Take Me To Post Comment Form Copy editing is the process of taking raw material, or the original material from the writer, to prepare it for publication. A copy editor can work on a variety of material, such as a novel, article, menu, or even a flyer. The purpose of Copy Editing is to be sure that published content is easy to follow and free of error. Any potentially embarrassing errors are filtered through the copyeditor, with a polished product coming through on the other side.

There is no magic involved in the copyediting process: there are several essential steps. While the writer's job is to gather the proper ingredients and cook them, the editor, on the other hand, must make them look excellently placed upon the plate.

A copyeditor will first check that the copy is complete. They must check that all instructions have been followed, such as whether the content matches chapters or list of contents, referencing requirements, as well as word or page requirements. As the editor works through the content, they will check for a variety of errors, such as grammar, punctuation, style and usage, spelling, and sentence structure. They will also check for length: aside from included instructions, they ensure that the work is not too long or too short.

The editor will also question facts that may not be correct, and gaps in content that would make the novel or article difficult for readers to follow. The writing should be consistent. This wording may depend on the audience for which the copy is being written. There are various tones and styles, and a copyeditor will ensure that the voice used by the writer fits this structure.

Consistency is often vital in many industries and fields of work, and editing is no exception. Everything should be aligned with the writing: presentation of quotations, italics, tables, graphs, links or references. These images and diagrams should support the text, and any textual captions should be well-organized and comment on their relevancy.

Copyeditors check for any potential legal issues in the content, such as plagiarism, obscenity or incitement to racial hatred. While editors catch these things, the responsibility still rests with writers and publishers. Technical issues are also filtered through the copy editor, with such aspect as printing, web design, or typeface. Questions regarding page breaks, extent, and more are discussed with the client or a professional dealing with these technical matters.

A copyeditor is much more than the person that checks for grammatical mistakes and spelling. To produce a polished piece of writing, editors work with writers and clients closely to put out only the best product possible.