Attention to detail is something I’ve always been keen on. This is something that is key in proofreading and editing. A book that isn’t checked properly and thoroughly is not a good look—I can confirm that through personal experience. I worked in accounts for quite a few years, which requires good attention to detail. I was dealing with other people’s money, inputting payments on the system, doing journals, or reconciling statements. There are things you need to look out for, in order to avoid making mistakes.
The same goes with written work. I was occasionally asked, in one of my previous jobs, to check reports for spelling and grammar errors. I found a few…
What I Look For When Editing A Book
When it comes to editing a book, I like to do the full package of proofreading and editing—not just check for errors, but make structural amendments to the text. One thing I am particularly keen on when editing is removing either excessive jargon or unnecessary repetition of phrases or situations. I am a minimalist at heart. Keeping text as minimal as possible makes for a better read, in my view.
Common Errors That Slip Through
It is also important to correct errors, which aren’t always obvious to spot. They can be: spelling errors, grammar errors, pronoun errors, punctuation errors, or the wrong word used; a common example is using that in the context of a person doing something. It should be who – for example, Andy was the person who wrote this blog post. As for dashes—that’s another matter entirely (see what I did there?) But there have been many times when I have left an em dash unedited.
Anyway, don’t just take my word for it; here are my services, and you can also read the testimonials section on my website 🙂
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