What You Should Know about Editorial Services

Editorial services have become in demand these days, thanks to the popularity of the Internet. If you browse the Web, you can find numerous editing firms and freelance editors competing for the attention of potential clients. Aware of the importance of having your written work checked by a professional, you scour the Internet for a reputable editor that can help turn your manuscript from plain to great. But with the many choices available, you will find it a bit tricky to choose the editor that can meet your needs.

Before you begin your hunt for the right editor, you must first know the distinction between copyediting and proofreading. Confusion and misunderstanding often arise between editing firms and clients because the latter often say they need proofreading service when in fact they meant copyediting.

Proofreading is a basic check of a document or manuscript before it goes to publication. The job entails comparing the original and edited versions of a document to make sure that the necessary corrections have been made. A proofreader also changes the grammatical and typographical errors that have been missed out in the copyediting stage. The consistency of fonts, layout, and pagination is also checked in the proofreading phase.

Copyediting, on the other hand, is a broader and more complicated type of editorial service. The job includes proofreading along with other tasks. It involves a more thorough review of a document to spot errors in terms of style, grammar, reference citations, word choice, and textual structure. A copyeditor does the following: give advice to improve grammar and make writing more coherent and logical, fact checking, making text more compelling, making sentences more concise, make style and formatting consistent, among many others.

When you talk to a potential editor, you and the other party must agree to the services that you need to make your writing project effective and of excellent quality.

Now, your next concern is to determine the qualities you must look for in an editor and the services he offers. Keep in mind that a good editor must deliver quality work that is right on target. That means an editor should have a sharp eye for any mistake in terms of typos, grammar errors, and misspellings. A competent editor must be also knowledgeable of how to make a text flow logically and smoothly from start to finish.

The price is also an important factor to consider when choosing an editing firm or a freelance editor. Of course, the rates that your chosen editor charges must fit your budget. If you cannot afford it, then look for others. To lower your expenses, you may also choose only the services that you really need.

You must have a good working relationship with the editor because you will spend a considerable time working with that person and using his editorial services. If there are lots of conflicts between you and the editor, you are less likely to finish your writing project on time. Worse, the quality of your work may suffer.