Copyediting and proofreading
The majority of our clients now turn to englishtalk for copywriting services ("Texten"). But sometimes they also ask us to quickly read through or check things for them, often towards the final stages of production. Only ‘checking’ can mean different things to different people.
To help clarify how we can best support our clients, englishtalk has two sets of guidelines for checking materials: copyediting and proofreading.
The support we provide and the information we request from clients should be confirmed with each project.
However, please note that these services do not cover checking translations against the original language materials.
Copyediting - a proper re-write
Copyediting is more detailed than proofreading. The main aim is to remove obstacles between the reader and what the client or ‘author’ wants to convey.
This is most useful earlier on in the production process, before it has the final sign off. It should help clients save time and money by finding and solving problems before material is at the final stage of the production process when major changes mean delays and additional costs.
The englishtalk copyediting service:
- Reorganising, restructuring and rewriting where appropriate
- Check headlines, headers and subheads for spelling, grammar, sense and style (suggest alternatives if appropriate)
- Edit captions
- House style (client or englishtalk)
- Ensuring consistency of style
- Suggestions on layout (if appropriate or required)
- Check spelling and grammar
- Check for idioms/clichés
- Check for homophones and common mistakes
We assume the client has:
- Cleared text for copyright, libel, sensitive comments
- Checked numbering of figures and tables, contents pages etc
- Checked cross references
- Researched photos and artwork (ie checked a photo isn’t printed back to front)
- Checked illustrations and their text for accuracy, consistency, coherence, relevance ie, names, titles etc.
- Written captions
- Created the layout and thought about copy in relation to design
What we need from the client:
- Confirmation that copy editing is the right service for the job
- Confirmation of British or American English
- Client style guide
- Words and phrases favoured by the client brand style
- Company terminology (ie, branch or office; division or subsidiary; staff or employees or another way of saying the same thing)
- Confirmation that the client is still liable for the final document/materials to be published
Proofreading - final checks
In theory this is the final stage of the editing process. It should focus on any last surface errors such as misspellings and mistakes in grammar and punctuation.
It doesn’t cover as many details as copyediting which is reflected in the cost and time allowed.
The englishtalk proofreading service:
- Check text, headlines, headers, subheads and captions for spelling and grammar
- Consistency within the document (eg, b&w or b/w)
- Check for formatting errors (eg, commas, dots)
- Check for homophones and common mistakes
What the proofreading service doesn’t cover:
- Client house style (by proofreading stage this should already have been checked and approved)
- Reorganising, restructuring and rewriting copy
- Checking for idioms/clichés
- Suggestions on layout
We assume the client has:
- Cleared text for copyright, libel, sensitive comments
- Checked numbering of figures and tables, contents pages etc
- Checked cross references
- Researched photos and artwork (ie checked a photo isn’t printed back to front)
- Checked illustrations and their text for accuracy, consistency, coherence, relevance ie, names, titles etc.
- Written captions
- Created the layout and thought about copy in relation to design
What we need from the client:
- Confirmation of British or American English
- Agreement with the client on the level of detail to be expected in proofreading by englishtalk
- Confirmation whether we check the text against a previous version or ‘blind’
- Confirmation that the client is still liable for the final document/materials to be published
New to englishtalk?
See also our Style Guide: The_englishtalk_style_guide.
Insights and inspiration: Language_tidbits.
Useful links: Glossaries,_vocab_and_useful_resources.
And: news and client projects
