Is it logical?
• Formatting errors – everything needs to be in the same font throughout, with the headings all uniform
• I will also make suggestions for amendments for text – if a paragraph does not make sense to me, I will provide an example ‘rewrite’, which you can use or discard as you see fit

If you have a manuscript, I am able to make sure that the text is up to the correct standard to send to a publishing house. This includes ensuring the structure is correct, as follows:

• The preliminary matter
  • Half title page
  • Title page
  • Dedication
  • Foreward
  • Preface
  • Acknowledgements
  • Contents
• The main text (other than the proofreading and copy editing of actual text)
  • New chapters to start on the right-hand page (recto)
  • Conclusion, epilogue or afterword
• The end matter (where applicable)
  • Appendices
  • Glossaries
  • Bibliography
  • Index