Introduction to Editing and Proofreading

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Editing and proofreading are forms of revisions that are usually done on written articles. Most people think that they are similar. However, they are not. Depending on the quality of work that you have done, you can choose to have someone either proofread or edit your work. It is important for you to know what each involves.

What is Editing?

Editing is the first step that you take when doing revisions on your first draft. It entails making corrections on the actual content.

During the editing process, the flow of content will be checked. The editor will make revisions to ensure your content flows properly. If your content contains complex words that you just picked from the dictionary, simpler words may be chosen as replacements to improve readability.

During the editing process, the use of language will also be checked. Has language been used in the content accurately? Is the written work easy to read?

The sentence structure is usually revised during the editing process. Sentence fragments, excessive use of passive sentences, and wordiness will be corrected during this stage. The positioning of sentences within the paragraphs, as well as the positioning of paragraphs within the content, will be revised by the editor if need be.

The aim of the editing process is to ultimately ensure that the content you have written is accurate, flows smoothly and naturally, is easily readable, and has the correct structure overall.

If you have written content in a language that you are unfamiliar with, you should definitely consider hiring an editor. You should also consider obtaining editing services if you have little understanding of the rules of language and grammar.  That way, you can ensure that your readers can easily understand the content that you wrote.

What is Proofreading?

The proofreading process is the last stage of the revision process, after which the written work can be approved for publishing. It entails correcting typographical, grammatical, and spelling errors.

Some of the issues proofreaders tackle include misspelled letters and words, incorrect punctuation, misused apostrophes, and the wrong use of quotation marks.

Other things that will be handled during the proofreading process include the use of the wrong words based on the regional language used, industry-specific terminology, missing punctuation or words, and so on.

Proofreading is a form of quality assurance. Without it, the work that you have written may contain great information that people will not read once they see too many glaring errors.

Real Examples of Editing and Proofreading Work

The paragraph below needs both editing and proofreading:

It was assumed that they understood her comments. The products were to be of a certain colour based on her preferences. She had told them I want all the dresses to be red. Its my favourite color. Why does not one pay attention

After the editing and proofreading process, the paragraph would look like this (If you want American English to be used):

She had assumed that they understood her comments. Her preferences should have been used to determine the color of the products. She had told them, “I want all the dresses to be red. It’s my favorite color.” Why did they not pay attention?


Based on the example above, it is clear that editing and proofreading services are essential for enhancing the quality of any written text. You should therefore revise your documents before publishing them. Hire a professional if you hate revisions.


Upplagt 30 mars, 2015


Content Marketing Writer


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