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.