The Principles of Copyediting

Have you ever seen the Walgreens Town of Perfect commercials? Sometimes we see authors who actually think they live there—who think that their writing turns out perfect the first time around. Sadly, that’s just not the case and is why we encourage writers of all kinds to think of writing as a process—one that is more in depth than simply jotting down words on paper.

In fact, the concept of writing as a process has most likely been around since the first editor gazed upon the first original piece of writing, saw its potential and covered it with revisions. Editing, whether personal or professional, is what makes the difference between almost good and great. (Don’t agree? Maybe Ernest Hemingway can change your mind.) In this series, we’ll show you in practical terms what it means to edit your work by explaining the following:

1. The Definition of Copyediting

2. The Different Types of Editing

3. When to Hire a Professional Copyeditor

With the right tools—and the knowledge to use them—fine-tuning your document doesn’t have to be impossibly hard. Stay tuned for the definition of copyediting.