Writing tip:

Know your objective and nominative case pronouns. The words I, we, she, and who should be used as subjects of a sentence. In contrast, me, us, her, and whom are only used as objects. For compound subjects and objects, try substituting me or I and see what happens.

General Editing Services

Although there are many examples of specific editing needs, each scenario is different. One may require only a superficial glance of the editor's eye; another may entail rewriting large blocks of copy. Regardless of the mandate, all editorial work requires the language skills and attention to detail that only an experienced editor can provide. Editing can make bad writing good and good writing better.

Proofreading and Review

Even skilled writers can benefit from an independent review of their work. Although spell-checking applications have helped to reduce typographical errors, they have done little to correct many other common problems. Proofreading may also refer to the examination of a document after layout. In this case, the reviewer may be looking for errors in design and typography as well as content.

Style and Consistency Checking

Copy editing usually addresses not only mechanical errors but also style, grammar, usage, and syntactical errors. The editor may rewrite sentences or rearrange paragraphs for clarity. This type of editing often is used to ensure that usage, spelling, and punctuation are consistent and in conformance with a particular style guide. The bulk of editorial work falls into this category.

Substantive Editing and Rewriting

Editing is not merely about correcting errors. It is about maximizing the reader experience. Sometimes the writer has much to say but may not have the necessary skills to say it clearly. In these cases, an editor may be tasked with rewriting the material to improve its clarity, structure, and logical flow. Although the essence of the content is retained, the revised document is more accurate and easier to read.