Maureen Shelley continues with Part 2 of "10 Simple Steps to becoming a successful published author" series, putting the spotlight on masterful editing.
An editor will proof read and undertake more substantive edits
to a work. Proof reading involves checking for semantics, typographical errors
and grammar.
Pic source: Tumblr.com |
In searching for grammatical errors, an editor will consider a
range of issues; and here are just some.
1. Has the writer made the
correct use of definitive articles?
2. Has the writer avoided
confusing modifiers?
3. Are the subject and verb
in agreement, in grammatical terms?
4. Has the writer used
appropriate punctuation within sentences?
5. Does the sentence
structure follow established principles? If not, is it appropriate for the
work?
6. Are there any spelling
errors?
7. What is the style for
capitalisation and is it used consistently?
8. Are the pro-noun (s)
/noun (s) in agreement?
9. Has the writer split
their infinitives?
10. Are there squinting or
limiting modifiers used?
11. Are there incomplete comparisons
in the work?
12. Has the writer solved the
great gerund mystery?
13. Are there redundant
pairs?
14. Has the writer misused or
confused 'like' and 'as'?
15. Has the writer taken the
long way round to say something? That is, are there circumlocutions?
16. Has the correct
punctuation been used, particularly in regard to question marks?
17. Has the writer confused
self and personal pronoun use?
18. Is there pronoun and
antecedent agreement?
19. Has the writer used
double negatives?
20. Has the writer begun or
ended sentences with a conjunctive?
21. Is there comparison of
absolute adjectives?
22. Has the writer used
unbalanced quantifiers or dangling modifiers?
23. In regard to semicolons;
are they used correctly?
24. Is the verb form use
appropriate?
25. Has the writer used
prepositions at the beginning or end of sentences? If so, is that appropriate
for the text?
26. Has the writer indulged
in noun strings?
27. Do the verb tenses agree?
28. Has there been misuse of
subordinate or subjunctive clauses?
29. Is there incorrect
pronoun case agreement?
Apart from resolving these issues, an editor will also (if paid
and directed to do so) check facts, gain permissions where appropriate, insert
appropriate references (biblical, geographical and literary are just a few),
index, mark citations, insert footnotes and endnotes and create a glossary.
In addition to all of this, a good editor will ensure that a
work is readable and makes sense. That it has a consistent structure and
sensible flow or a cohesive narrative.
A good editor is worth their weight in gold. (And they will
check for cliches too!) Oh, and they will eliminate exclamation marks or
'screamers' as they are known.
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