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Different types of editing: How to do a perfect editing in four steps
In simple language, editing is like polishing a stone. It removes all errors, including grammatical, structural, factual errors, readability, style, syntax, and other kinds of mistakes in content.
Knowing different types of editing is essential for every writer. Maybe some new writers overlook the importance of content editing. But more professional writers know it is vital to edit content before publishing. No matter how much your content is significant and how much it is valuable. Without perfect editing, it will be messy, unfocused, and unreadable.
This article covers different types of editing. I know if you look at articles in other websites, maybe you see the other names for every steps in editing. All are correct. Just different sites used other names interchangeably for different types of editing or break down every steps in editing.
What is editing for written content, and why is it important?
Editing allows you to refine your message and ensure that it is communicated effectively. It helps you to eliminate errors, clarify confusing language, and improve the overall flow of your writing. By putting much time into editing your work, you show your readers that you value their time and attention.
In today’s fast-paced world, where there is an abundance of content available at our fingertips, it is more important than ever to produce high-quality content. By prioritizing editing and striving for excellence in your writing, you can stand out from the crowd and make a lasting impression on your audience.
It is recommended to quit your content after writing for a while. Then come back to edit it. Because your mind got involved with the content you wrote and needs to refresh. A busy mind can’t find errors well.
What are different types of editing?
Mainly there are 4 types of editing:
These major types are steps of perfect editing. None of them work for you without the three other ones. If you want your content to be error-free go through these four steps.
For editing, start from the surface and then go to the depth of your content. First, remove apparent errors and then check hidden aspects of your content.
Now let’s dive into discussing the four steps of a perfect edition.
Step 1: Copy editing type
Copy editing also called Mechanical Editing. When you look at a written document, the most significant errors are apparent errors. These are the errors you should remove in copy editing step. Depending on the type of your publication, copy editing involves the following:
- Grammar, punctuation, and spelling errors should be correct.
- Ensure the verb and tense are in agreement.
- Ensure removal of jargon and choose words based on standards of publication.
- Ensuring agreements of style based on your publication type (APA, MLA, AP, etc.)
- Remove unnecessary words to make your prose more clear and more valuable.
- Ensure display types are correct and suitable for your content. Display types are bold features in content. It includes headlines, subheadlines, photos, photo captions, conclusions, etc.
- Ensure to include specific rules for capitalization, abbreviations, and citation formats.
- Formatting plays a significant role in copy editing. This involves checking for proper margins, font size, type, spacing, and alignment. A well-formatted document enhances readability.
By considering these factors, you’ll have a polished and error-free document. Apparently the content seems well. But does it finish?
Defiantly no. For professional content production, you should go deeper.
Step 2: Content editing type
This type of editing also called developmental, substantive, or structural editing. Content editing mainly focuses on the accuracy of the message a content conveys to the reader, facts-checking, structure, and other hidden features. This step needs more thinking and investigation of the different aspects of content.
Here are factors that should be included in the content editing process.
Statistics and fact checking
Statistics and other kinds of facts such as scientific facts, data, names, places, and events are inseparable parts of many contents. They are critical because facts and statistics improve the authority of a website.
These elements should be double-checked in the editing process. You can use factbrowser, staticticsbrain.com, factmonster, and Google search to ensure the data.
If your content is confidential, maybe you need to double-check your own sources (for example, if you wrote based on data from an organization). After agreement of your findings and your search result use the data.
Checking contradictions
Content should be empty of contradictions. All pieces of your content should support each other for the sake of the main idea. And since good content should take care of coherency, contradiction damage to the whole of your content. So, check every sentence to ensure consistency in the meaning of the whole content.
Check content structure
Don’t overlook a good structure. Structure of the content is those features that allow readers to understand what the content is about with a glance at your content. It includes headings and subheadings, tables, lists, tables of content, paragraphs, links (in blog post content), and so on.
Headings and subheadings must be in agreement with their following content; Paragraphs should support their messages and don’t include extra information.
Tables and table of content must give a good summary of the content, and links must relate to correct information and use appropriate anchor text.
Brand voice agreement
Content editing also checks the voice of your brand. Whether you write for yourself or a brand, you have a specific voice and style. If you are a brand, I recommend always outsourcing your work to the same content editor.
SEO
If you write to publish online, the next step of content editing is SEO (search engine optimization) of your content. SEO is a broad scope, and if you aren’t an expert, SEO specialists can help you. Any way ensure:
- Include right keywords in the content.
- Ensure use of internal links.
- Check different types of SEO rules (on-page & off-page) in your content so that search engines understand your content well.
Edit your content for skimmers.
It means using several subheadings and bold features in your content. It acts like a hook to grab the attention of readers.
Step 3: Content rewriting type
The editing process isn’t just modifying the errors. After two previous steps, you need to rewrite or add some extra content to develop consistency in the whole of your text. Maybe you need to go back to the sources and do new research.
Rewriting allows you to take a step back and look at the big picture. You can ask yourself questions like: Is this section really necessary? Does it add anything to the overall message of the piece? Are there better ways to express this idea?
Through the process of rewriting, you can also identify areas where more research or information might be needed. For example, if a particular paragraph seems weak or unsupported, you may need to do some additional fact-checking or review sources to strengthen it.
Of course, rewriting can be time-consuming and challenging. It requires a willingness to let go of your initial ideas and be open to new possibilities. But ultimately, the end result is worth it.
By taking the time to rewrite and refine your writing, you can create pieces that are truly impactful and memorable.
If you need to add some content to the main content, just be careful to perform two previous steps, copy editing and content editing on rewriting.
Step 4: Proofreading type
Well, now it’s time to come to the surface from the depth of your content. After perfect copy editing, content editing, and rewriting, your content needs final proofreading. It includes modifying little and big errors that were either overlooked or made during the editing process.
Although you are on the surface of the content, it’s so sensitive. It’s last checking, and as an editor, you should guarantee that the content is free of any kind of errors such as grammatical, factual errors, readability, style, syntax, and typographical faults. In addition, you must ensure that the content follows the style guide that has been chosen.
Overall, proofreading is essential in the writing process to ensure that the final product is polished and professional. Whether it’s a business report, academic paper, or personal blog post, proofreading can help to enhance the credibility and effectiveness of the written work.
What is a content editing tool, and how to use it?
A content editing tool is a software program designed to help writers to improve the quality of their content. It provides a range of features that enable users to check spelling and grammatical errors and enhance readability. Some tools even offer suggestions for improving sentence structure, tone, and style.
Sometimes editing by a tool offers features like checking plagiarism that you can’t achieve in manual editing.
Here are the steps to edit content with a tool:
1. Choose the right tool: There are many tools available for editing content, so it’s important to choose one that suits your needs. Look for a tool that has features like spell-check, grammar-check, and style suggestions.
2. Upload or copy and paste the content: Once you have chosen your tool, upload the content you want to edit or copy and paste it into the tool’s editor.
3. Review the suggestions: The tool will likely highlight areas of the content that need attention. Review these suggestions carefully and consider making changes based on them.
4. Make necessary edits: Based on the suggestions from the tool, make any necessary edits to the content. This may include fixing spelling or grammar errors, rephrasing sentences for clarity, or adjusting the tone or style of the writing.
5. Review again: After making edits, review the content to ensure everything flows smoothly and makes sense.
6. Save and export: Once you are satisfied with the edits, save the content and export it in the desired format.
Using a tool to edit content can be a valuable time-saver and can help improve the quality of your writing.
Conclusion
The benefits of good content are numerous. It can increase engagement with your audience, establish you as an authority in your field, and ultimately lead to more conversions. However, none of these benefits can be achieved without proper editing.
A poorly edited piece of content can do more harm than good.
So, editing is a crucial step in the content creation process. It ensures that the final product is error-free. Good editing can make the difference between a second-rate piece of content and one that is exceptional.
FAQs
How do I edit my content after writing?
- The first step in editing your content is to review your work for clarity and coherence. Check spelling mistakes, punctuation, and grammatical errors. These can be easily corrected using online tools such as Grammarly or Hemingway Editor.
- Focus on the structure of your content. Make sure that your paragraphs are well-organized and have a clear topic sentence. Check if your sentences are too long or too short and adjust them accordingly
- Check for factual accuracy. Verify any statistics, quotes, or references used in your work. Ensure that they are up-to-date and from reliable sources.
- Proofread your work one last time before submitting it. Read through your work carefully, line by line, to catch any remaining errors.
What are the types of editing?
1-Copyediting (also called Mechanical Editing)
2-Content editing (called developmental, substantive, or structural editing)
3-Content rewriting
4-Proofreading.
Who typically needs edition services?
Content editing services are essential for anyone who wants to produce high-quality written content including authors, bloggers, businesses, and students.
Authors need to ensure that their manuscripts are ready for publication. Bloggers also benefit from content editing services, as they need to produce engaging and informative content on a regular basis.
Businesses often require content editing services for their marketing materials, such as content marketing, websites, brochures, and press releases.
And also students can benefit from content editing services when working on academic papers or other assignments.
What are some common issues that content editors address?
One of the most common issues you encounter is grammatical errors. This can include anything from misspelled words to incorrect verb tenses. Another issue is modifying inconsistencies in tone or style. This can happen when multiple writers contribute to a piece of content, or when a writer changes their approach midway through a project.
Factual inaccuracies are another common issue need to address. This can include anything from incorrect dates or statistics to misattributed quotes. It’s essential to fact-check all content thoroughly before publishing it.
Formatting and layout issues can also be a concern. This can include things like inconsistent font sizes or spacing, or poorly formatted images.
How can I find a reliable editor for my project?
First and foremost, research is key. Look for editors who have experience in your specific industry or niche, as they will be more likely to understand the nuances of your content.
Networking is also an important part of finding a reliable content editor. Reach out to colleagues or other professionals in your field and ask for recommendations.
