Editors are concerned with usability of the words they work on, and usually that means making them accessible to readers. The challenge is that editors are highly literate people. They don’t always understand how difficult reading is for most people. Editors make sense of some of the most complex … [Read more...]
Breaking Into Copyediting: When You’re “Mostly” Qualified
Copyediting is a great second career for word lovers, but getting started can be a mystery. I started this series by exploring how to get training and how to continue that training. Last week, I shared several tips for applying to editing jobs, encouraging readers to apply only to jobs they’re … [Read more...]
Understanding Image Rights
As the editing process collapses from many layers down to one single editor, the job of finding and buying images to illustrate the words is more often thrown into editors’ laps. As protectors of intellectual property, editors know it is important to secure permission before using an image. All … [Read more...]
Which Dictionary?
As a lexicographer (that is, a writer and editor of dictionaries), I’m often approached by editors who tell me that they absolutely love the dictionary I’ve worked on—only to have them hold up another publisher’s dictionary. Some people might shake their head and mutter that you’d think an editor … [Read more...]
Homonym, Homophone, or Homograph?
As is too often the case, the differences among three concepts — in this case homonyms, homographs, and homophones — seem simple and clear . . . until you try to explain them. Whether it's indicative of a bona fide disagreement among word people or of a historical confusion that is reflected in … [Read more...]
Understanding Contract Terms: The Paper It’s Written On
Book Review: The Paper It’s Written On Into every freelancer's life, a few contracts must fall. When a former-litigator-current-editor and a long-time publishing pro team up to write a guide specifically for the editor–client relationship, you know it’s going to be worthwhile. It’s a slim, … [Read more...]
Breaking Into Copyediting: Getting Your First Editing Job
In this series, I’ve been digging into how to get started in copyediting. In part 1, I outlined the knowledge and skills you need to get started. In part 2, I discussed how you’ll need to continue your education to move into the journeyman stage. But how do you get that first editing job? Do you … [Read more...]
Journalism Tools for the Modern Copyeditor
Modern copyeditors work on a variety of materials in different industries. Because our interests and needs often intersect with those of other communicators and researchers, looking outside the niche of tools designed for editors can reveal an assortment of useful resources. Some of my favorite … [Read more...]