The terms editing and proofreading mean different things to different people. I use the following definitions as a foundation for discussing the scope of a project. To discuss any of my editing services in more detail, please contact me.

Proofreading

When most people think of proofreading, they imagine someone correcting typos and catching punctuation mistakes. But they’re only partly correct. A proofreader is not the first line of defense against these errors: the copy editor is. A proofreader’s true job is (1) to ensure that the copy editor’s corrections have been implemented and (2) to catch any errors that may have slipped through the cracks or been introduced by the typesetter.

A proofreader is a second (or third, or fourth) set of eyes. By the time a manuscript has been laid out for publication, making significant copy changes can be expensive. That’s why a proofreader is primarily concerned with mechanical errors such as misspelled words and faulty punctuation — the stuff that would be embarrassing not to fix.

As a proofreader, I will:

• Work on laid out copy (proofs)
• Compare proofs to a copyedited manuscript
• Look for objective errors

Light Editing

Light editing is the common thread of the editorial fabric. No matter what else is done to a manuscript, it needs light editing. Not all documents are destined for layout and a proofreader’s desk. Not all books need developmental editing to merit publication. But every piece of copy needs — yes, needs — a light edit.

When a copy editor undertakes a light edit, the goal is to make the manuscript consistent and correct. Fixing mechanics is a must, and enforcing a common style yields consistency and polish.

When performing a light edit, I will:

• Work on the original manuscript
• Correct objective errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation
• Bring consistency to the manuscript
• Follow a specified style guide
• Provide suggestions for easy fixes in subjective editorial elements
• Query the author on potentially confusing or incorrect passages

Medium Editing

Medium editing is a more substantial undertaking; it goes beyond quick fixes to truly clean a manuscript. While a copy editor performing a light edit might ignore an awkward patch of prose, the same copy editor would smooth it out in a medium edit.

But a medium edit does not license the copy editor to impose his or her will on the manuscript; indeed, restraint is one of the hallmarks of a good editor. Instead, the copy editor uses the power of a medium edit to help the author’s voice ring more clearly.

When performing a medium edit, I will:

• Complete all the tasks of light editing
• Offer more corrections for subjective editorial elements, such as passive voice, parallel construction, awkward phrasing, nominalizations, weak verbs, and sentence structure
• Provide more direct feedback to the author

Writing

Yes, I work primarily as an editor. But all editors are sometimes called on to write. My strength is in technical writing — presenting complex information in a simplified form. Though such writing is not always graceful, it does important work: providing clear communication to people seeking answers.

No matter which of my services interests you, if you want clear communication, you’ve come to the right place.