A Guide to Professional Editing and Proofreading in Australia

by admin | March 4, 2021, 6:06 am

The Expert Editor has created a guide to professional editing and proofreading to help you navigate the editing world in Australia. You may have spent weeks, months or even years on your writing and you’re searching for the very best professional editing option; this guide is designed to assist you.

We explain all the options, tips and tricks needed by Australian writers – academic, book and business – in getting their work professionally edited. The editing world can be a noisy place at times, and sometimes it’s difficult for writers to find useful information and resources on professional editing. I hope this fills a void.

This guide won’t be self-promotional. You’re on our website, and I hope we explain ourselves well enough on the site so that you can make an informed decision about us.

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Why is editing important?

Editing and proofreading is often a crucial factor in the success of any piece of writing. Well written, logical and error-free writing is essential no matter what your audience. Editing can bring clarity to your language, remove ambiguity in expression and ensure your message is elegantly articulated.

Editing is not a luxury but a necessity. Whether you’ve written a book, thesis or advertising copy, you want to communicate accurately and effectively. Mistakes and misplaced words can change what you’re trying to say. You want your readers to be engaged in your work, and not turned off by bad writing that hasn’t been edited.

Do you need a professional editor?

The answer is almost always yes. A professional editor is better than a friend or family member. A layman will be able to spot some spelling and grammar mistakes, and even make some improvement in language; but not to the same extent as a professional editor. Professional editors are language experts, trained to be fastidious and know from experience what to look out for. You’re reading our guide to professional editing, so we’re probably preaching to the converted.

Different types of editing

Editing is not a universal concept and there are various manifestations of it, including copyediting, developmental editing, proofreading and rewriting. The following explains the key types of editing available for students, academics, authors and businesses.

Academic editing

There are generally two types of editing available to students and academics – editing and proofreading. Academic editing is the standard service, whereby an editor edits for language, expression and conformity to academic conventions, such as referencing style. Proofreading, on the other hand, is a final step process where the editor scans your work for errors or abnormalities, such as typos, misspelled words and grammar infractions.

Academic editing is particularly helpful service for students writing theses, dissertations and essays and academics writing journal articles.

Book editing

Three types of editing are available for authors. The first is book editing, which looks chiefly at improving the quality of your language, and may involve critiquing elements of plot flow and character development. Developmental editing, in contrast, focuses exclusively on plot flow, character development and other ‘big picture’ issues. The editor will dissect your book and may recommend wholesale changes. Thirdly, book proofreading is the final step in the publishing process. You have a book that’s almost ready to be published but you require one final read through to ensure there are no errors, typos, inconsistencies or grammar abnormalities.

Business editing

There are three services usually offered for businesses. The first is editing in which the editor seeks to improve the language and expression of your business document – eliminating errors and making positive improvements to language and style. Proofreading is suitable if you have a finished copy and you’re satisfied with the quality of writing; but you require a final read through to spot errors, abnormalities and inconsistencies. Re-writing is the third option for business, and involves an editor rewriting your existing content to make substantial changes in language, but keeping the integrity of the document intact.

Your three editing options in Australia:

Professional editing services

A popular editing option is a professional editing service, like The Expert Editor. There are a number of services operating in Australia, so as a consumer, it’s up to you to do your research and find the right one for you.

Professional editing companies are a popular option for two reasons. First, high quality editors are attracted to working for professional companies because they provide a regular stream of work, without editors have to spend time and money marketing their own services. Second, editing companies generally have a number of editors on hand, which means they’ll be able to begin work right away. If you have a tight deadline for submission, this is particularly beneficial.

However, no two editing companies are always alike and there are many things to consider when choosing the right company for you. Check the website of each company and don’t be afraid to ask them questions.

Tip: Although you’re going through an editing company, your editor shouldn’t be faceless. A company should identify the editor that will work with you, their skill-set and background. If a company refuses to divulge who will be your editor, be very wary about using their services.

Freelancer

The third option is to find your own freelance editor. Some freelance editors have a website with their skill set and background spelt out, but many do not. So it’s important you speak to any potential candidate and establish exactly the service they’ll provide.

One way to find an individual freelancer is to approach state and national editing societies; most have a list of individual editors that are accredited with them.

Online workplaces

There are a number of online workplaces around the world in which Australian editors offer their services. Note however that all are international platforms, so if you want an Australian editor specifically, you will have to search each site quite extensively. The three most popular platforms are Elance, Freelancer.com and oDesk

You write a small brief about the task and freelancers on the site bid for the job. The large number of freelancers on the site, coupled with the competitive nature of the bidding, can result in low ball offers.

However, be very careful. The quality of editors on online workplaces are certainly mixed, so it’s important to choose your editor wisely. Look at their work history and always speak to them before awarding the job.

Tip: Specify in your brief that you require a native English speaker. If you don’t, 95% of bids will come from developing countries, like India and The Philippines.

The information you need from an editor

We’ve outlined why professional editing is important, and the three main options you have in finding an editor. However, once you find an appropriate editing option, your work is not done. You should question them and find out exactly what they’ll provide you.

The following are the key questions you should ask any editing company or freelance editor:

  • How affordable are they? It’s important to establish a ballpark figure about the end cost, ideally a fixed price, before you engage an editor. You don’t want to be left with a nasty shock at the end.
  • Will your editor be a specialist in your field or a jack of all trades? A specialist academic, book or business editor is always better than a generalist; they should know exactly what is required to make your writing successful.
  • What will your editor do, and what won’t they do? Will your editor be editing or proofreading? They are distinctly different things and it’s important to clarify exactly the level of intervention your editor will undertake.
  • What is their approach to turn around times? Will you be charged extra for a short return time? Editors and editing companies have different approaches to these issues – so it’s important to clarify this at the outset.
  • Do they have a history of successful work? Look at testimonials and perhaps ask for a list of previous clients.

It’s up to you to be an informed consumer. If this information is not on their website, email and ask them. You may have worked for days, weeks, months or even years on your work; how ever long it has been, it’s been your time and effort. So it’s important you take charge of the editorial process and be assertive and inquisitive with your editor. Remember that an editor works for you, and not the other way around.

Valuable resources

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