How to Edit Your Copy Without the Help of a Copyeditor
You know you need a copyeditor and proofreader to help you clarify your message, eliminate errors, and increase your sales. But, what do you do if hiring a copyeditor and proofreader is not in your budget? Well, I have some solutions for you!
Today, I am giving you the best practices for copyediting and proofreading your work. Follow these guidelines to ensure your message is clear and your sales increase.
Before we get started, I feel that I should clarify a couple of things. Most believe that proofreading and copyediting are one-and-the-same, but they are not. Proofreading and copyediting are two different skill sets.
However, I am also very liberal with the term “copyediting.” There are several steps to editing: Developmental (or substantive) editing, line editing, copyediting, and finally proofreading. In the US, most people are only familiar with copyediting and proofreading. However, all steps are needed to create good copy or content. So in this article, I will refer to copyediting as an umbrella term for all types of editing.
That all said, let’s get down to business. Below are five things you can do to copyedit your work, plus a free cheat-sheet for you to download for quick reference.
1.) Never write and copyedit on the same day.
If it can be helped, I highly recommend writing and copyediting on different days. I usually allow at least two days between when I write and when I copyedit.
2.) Know the best order in which to copyedit and proofread.
Don’t proofread before you copyedit, and don’t look at syntax until your argument is solid. To ensure you edit in the right order, download my free cheat sheet.
3.) Always read your work aloud, slowly, and several times.
I have written about this before, but your brain will fix errors for you. This is because the more you read your work, you begin hearing the words instead of reading the words.
4.) Remove filler words like “that,” “actually,” and “just.”
You have probably heard the prevalent public speaking advice to avoid using filler words such as “um," "uh," or "like" when speaking. The same is true for writing. In writing, one tends to use “that,” “actually,” and “just” as filler words. As you read through your draft, circle filler words, and then see if the sentence would work better without those words.
5.) Use proofreading sites like Grammarly, but don’t depend on them.
I think Grammarly is a great site, and I even pay to use the service. However, I know that I cannot depend solely on Grammarly to catch my errors. Grammarly uses an algorithm to flag potential errors. And if you have ever been served an ad on Facebook that is completely against your ethics, you know that algorithms don’t always work. Grammarly does not mimic the human brain, something that would be needed to read nuance, tone, and many common idioms. So while Grammarly is a great tool, don’t rely on it entirely.
That’s it! Do you have any advice for copyediting or proofreading your work?
Also, don’t forget to download my Editing Cheat Sheet by clicking here!
