Copy editing is a lot more than correcting grammatical errors and inserting paragraph breaks for a reader’s reference. A copy editor is responsible for ensuring that every piece of content is error-free and clear on its cause. It is a skill and art that is not as easy to excel as many may think.
Whether you are copy-editing for brands or novice authors, you can agree that it can be a tough job. While being an excellent copy editor is surely a challenge, it is a skill you can hone if you believe in there always being room for improvement.
If you are not sure where to begin improving your skills as a copy editor, here are some tips that can help you.
- Proofread Meticulously
As you start your journey as a copy editor, the first thing you may find when understanding what do copy editors do is that they read everything meticulously. They look for basic mistakes in content, such as spelling errors or grammatical mistakes.
Individuals and organizations hire copy editors because they want to let a fresh and experienced pair of eyes spot the errors that may have been missed during the creation process. Honing meticulous reading can take some time and experience, but things tend to get a lot easier with practice.
- Focus on Consistency
Once you have improved the basics of the content, the next thing to do is to ensure the consistency of the text. As a copy editor, it is your job to add a flow to the content that connects the reader and the writer. Otherwise, inconsistent writing may only distract the reader and they will lose their focus.
You must ensure that there is consistency, not just in the flow of writing but in the tone, style, and formatting as well. Such small details can make a big difference to the text.
- Cut Down Unnecessary Parts
It can be hard for a creator of a work to see extra parts in their writing. After all, every word may seem important to them as they have spent time and energy on it. That is why they need copy editors to do the tough part of the job.
You must cut down on extra parts of the text to make it more concise and impactful. This process requires a lot of ruthless cutting out of redundancies and distractors. Knowing what to cut out and what to keep can set you apart as a professional copy editor.
- Clarify Ambiguities
As a copy editor, you are believed to be someone who will not be gentle with ambiguities. One of the most important things is to figure out ambiguities and treat them in order to be understood by your audience.
Every time you see an ambiguous or confusing sentence, you must improve it to make a connection with its target audience rather than leaving them confused and frustrated.
- Master Punctuation
Every copy editor is trusted to be a master of punctuation. It means that you must pay special attention to the rules of punctuation in order to ensure the flow of writing. The right use of punctuation marks can help you enhance the readability of your words.
In addition, punctuation marks also help you communicate better with the reader by ensuring pauses and breaks wherever they are needed.
- Check the Facts
Do not just stick to the rules of grammar and the visual aesthetic of the text. An expert copy editor understands the importance of the accuracy of facts and figures included in a work. Of course, if a \reader realizes inaccuracy in this aspect, they may not want to continue reading any further. Such a blow can harm your reputation as a copy editor.
Hence, being thorough with every piece of writing in terms of facts and figures is very important. You must take your time and explore all available resources to ensure that every piece of work copy-edited by you is factually accurate.
- Recheck Citations
A careless mistake in citation can harm the reputation of a copy editor in an irreparable way. You must always check and recheck to ensure that all sources mentioned in the work are cited and referenced according to the relevant style guide.
Accurate citation in a proper way is especially important if you are dealing with academic work. Make sure you recheck this aspect again and again to ensure your reliability as a copy editor.
- Catch Common Mistakes
It is easy for common word usage mistakes to slip through the expert eyes of even the best copy editors. Basic human errors such as homonyms and typos can easily slip through the cracks. The only way to point them out and fix them is through thoroughly reading your work over and over again.
Proofread every part carefully and ensure that you give yourself breaks to avoid missing out on these significant mistakes that can challenge your authority as a copy editor.
- Make Tenses Consistent
As a copy editor, you must ensure that the writing does not jump from one text to the other. You must ensure proper usage of tenses and an accurate verb arrangement throughout the text. Otherwise, staying interested and engaged with the text can become a challenge for the reader.
Inconsistent tenses can confuse readers and disrupt the flow of the text. By cutting down these seemingly insignificant shifts, you can engage the readers and set your work apart.
- Evaluate Coherence
Coherence is an important factor that sets your work as a copy editor apart. As a copy editor, you must ensure that your work has a logical flow throughout. It can be hard to ensure through lengthy work, but proofreading can help you figure out and eliminate inconsistencies.
Take your time to ensure that ideas are presented in a logical order and transitions between paragraphs are smooth. Coherence of thoughts can be reflected through your writing. You must strive for clarity and precision to convey your message effectively and avoid ambiguity.
