A copy editor is a very important part of the content process. This person helps make sure that all copies created can be printed. But with this kind of power also comes great responsibility. These are the important elements to use that power correctly.
Style
One of the important aspects of an editing position is making sure that the content is appropriate for the place where it is published. A press release, a blog post, a website page, and an ezine article all have different styles. If the content is created for a blog post, it will not be suitable as a press release. The structure of a press release is not suitable for a web page.
When editors review content, they need to know where it will be published. In this way, they can ensure that the style is appropriate. Different grammar rules and jargon are also used for different styles of content. A blog post has a relaxed style, almost like a conversation between the writer and the reader. A website page is more of an advertisement and the language used is often more emotional. With advertising, the passive voice is not suitable, where it is acceptable in other forms of content.
Intention
Another aspect the editor should check when inspecting a document is the intent. What is the goal of the writer when he or she crafted the piece? The goal should be obvious when reading the content. If the publisher can’t figure out what the content’s intended purpose is supposed to be, there’s no way for the reader to figure out the intent.
Just as the publisher should be told where the content is supposed to be published, they should also be told about the goal behind the content. This way, if the writers fall short in explaining their goal in their writing, the editor knows where the writer may have gone wrong and either helps them fix it or sends them back with the proper notes to help the writer fix the problem. . If this is the reason for the rewrite, make sure the editor is clear about what is missing and what needs to be in place to clarify the intent.
Consistency
Another important aspect of a style editor’s job is consistency. For a company to create brand recognition, all of its communications with the market must have a certain consistent tone. The brand includes colors, logos, personality and style. When a reader views content, they should be able to instantly recognize it as belonging to a specific company.
When it comes to written content, that consistency includes style. Style does not have to mean the formal versions used by print media, such as APA and the Chicago Manual. They can also be a style bible that the company created on its own. In terms of writing website content, this can include the difference between using numbers like “4” or spelling the number every time, like “four.” It can also include whether the street is abbreviated or spelled and other aspects of written language that help convey a specific tone or mood.
The Hub Spot blog is a good example of using a consistent tone and style. Fans of this blog can instantly recognize a post, even if parts of it have been copied and republished in another location by a blogger using the content as a reference. Even guest bloggers use the same tone when writing posts. When a business uses consistency in all of its marketing efforts, it helps improve brand recognition, reputation, and helps coordinate marketing efforts.
Reader
When a copyeditor reads content, they need to keep the reader in mind. The writer must also create the piece from this point of view. An editor has the ability to step back and look at the content objectively, where a writer can sometimes get attached to their writing and therefore may not see that certain elements are missing from the reader’s point of view.
Editing a document from the readers’ point of view means understanding their level of understanding of the topic. Because writers may have a deep understanding of the content, they may use phrases and terms that are familiar to them but will be unfamiliar to the reader. They may also not explain certain elements as fully as the reader will need to understand the content. For example, if you tell a 10-year-old that her shoes are untied, he will know what you mean and will bend down to tie his shoe. However, if you tell a two-year-old that her shoe is untied, she won’t understand what you mean or what to do to fix it.
As an editor, make sure all content is written at the level of the reader. You don’t want to have text that is too advanced for the reader or content that seems to insult the reader’s intelligence.
goal
The objective is different from the intention because the objective is the general purpose of the company when it markets its products or services. Intent refers to the topic of the specific piece of content that the proofreader is reviewing. An organization must have an underlying goal that is consistent with every piece of content it publishes. This helps create and coordinate online and offline marketing efforts. Copyeditors need to understand the overall goal of the company and how the content they are editing contributes. This helps with consistency, fluidity, and establishing a reputation as a thought leader for the organization.
A company’s marketing efforts are their only ways of letting customers know who they really are and what they are offering. The content leaves a first and lasting impression on people in the market. A style editor’s job is to make sure that the impression left by the content is what the organization intended when it created the text. Keeping in mind the style, intentions, consistency, readership and goals of the company will help ensure that the impression left with everything published is a good one.