Copyediting

When one engages in copyediting, one is trying to make sure that a given piece of text is formatted in such a way that it is appropriate for the purposes for which it has been developed and will be used. This could possibly involve revising the content of the text; but the main focus of copyediting work consists of paying attention to style and formatting to ensure that all components of the paper are in their proper place. 

What is copyediting?

Copyediting sometimes refers to the work that an editor does. Copyediting involves reviewing works for specific formatting styles, grammatical and spelling errors, and the accuracy of the information in the text. 

The ‘copy’ part refers to written (or typed) text that is being edited. It can be written for publication, television or radio broadcasts, independent distribution, etc. When it comes to publications in print, copyediting is done before typesetting and is then done again before the final review process.  

In the United States and Canada, the editor who does this kind of work is referred to as a copyeditor. In countries that follow British nomenclature, the term ‘copyeditor’ is only used in reference to editing for book publishing. In terms of magazine and newspaper editing, the person who does this kind of editing is called the subeditor. 

Important distinctions

Copyediting is different from just proofreading. Proofreaders are typically given the task of searching the work for mechanical errors after it has already been typeset. They are often seen as particular and picky, whereas copyeditors would be praised for making the same changes at a different point in the process.

Copyediting requires many more skills outside of a firm command of the language the work is written in. 

Good critical thinking skills and attention to detail are imperative for a copyeditor. These will help copyeditors to be able to recognize factual errors, inconsistencies, and vagueness. Another important quality for copyeditors to have is great interpersonal skills. This is helpful because copyeditors often have to be able to cooperate with others. They have to interact with writers, other editors, clients, designers, etc.

Copyeditors are typically holders of college degrees. Typical degrees held by copyeditors include journalism, communications, or the language the text they edit is written in. Most universities in the United States offer journalism courses in copyediting.

Learning to become a copyeditor

Many places that employ copyeditors offer courses and classes, that help candidates learn the important aspects of copyediting. Some companies host online workshops on copyediting for the convenience of those who want to learn, but don't have the opportunity inside their workplace or in a classroom. The Dow Jones Newspaper Fund offers internships in which participants receive copyediting training. Other organizations that offer training for copyeditors include the American Copy Editors Society, the Poynter Institute, and the American Press Institute. Companies in the United Kingdom also offer copyediting classes and training, which can be taken through school courses, job-training, or private seminars. Though both the United States and the United Kingdom offer these kinds of training courses for copyediting, there exists no formally recognized qualification for copyediting. All courses and classes that cover copyediting do so unofficially recognized by the journalism industry.

Often times, businesses want to be sure that copyeditors know what they are doing before they hire them. Potential copyeditors are often given a pretest that can include anything from math to similes to current events.

In some cases, copyeditors are given the liberty to add content or rewrite the work they are editing. Seen as the last line of defense before sending of a version to be finalized, copyediting helps ensure that no poor quality writing or spelling, grammatical, and mechanical errors are made. Other times, rewriting the work is not necessary and copyeditors seek to tighten up the work and add one last professional touch. Some companies use their copyeditors to design the pages that the work will be printed or published on. They have control over which articles go where, what pictures are used and where they are places, and which articles to headline.

No matter what the specific duties are of the copyeditor in any company, it is, without a doubt, an important, vital, and respected position. Without copyeditors, published works could end up being sloppy, false, and all-around poorly written.