Professional EditingProfessional Editing
Types of Professional Editing
Hierarchy of Editorial Concerns
Developmental EditingDevelopmental Editing
Outside Editor (acquisitions editors)
Self-Editor
Consult with author, determine purpose, audience, “big picture”, genre; guides project from very early stage (the idea stage) up to draft
Developmental editing at the planning stage, weighing options, altering the plan.
May consult with others to “bounce ideas”
Acquisitions editors
Substantive EditingSubstantive Editing
Outside Editor Self-Editor
Content checked for accuracy, consistency, and completeness.
Fact checked, source credibility checked
Organization
Content (add, remove, redesign, etc.)
Done during drafting AND after draft is assembled.
Content
Facts/sources
Organization
Content
SMEs, external reviewers, referees, publication editors
Copyediting (proofreading)Copyediting (proofreading)
Outside Editor Self-Editor
Sentence level errors: grammatical, syntactical, stylistic, spelling(?), typos (?)
Manuscript preparation, adherence to style guide (MLA, APA, etc.)
Some copyediting during drafting
Word spelling/grammar check
Several read-throughs,
Print and read-through
Read aloud/record
Give to a friend
High-Level Concerns (HLCs)purpose, audience
Achievement of purpose (and sub-purposes)• Inclusion of (only) necessary information• Clarity of purpose• Placement of purpose
High-Level Concerns (HLCs)purpose, audience
Appeal to audience • Audience appeals for achieving purpose (motivate
to act)• Ethically (ethos): purposeful, credible, ethical,
professional• Emotionally (pathos): connect to audience’s values,
interests, needs (even when it isn’t obvious to the audience)
• Logically (logos): make good sense! Logical to audience, provide context, explanations, support
• Maintain goodwill (not alienated, angry, or ignored), use of you-attitude, reader benefits, and positivity
Mid-Level Concerns (MLCs)organization, chunking of information, overall
usability
• Organization that best achieves purpose and appeals to audience
• Organization typical of genre/message type• Logical organization
Mid-Level Concerns organization, overall usability (design)
• Overall usability (design)
• Chunking information (longer texts)
• Genre appropriateness, adherence to conventions, ease of use– find information easily, graphic highlighting, lists,
non-text elements for interest and usability, images for highlighting important information, adherence to the principles of good document design
Low-Level Concerns generally sentence level
Sentence Level: punctuation, grammar, spelling, typos, correct “style”
Traditional Elements of Style = • Correctness: standard adherence to conventions• Clarity (and conciseness): simply stated, avoid
business-ese, canned phrases• Appropriateness: of words & sentences for purpose,
subject, reader, and context• Dignity: not sexist, culturally sensitive, generally
sensitive, (not stupid!)
General ConnectionsGeneral Connections
Higher-level concerns developmental
editing
Mid-level concerns substantive editing
Lower-level concerns copyediting
Lower-level editingLower-level editingcommon areas for improvement
ClarityClarity
• Use words with a single meaning fixed fast repaired quickly or attached firmly?
• Use words with neutral connotation (neutral to positive)
Thin or scrawny?Self-confident or conceited?Relaxed or lazy?Inquisitive or nosy?
ClarityClarity
• use plain language
Avoid prolix nebulosity.
• use caution with jargon and acronyms
I talked about my pedagogical approaches to the instruction of university-level learners in computer-mediated classroom environments at the CEA.
ClarityClarity
Use concrete languageAvoid cliches
not by a long shot left holding the bag run of the mill come full circle let the chips fall where they may Avoid generalizations when possible
always, few, most, towards the left, a little
Avoid unclear pronoun referencesThe solutions were prepared in test tubes and later transferred. They were also sterilized.
Our patients enjoy the warm days while they last.
Avoid unclear modifiers
Only press the red button in an emergency.
ClarityClarity
Word Endings:
Mary likes hiking, swimming, and to ride a bicycle.
The production manager was asked to write his report quickly, accurately, and in a clear manner.
At about noon the sky darkened, a breeze sprang up, and a low rumble announces the approaching storm.
Parallelism Parallelism Generally, treat items the same way(?)
Descriptors (like in same order):– Tom’s purple book bag is ten inches wide, holds three
books, and has a water bottle holder.– Jane’s red tote bag is twelve inches wide, holds four
books, and has a pocket for a cell phone.
(color – measure – capacity – extras)- Eric’s bag is really small and made of nylon.
Also includes terms, units of measure, directions, & symbols
ParallelismParallelism Generally, treat items the same way(?)
Lists of Items
Penalties for common violations include:
– Jaywalking: death by paper cuts
– Jail time: for traffic violations
– If you are caught with open containers, you will be sent home
– Speeding will result in a ticket
ParallelismParallelism Generally, treat items the same way(?)
Fewer words & fewer syllables
demonstrate
endeavor
is contingent upon
subsequent to
utilize
the majority of
in close proximity
aware of the fact that
= show
= effort, try
= depends
= after
= use
= most
= near
= know
ConcisenessConciseness
Eliminate redundancycollect together contributing factorpersonal opinion perfectly clear
completely eliminate the month of January
Avoid sentence openers There is a coaxial cable connecting the antenna to the receiver.
There is a danger of explosion in second mineshaft.
It was his bad attitude that got him fired.
I am writing this letter because I wish to apply for the position.
ConcisenessConciseness
“Nouning” = turning verbs into nouns
We must conduct an investigation of all parking violations before we can give consideration to your fine.
We must investigate all parking violations before we can consider your fine.
conduct an investigation of
provide a description of
conduct a test of
make a discovery of
= investigate
= describe
= test
= discover
ConcisenessConciseness
Generally, use active voice(what is the exception to this?)
Passive Voice – the subject is acted uponThe girl was chased by the dog.
Active Voice - the subject performs the action
The dog chased the girl.
ConcisenessConciseness
Jack resents his assistant because he is competitive.
Problem:
Revision:
Jack resents his assistant because he is competitive.
Problem: unclear whether Jack or his assistant is competitive.
Revision: Because Jack is competitive, he resents his assistant.
Being so well known in the computer industry, I would appreciate your advice.
Problem:
Revision:
Being so well known in the computer industry, I would appreciate your advice.
Problem: unclear whether writer or reader is well known in the computer industry
Revision: Because you are well known in the computer industry, I would appreciate your advice.
Do not enter the test area while contaminated.
Problem:
Revision:
Do not enter the test area while contaminated.
Problem: unclear whether the reader should not enter when the reader is contaminated or when the test area is contaminated
Revision: Do not enter a contaminated test area.
Care should be taken with the dynamite.
Problem:
Revision:
Care should be taken with the dynamite.
Problem: unnecessary use of passive voice; wordy
Revision: Take care with the dynamite.
Be careful with the dynamite.
It is vital that you complete your homework.
Problem:
Revision:
It is vital that you complete your homework.
Problem: unnecessary sentence opener (it is); wordy; “vital” can be replaced with more familiar word.
Revision: Doing your homework is important.
Homework is important.
Your conclusion is in agreement with mine.
Problem:
Revision:
Your conclusion is in agreement with mine.
Problem: weak verb; wordy
Revision: I agree with your conclusion.
I agree.
Our acceptance of the offer is a necessity.
Problem:
Revision:
Our acceptance of the offer is a necessity.
Problem: weak verb; nouning (acceptance)
Revision: We must accept the offer.
My diagnosis was not inaccurate.
Problem:
Revision:
My diagnosis was not inaccurate.
Problem: double negative
Revision: My diagnosis is accurate.
I suggest you reduce the number of beverages you consume.
Problem:
Revision:
I suggest you reduce the number of beverages you consume.
Problem: wordy; “beverages” and “consume” can be replaced with more familiar words.
Revision: Drink less.
We expect a refund of our full purchase expenditure.
Problem:
Revision:
We expect a refund of our full purchase expenditure.
Problem: business-ese, jargon; redundancy, “expenditure” can be replaced with a more familiar word.
Revision: We expect a refund.