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Proofreaders and Copy Editing
Proofreaders, also known as copy editors,
correct a manuscript for errors in spelling,
punctuation, grammar, and usage. While spell
check programs continue to become more sophisticated,
they still have severe limitations that make
review by a skilled human eye a must when
you are developing a book, an article slated
for publication in a major periodical, or
a research paper.
The best copy editors go far
beyond the technical
aspects mentioned above. They
also can offer
valuable advice on stylistic
matters, including
word choice and sentence structure.
Working
from a reader’s perspective,
they will suggest
improvements in the organization
of the material,
and give you tips on how to make
your writing
more effective. If you are producing
a work
of fiction, you also should consider
seeking
advice from someone with expertise
in plot
and character development, who
will assess
your success in creating a work
that will
appeal to readers.
Services such as these are now
available
over the Internet, from people
to whom you
can e-mail a file with the writing
that you
wish to be proofread or critiqued.
Before
engaging the services of any
proofreader,
copy editor, or story consultant,
there are
several things to consider.
- You should be confident that they guarantee
protection for your work against plagiarism
or other unauthorized usage.
- You also should see references. In particular,
if they cite certain books as examples of
their work, you should track down copies
and look to see if the authors acknowledge
their assistance in forewords or postscripts.
Then, browse the books themselves to judge
the quality of writing in the finished product.
If you think that the work is poorly written,
keep looking for another proofreader or copy
editor.
- Also understand the cost of the services,
how much you are expected to pay in advance
versus at the completion of work, and what
recourse you have if you are dissatisfied.
As the services go beyond spelling, punctuation,
and grammar to more stylistic assessments,
expect to pay more.
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