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Editing is the process of preparing written language, Image editing, Audio engineer, or Film editing material with the intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate and complete final product. Modifications can include correcting, condensing, or re-organizing the original material.Mamishev, Alexander, Williams, Sean, Technical Writing for Teams: The STREAM Tools Handbook, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, John Wiley & Sons. Inc., Hoboken, 2009, p. 128.
Editing is a dynamic process. An editor must have the knowledge to identify and to correct errors in a piece of work to refine and deliver its message. However, there are times when correcting an error may change the original message of the work. In such cases, editors must also know when to ignore certain errors and to identify the next best possible course of action, which may involve undoing past corrections. Effective editing comes from not only making corrections, but making corrections that still convey the original message of the work.
In the case of multi-author , before the manuscript is delivered to the publisher it has undergone substantive and linguistic editing by the volume's editor, who works independently of the publisher.
As for scholarly journals, where spontaneous submissions are more common than commissioned works, the position of journal editor or editor-in-chief replaces the acquisitions editor of the book publishing environment, while the roles of production editor and copy editor remain. However, another editor is sometimes involved in the creation of scholarly research articles. Called the authors' editor, this editor works with authors to get a manuscript fit for purpose before it is submitted to a scholarly journal for publication.
The primary difference between copy editing scholarly books and journals and other sorts of copy editing lies in applying the standards of the publisher to the copy. Most scholarly publishers have a preferred style that usually specifies a particular dictionary and style manual—for example, The Chicago Manual of Style, the MLA Style Manual or the APA style in the U.S., or the New Hart's Rules in the U.K.
Technical editing is now more commonly done using applications and websites on devices, which requires editors to be familiar with online platforms like Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Office, and Google Docs. The significance and intentions behind editing have also changed, moving beyond print due to the continuous advancements in technology. As a result, the grounds and values of editing have changed as well. For instance, text is often shortened and simplified online because of the preference for quick answers among this generation. Additionally, the advancement in social issues has made it possible to offer easy access to vast amounts of information.
How editing is being taught has also changed. Editing writing used to put emphasis on correcting surface-level errors, such as grammar and spelling. While these errors should still be corrected during the editing process, the focus is now shifting towards understanding the meaning of these errors to use the best method to correct them. Simply correcting errors by following a set of rules limits a student's ability to adapt to different situations. Therefore, to make meaningful edits, the student must be able to understand the original message of the writing and why an error was made, whether it was a simple spelling error or incorrect word choice.
Apart from editing written work, video editing has also evolved. Nowadays, non-linear editing is the main way of editing video clips, but in the 1900s, it was linear editing. As computer systems and software have developed, video clips are now able to be uploaded directly to the editing software, making the editing process quicker. With this evolution of editing, creativity has been sped up, editing has become easier, and there are now countless ways for writers to tell stories.
The other form of visual editing is Film editing editing. Cinematic editing entails anything that is to be used as cinematic material, mainly films. Cinematic editing dates back to the early 1900s when American filmmaker, D.W. Griffith, produced the first films that essentially paved the way for the editing techniques that are still used today. The progression of technology brought about advancements in gear, which meant filmmakers were able to achieve new techniques in the post-production process through editing. Editors went from physically cutting and rearranging film to working on virtual timelines using software like DaVinci Resolve or Adobe Premiere Pro.
Students often find learning about editing rewarding in both learning a languageFerris, Dana R; Hsiang Liu; Aparna Sinha; Manuel Senna. (2013). Written corrective feedback for individual L2 writers. Journal of Second Language Writing 22.3, 307–329. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jslw.2012.09.009 and improving language skills. However, the writing field currently debates whether self-editing is the best way to reduce errors in student writing. Some studies have shown that self-editing is more effective at reducing language errors in the short term than peer-editing.Diab, N. M. (2016). A comparison of peer, teacher and self-feedback on the reduction of language errors in student essays. System, 57, 55–65. However, in the long term, both approaches have similar effects on students. Others have found that the collaborative dialogue provided by peer-editing is better at reducing language errors than self-editing.
There is an ongoing discussion regarding feedback practices in L2 writing contexts. Some researchers have claimed that grammar correction is ineffective, however others have found that the available evidence was not sufficient to eliminate grammar correction from L2 classrooms . Student feedback may contribute to improvements in grammatical accuracy, while written feedback is also associated with positive short-term revisions and long-term language growth.
Today, self-editing is being taught in numerous ways. Some researchers have found a significant improvement in student essays through self-editing worksheets.Holbrook, G., & Park, V. J. (2017). Student perceptions of the effectiveness of self-editing on their writing: towards a self-regulated approach. Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education, 12. https://doi.org/10.47408/jldhe.v0i12.425 Others have experimented with mobile apps. Similar to the worksheets, these mobile based editing exercises have been shown to reduce error specifically in English learners' papers. Just as applications like Google Docs and Grammarly can highlight grammatical errors, these applications may teach students to identify these mistakes, among others, by themselves.Researchers have compared self-editing and peer-editing in the editing process. Experiments, using pre-test/post-test comparison group designs, examined how each approach affects student editing, and distinguished between rule-based language errors, such as grammar rules, and non rule-based errors, such as inaccurate word choice or unstructured sentences. These studies have shown that peer-editing may be associated with greater reduction in certain rule-based errors, while less consistent in non rule-based errors.
More recent research has examined written feedback across certain educational contexts. Some studies have explored how students engage with teacher feedback, depending on the different levels of engagement, particularly within L2 writers.Other research has investigated technology-based writing environments comparing peer feedback versus automated technology feedback. Findings from these studies suggest that automated revising tools paired with peer review led to a greater improvement in writing than automated revising tools without the peer review.
Scholarship in the writing studies field has examined self-editing, peer-editing and teacher feedback independently and collaboratively. Some research has explored how the effectiveness of these different approaches varies depending on the proficiency of the writer.While there hasn't yet been a definitive answer on the best editing techniques to improve language errors, numerous studies have shown that learning to edit helps in both learning a language and improving native language skills.
Technical editing may include the correction of grammatical mistakes, misspellings, mistyping, incorrect punctuation, inconsistencies in usage, poorly structured sentences, wrong scientific terms, wrong units and dimensions, inconsistency in significant figures, technical ambivalence, technical disambiguation, statements conflicting with general scientific knowledge, correction of synopsis, content, index, headings and subheadings, correcting data and chart presentation in a research paper or report, and correcting errors in citations.
From basics to more critical changes, these adjustments to the text can be categorized by the different terms within technical editing. There are policy edits, integrity edits, screening edits, copy clarification edits, format edits and mechanical style edits, language edits, etc.
The two most common and broad are substantive editing and copy editing. Substantive editing is developmental because it guides the drafting process by providing essential building blocks to work off of. They work closely with the author to help supply ideas. Copy editing happens later in the drafting process and focuses on changing the text so that it's consistent throughout in terms of accuracy, style, flow, and so on. This is usually the preferred editing for the surface-level cleaning up of work.
Large companies dedicate experienced writers to the technical editing function. Organizations that cannot afford dedicated editors typically have experienced writers peer-edit text produced by less experienced colleagues.
It helps if the technical editor is familiar with the subject being edited. The "technical" knowledge that an editor gains over time while working on a particular product or technology does give the editor an edge over another who has just started editing content related to that product or technology.
General essential skills include attention to detail, patience, persistence, the ability to sustain focus while working through lengthy pieces of text on complex topics, tact in dealing with writers, and excellent communication skills. Additionally, one does not need an English major to partake but language aptitude certainly helps.
The top editor at many publications may be known as the chief editor, executive editor, or simply the editor. A frequent and highly regarded contributor to a magazine may acquire the title of editor-at-large or contributing editor. Mid-level newspaper editors often manage or help to manage sections, such as business, sports and features. In U.S. newspapers, the level below the top editor is usually the managing editor.
In the book publishing industry, editors may organize Anthology and other compilations, produce definitive editions of a classic author's works (scholarly editor), and organize and manage contributions to a multi-author book (symposium editor or volume editor). Obtaining manuscripts or recruiting authors is the role of an acquisitions editor or a commissioning editor in a publishing house.Poland, Louise, The business, Craft and Profession of the Book Editor, in Carter, David, Galligan, Anne, (eds.), Making books: contemporary Australian publishing, Queensland University Press, 2007, p. 100. Finding marketable ideas and presenting them to appropriate authors are the responsibilities of a sponsoring editor.
copy editing correct spelling, grammar and align writings to style guide. Changes to the publishing industry since the 1980s have resulted in nearly all copy editing of book manuscripts being outsourced to freelance copy editors.
At and wire services, press or copy editors write headlines and work on more substantive issues, such as ensuring accuracy, fairness, and taste. In some positions, they news design and select news stories for inclusion. At British and Australian newspapers, the term is sub-editor. They may choose the layout of the publication and communicate with the printer. These editors may have the title of News design or (more so in the past) makeup editor.
In film editing, many editing techniques are used, such as post-processing and video and audio assembly.
Editing is a growing field of work in the service industry. There is little career training offered for editors. Paid editing services may be provided by specialized editing firms or by self-employed (Freelancer) editors.
Editing firms may employ a team of in-house editors, rely on a network of individual contractors or both. Such firms are able to handle editing in a wide range of topics and genres, depending on the skills of individual editors. The services provided by these editors may be varied and can include proofreading, copy editing, online editing, developmental editing, editing for search engine optimization, etc.
Self-employed editors work directly for clients (e.g., authors, publishers) or offer their services through editing firms, or both. They may specialize in a type of editing (e.g., copy editing) and in a particular subject area. Those who work directly for authors and develop professional relationships with them are called author editing. There is hope for self-employed editors because all editing differs based on tradition, experience, education, personal style, values, etc.
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