FAQs

These are the two editing services I provide – but which one do you need? Ideally, any document intended for publication should receive, at least, a copy-edit and a proofread – a copy-edit to prepare the text for publication by ensuring its accuracy, consistency and flow and a proofread to check for any errors before publication. 

However, independent authors and organisations working to a budget may want to consider a third option, namely proof-editing. Here is a brief summary of what each process involves:

Proofreading – In traditional publishing, once the work has been edited, copy-edited, designed and typeset, the proofreader checks a page proof for any last-minute errors that have slipped through.

Professional proofreaders are taught not to intervene unless absolutely necessary, as substantial changes at this stage in the process can be costly. With this in mind, the proofreader does not usually get involved in extensive editing but only changes what is absolutely necessary. This would include any errors of spelling, punctuation or grammar, issues with layout and typography, checking consistency of preferred styles (of spelling, hyphenation etc) and incorrect presentation of illustrations or diagrams.

Proof-editing – As the term implies, this is a service combining elements of the copy-editor’s remit with all those tasks you would expect a proofreader to carry out. It gives a proofreader license to edit more extensively with the aim of helping the author achieve a fully professional looking final product. This service is ideal for those whose budget does not allow for more than one round of editing – independent authors, businesses and other organisations who frequently publish material but have no editorial experience.

Please note, however, that while proof-editing does cover many of the copy-editor’s skills, it does not, in my case, include the following:

• indexing
• page design/layout
• seeking legal permissions

These tasks should be carried out by qualified indexers, designers and copy-editors. If you decide that your project needs more than a proof-edit will cover, and that, for example, seeking legal permissions will be an essential part of the editing process, you should get in touch with a professional copy-editor before having your work proofread.

For a more detailed description of the roles of copy-editor and proofreader, please see the SfEP’s own FAQs page.

Either is fine – I am happy working on paper using BSI proofreading marks or on-screen, using the ‘Track Changes’ feature in Microsoft Word. I can also edit a pdf document using the editing and commenting tools available in Adobe Acrobat.

Please note:

• If you choose to send me a paper copy of your work, all postage costs are borne by the client. Word documents or pdfs can be emailed to me.
• I do not accept hand-written manuscripts.

• On paper, you will be able to see my proofreading marks and queries but any alterations that need to be rekeyed are the responsibility of the client. If you are unfamiliar with BSI proofreading marks I can supply you with a key to the most commonly used marks for reference.
• With a Word document the process is very different to traditional methods of proofreading in that the editor works directly on the document using Microsoft Word’s ‘Track Changes’. By switching this feature on, I can make alterations directly to the document and the client can accept or reject each or all of these and also switch back to the unaltered original for comparison. I can also add any comments or queries to be attended to by the author at the margin of the document.
• If the document is sent as a pdf, I will mark the document with the electronic versions of the BSI marks normally used on paper and also use the full range of commenting tools available in Adobe Acrobat. Once again, rekeying of alterations are the responsibility of the client.

This is a fair question as different editors and proofreaders may well come up with slightly differing solutions over some matters. Many publishing houses and businesses have their own style guides to which editors and proofreaders have to adhere while working for them. These cover issues such as spelling and hyphenation preferences and matters of punctuation, abbreviation, italicisation and capitalisation.

Where no style guide is provided by the client, I make my editorial decisions based on guidance given in reference books such as New Hart’s Rules: The Oxford Style Guide, The Oxford Dictionary, The New Oxford Dictionary For Writers & Editors, The New Oxford Spelling Dictionary, Fowler’s Modern English Usage and others. These are tried and trusted guides used by professional editors and proofreaders alike for many years, but whether you accept or reject these decisions is ultimately your choice.

Although every editor and proofreader aims for 100% accuracy, as readers we know that errors still occasionally find their way into print. Bear in mind that this happens with books that have been edited, copy-edited and proofread by publishing houses anxious to avoid the very expensive scenario of having to recall a large print run (as happened to HarperCollins several years ago with Jonathan Franzen’s Freedom).

Of course, many potential clients such as independent authors or small businesses cannot afford more than one edit, so what can a service such as mine offer and what can it guarantee?

Much as I would like to offer a guarantee of perfection, it would be dishonest of me or any editor or proofreader to do so. However, here is what I can promise:

• I will do my utmost to try and achieve perfection!
• your work will be overseen by someone with training to an industry-recognised, high level of competence.
• whether you choose a straight proofread or a proof-edit, your work will be in substantially better shape after it has been through the editing process.

Once I have received a representative sample of your document and both parties have agreed to go ahead, you can either email or post your work to me. However, please note that all postage costs of sending and returning work are borne by the client.

My postal address is:

Jon Turner, 52 St Kilda’s Road, Bath, BA2 3QL

This will depend on how big a job it is, both in terms of word count and the level of editing required. My fees page goes into more detail about this, but you can receive a free, no-obligation quote by emailing me with details of your project.

Again, this will depend on the size of the project and the level of editing required. It may also depend on whether I have other editing jobs to complete before starting work on yours, but I can advise you on an estimated time of completion once we have made contact and I have seen a sample of the project in question.

To give you an idea of a timescale for completion, a recent job I took on involved an extensive proof-edit (an edit, copy-edit and proofread in all but name) of a 96 page booklet to accompany a CD boxed set. The word-count was approximately 6500 words and the work took the best part of two and a half days to complete.

So an 85,000 word novel requiring the same amount of work (ie a lot!) might take about 20 days to complete (or four working weeks). A straight proofread not requiring much editing would obviously take much less time – perhaps a week or less. Please bear in mind, though, that these are approximate timescales, as every editing job has its own unique set of issues to be dealt with.