Editing 101: What Does an Editor Do?

Happy Monday, All! So, last week, I highlighted the basics of editing and what services are usually available from a good editor. I discussed the types of editing and what you should expect from a good editor. Today, I want to dig a bit deeper into just what an editor does and what an editor does not do.

First, let's look at what an editor does. A good editor should be looked upon as a partner that you as the author of your paper will work with in order to ensure that your manuscript will look as best as it possibly can before you publish it or otherwise show it to a greater audience. A good editor will offer a variety of services and will be very specific about what they will do for you. Although it is not mandatory to have your manuscript edited multiple times, it is strongly encouraged for you to do so, as at each step, you will find ways to strengthen your initial draft. Depending on your budget and other needs, consider the following editing services when contemplating the need for editing of your next manuscript:

First of all, a good editor will treat content with care, realizing that as an editor they are not a "content expert" per se; rather, a good editor will treat content as an area of expertise that YOU, the writer, should have a firm grasp upon. As far a content editing is concerned, if you are fortunate enough to find an editor who is an actual content expert, that's great! Just be aware that most editors are not content experts, but they can help you in this area by fact-checking, checking for ambiguity, and will oftentimes ask questions that will help you narrow your topic or focus on a specific topic so that your focus will be optimized.

A good editor will also be able to offer you line or "copy" editing services. This is the second of three broad-based services that most editors should be able to offer. At this stage, the editor will not focus on content (that's your area as the author of the manuscript). Rather, they will focus on sentence structure, transitions, grammar usage, and overall "flow" on the page. Does the manuscript flow easily from the beginning to the end? If there are characters involved, does Mary have blue eyes at the beginning of the story and blue eyes at the end? Is the proper register being used (academic register is very important in formal writing, but might not be so important in a work of fiction, for example). Overall, a good editor will ensure that your work will be comprehensive to the reader and will be easy to read.

Finally, a good editor will offer proofreading services. This is the third and final step that a manuscript should go through. It is also the step most people associate with an editor. A good editor will proofread for typos, spelling mistakes, and punctuation errors, as well as line spacing and basic manuscript format.

Now, a quick word on what an editor will NOT do. A good editor will NOT write your manuscript for you! If you are writing a novel, that is the job of a ghost writer. If you are writing an academic paper, that is considered cheating, and ethics immediately come into play in that case. Don't let those websites fool you! You know the ones: You get a spam e-mail stating that "My name is XX and I offer essay writing services at low prices ...." Run away from those outfits! They are no good! A good editor will offer you a mark up of your original manuscript and will not charge extra to provide a clean copy to you of that manuscript. A good editor will offer full disclosure that will read something like this: As an editor, it is my job to fulfill the duties outlined in our initial proposal. I will guarantee that your manuscript will be better after editing than it was before. I stand behind my work, and if there are any issues that remain after I edit your manuscript, please contact me and I will do my best to rectify the situation. I offer an initial consultation and a post-editing consultation in which we can discuss any lingering questions or concerns. And finally, a good editor will not take your manuscript over; rather, they will work with you as a partner, being considerate of the fact that your manuscript is your "baby," and the editor is there to make sure it looks its absolute best!