PROFESSIONAL WRITING STYLE
Professional Editing

 
Contents & Navigation
developmental
substantive
copyediting
plain language movement
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Three Types of Editing

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Developmental Editing
Acquisition editors for book publishers are developmental editors
Outside Developmental Editor: Consults with an author to direct the scope, purpose, and audience of a project; looks at the big picture to determine what form, style, and genre the text should take; guides the project from early stages through drafting; describe it and distinguish it from other topics/issues
Self Developmental Editing: Begins at the planning stage, weighs options during prewriting, may consult with others to “bounce ideas,” adjusts plan

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Substantive Editing
Subject matter experts (SMEs) and publication referees are substantive editors
Outside Substantive Editor: Content is assessed for inaccuracy, inconsistency, and incompleteness. Credibility of sources may be checked. Organization of material is assessed. Substantive editor may make suggestions about material or media to move, add, remove, or enhance
Self Substantive Editing: Evaluates content for clarity, support, credibility; check and double check facts, quotations, in-text attributions, and works cited; assess and adjust organization

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Copy Editing
While authors and publishers do some degree of copyediting on their own, many enlist independent copyeditors to do final preparation of manuscripts before publication
Outside Copy Editor: Checks for mechanical/grammatical errors, stylistic and syntactic consistency, and spelling/typographical errors; ensures manuscript adheres to applicable style guides (MLA, APA, IEEE, Chicago, etc.)
Self Copy Editing: Proofreads; employs spelling, grammar, and style checking tools/applications; reads aloud

What is Plain Language?






According to the National Institute of Health:

Plain language is grammatically correct language that includes complete sentence structure and accurate word usage. Plain language is not unprofessional writing or a method of “dumbing down” or “talking down” to the reader.

Writing that is clear and to the point helps improve communication and takes less time to read and understand. Clear writing tells the reader exactly what the reader needs to know without using unnecessary words or expressions.

Communicating clearly is its own reward and saves time and money. It also improves reader response to messages. Using plain language avoids creating barriers that set us apart from the people with whom we are communicating.

~ “Plain Language at NIH,” National Institute of Health
According to PlainLanguage.gov:

Plain language (also called plain writing or plain English) is communication your audience can understand the first time they read or hear it.

The Plain Writing Act of 2010 defines plain language as:

Writing that is clear, concise, well-organized, and follows other best practices appropriate to the subject or field and intended audience.

Language that is plain to one set of readers may not be plain to others. Written material is in plain language if your audience can:

  • Find what they need
  • Understand what they find
  • Use what they find to meet their needs

There are many techniques that can help you achieve this goal. Among the most common are:

  • Logical organization with the reader in mind
  • “You” and other pronouns
  • Active voice
  • Short sentences
  • Common, everyday words
  • Easy-to-read design features
~ “What is plain language?” PlainLanguage.gov
According to the Plain Language Association International:

A communication is in plain language if its wording, structure, and design are so clear that the intended audience can easily find what they need, understand what they find, and use that information.

~ “What is plain language?” Plain Language Association International