The Complete Editor

Editing Skills The types of editor

• The Commissioning Editor
  
  
• The Copy-editor
  
  
• The characteristics of a good editor
  
  The Commissioning Editor
   
• How to commission clearly
   
• Defining the scope and purpose of the document
  
  
• Agreeing content, length and tone
  
  
• Setting deadlines
   
• Maintaining contact with authors
  
  The Copy-editor
  
  
• How copy-editors improve documents
   
• Levels of editing 
•  
• Software for editors
   
• A review of editing software
  
  
• Spell checkers and grammar checkers
   
  
• Readability tests and alternatives
   
  
• Why editing on paper is sometimes better
  
  Appropriate style
  
   
• Matching the tone to the audience and purpose
  
   
• Avoiding the inappropriate - slang, humour and cliché
  
   
• Replacing jargon and management-speak
  
   
• Avoiding sexism
  
  Words at work
  
   
• Using simple words where simple words will do
  
   
• The role of psycholinguistics - cold words and warm words
  
   
• Avoiding tautology
  
   
• Using words accurately - some common confusions
  
  Plain English essentials
  
   
• Thinking about the needs of the reader
  
   
• Ensuring the text flows in a clear and logical way
  
   
• Reviewing sentence length and structure
  
   
• Favouring active verbs
  
   
• Cutting redundant words and phrases
  
   
• Avoiding ambiguity and errors of argument Improving clarity
  
   
• Using appropriate headings in a clear hierarchy
  
   
• Using tables and diagrams to aid understanding
  
   
• Using bullet points to simplify or summarise Grammar and punctuation
  
   
• The good grammar guide
  
   
• Punctuation - a refresher course
  
  Facts
  
   
• Whose responsibility?
  
   
• The role of the Technical Editor
  
   
• Checking and querying facts
  
   
• Liaising with authors Legal considerations
  
   
• Copyright and plagiarism
  
   
• Libel
  
   
• Bias
  
   
• Proprietary names and trademarks
  
   
• Warning notices Presentation
  
   
• Layout and colours
  
   
• Typeface and type size
  
   
• Justified or ragged? The pro and cons
  
   
• Line spacing and paragraphing Preparing copy
  
   
• Marking up copy for a typesetter
  
   
• Dealing with headings, footnotes and displayed quotations Other elements
  
   
• Preliminary pages - title pages, contents lists, etc
  
   
• End matter - appendices, references and indexes Exercises and feedback
  
   
• Proofreading skills The role of the proofreader
  
   
• The difference between proofreading and copy-editing
  
   
• The importance of proofreading
  
   
• The qualities of a proofreader A new way of reading
  
   
• Slowing down
  
   
• Looking at form as well as content
  
   
• Checking layout and styling
  
   
• Developing an eye for detail
  
  Intervention
  
   
• The golden rule
  
   
• When to make a change and when to leave alone
  
   
• When to raise a query
  
  Consistency
  
   
• Corporate style
  
   
• Numbers and dates
  
   
• Capitals and abbreviations
  
   
• Alternative spellings
  
   
• Italics and bold
  
  Dealing with details
  
   
• Facts and figures
  
   
• Tables, graphs and diagrams
  
   
• Cross-references Spotting errors
  
   
• On screen or on paper?
  
   
• Tips and techniques The proof-correction symbols
  
   
• Why use symbols?
   
• General principles for marking errors
  
   
• Learning the British Standard symbols
  
   
• Developing confidence and accuracy Further development
  
   
• Reference books
  
   
• Post-course support Exercises and feedback