How Can I Improve My Editing Skills?
Anybody involved in creating text-based content, from writing emails and blogs to the company newsletter or reports, will be using basic sub-editing skills. It's an important task that doesn't need to be daunting. Follow these sub-editing tips to improve your confidence and writing skills:
Print Your Copy
It might sound old-fashioned in the digital age but you need to be sharp-eyed and objective to sub edit effectively. Even short-form ad copy will look different on paper. That will help you to concentrate, especially, when you are very familiar with the content and more likely to miss mistakes.
Take your time
Even when you have a tight deadline, always read the copy through. Make notes about things that don't seem right to you. That includes any structural problems in longer content or a boring tag or headline that will help you get a sense of the scale of the subbing task ahead.
Work with a checklist
Create a list of questions that you may ask yourself about the content. It will give guidance on whether you are heading in the right direction or not. For example:
- Does it meet the original brief?
- Is it written to the house style and the right length?
- Is the information or message pitched at the right level for the target audience?
- Is it factually accurate?
- Is it legally sound?
- Is it a good read (grammar, punctuation, and spelling)?
Learn to prioritize
If it needs a lot of work, break down the task rather than trying to sort out all the problems at once. Deal with the big stuff first such as repetitions, unclear paragraphs, structural improvements, queries that require extra research. Then adjust the style and grammar.
What does a sub-editor do?
A sub-editor checks articles and pieces of writing for magazines, newspapers, or websites to ensure all information is factually correct, with no spelling or grammar errors. It is also the sub editor's job to question everything. They are the gatekeeper of quality. If something doesn't sound right or clear, they need to discuss this with the author to find out what they meant and may even have to rewrite it to ensure it's understandable to the reader.
Invest in media law training
There's no substitute for expert advice in this fast-moving area. Gain hands-on experience and learn the latest developments or considerations in the writing field because it's essential to stay ahead of all the changes.
What should I look for when editing?
Focus on sentence length
It's important to preserve the voice of the writer, however, don't get bogged down in rewriting large chunks. Focus instead on adjusting sentence length and active sentence structures.
headline writing
If the copy is being published on the web and you want to get more traffic, you will need to research relevant keywords. If you are going for a more creative impact, you will need word combinations that challenge, intrigue and surprise your reader.
modern usage
A confident sub-editor will keep track of shifts in acceptable grammar and punctuation. They will make sure that the new grammar standards are met and applied appropriately.
Separate proofreading from writing and subbing
Try to concentrate on what sub-editing entails. Keep the proofreading task as a final series of checks but don't disregard it.
Conclusion
Even when you have a tight deadline, always read the copy through. Make notes about things that don't seem right to you. That includes any structural problems in longer content or a boring tag or headline that will help you get a scale sense of the subbing task ahead. Also, if the deadline is too tight you can always get some online assistance to complete it on time.
If after these sub-editing tips you still want to learn more, try our two-day Sub-Editing Intro course. It will give you an eye for detail and the ability to work quickly under pressure while being taught by a writing expert.
by Cristina Moraru