Five principles of editing every writer must know

What are the five principles of editing and why are they important? For writing to be ready for publishing, it needs to be clear, complete, concise, correct and consistent. The five principles concept has been around for some time now, and each aspect is equally important; therefore, include all five elements when you are reviewing your written work.

Writing needs to be concise, to stay on track and avoid waffling. It has to be clear, meaning easily understood. All aspects need to be complete, which is important for layered plotlines and for non-fiction manuscripts, so the audience can understand fully. The manuscript has to be consistent throughout the entire document; this applies to everything from spelling a particular word to style and tone. And of course, a manuscript must have correct form meaning it follows the standard rules of grammar.

Understanding the different levels of editing for writers

No matter how dedicated you are or how hard you try to make your manuscript or writing project perfect, it’s mostly likely it will still need some form of editing. There are different levels of editing. The written work may need extensive work or it may require some rewriting in regards to grammar use and readability while keeping the author’s content and style. It depends on the individual’s work that governs how much editing is required. The levels of our professional editing services are:

• Structural Editing (also referred to as developmental or substantive editing)
• Copy Editing (also referred to as line editing)
• Proofreading.

Once you have committed your written project or manuscript to the page, structural or substantive editing is the first stage – it looks at the big picture. It focuses on fixing larger issues with a manuscript that results in rewriting or deleting paragraphs. It’s about getting the manuscript’s structure right. It also takes other aspects into consideration, such as the tone, language, terminology used, logical flow, repetition, inconsistencies, and legal requirements.

Copy editing or line editing focuses on the text for completeness, consistency, readability and audience suitability. This stage requires attention to spelling and grammar.

Proofreading makes sure that the previous corrections have been made. It focuses on chapter headings, page references, typographical errors, spelling mistakes, unclear text, names and terms, and the format. It’s the final check.

While some of these stages overlap, the descriptions above identify the differences with the stages of editing.

All stages of editing are vital processes that should be considered. The manuscript or article needs to be error-free to be received well by its intended audience. Annoying distractions can interrupt the flow causing the reader to lose interest. Besides looking unprofessional, the author loses credibility. If you are going through a publisher instead of self-publishing, and if it’s noticed that the work has glaring errors, then your work may not be read. It’s a harsh reality, and is why it’s important that you ensure you’re presenting a polished document.

But you don’t have to feel like you’re on your own. We provide constructive feedback and suggestions when you send your manuscript to us for structural editing. We also provide similar comments on manuscripts that have been submitted for copy editing. This is invaluable information for the author to learn, enhance skills and become a better writer.

What is the difference between structural editing and manuscript assessment?

Structural editing means that your manuscript is reshaped while keeping you informed throughout the process. This is your work, your manuscript, and we never lose sight of that.

Manuscript assessment provides you with a report containing constructive feedback and ways to improve your manuscript. Also, the report may highlight bad habits that should be conquered. This will allow you to reshape your manuscript yourself, which means that you could reduce editing costs later.

Choose the best option for your manuscript

It can be difficult for writers to judge their own work objectively. Some people might have a feeling that the sentence structure needs attention or the punctuation is weak, and some times writers simply don’t know.

To get assistance with this, or to enquiry about editing or proofreading, just submit a sample of the manuscript to us, and we will review it and suggest the best option for your work. If you fill in the online quote form as well, then we will be able to provide you with a quote. Then you will know what your manuscript needs at this point to progress further, and how much it will cost.