Editing and proofreading are more than just correcting typos and getting a good “once over” from someone you trust. They are meticulous and sometimes frustrating processes that can make all of the difference between a great book/piece and one that is "just there".

If your draft is ready and you are wondering what’s next, hiring a professional editing and proofreading service is a good idea. In this article, we will explore why. 

Proofreading and editing is the next step after your final draft is ready where the written material is polished, corrected, or modified in preparation for publication. While they are mostly used interchangeably, editing and proofreading are two distinct post-writing processes that are equally important.  

Usually, editors are skilled at proofreading, so you can also choose to either use one person for both services or employ a separate professional for each task. 

Difference between Editing and Proofreading

The purpose of editing is to ensure the clarity of ideas. Editing focuses on the overall readability of your text. It involves correcting mistakes, ensuring clarity, eliminating excesses, analyzing style, and examining structure. An editor reviews your content by looking at what you want to say, and how you said it. 

Proofreading on the other hand is a type of editing that ensures your document is free of easy-to-miss errors and is ready for publication. A proofreader carries out a final check on a piece for punctuations, typos and other minor issues the writer may have missed. 

In a nutshell, editing focuses on the content, language and structure of the draft, while proofreading looks for surface errors and inconsistencies. 

Why You Need Professional Editing And Proofreading Service

1. They bring a fresh perspective –  

When you edit by yourself, it might be difficult for you to look at your writing with fresh eyes since you are familiar with the content. With a professional, you get a fresh perspective because they are seeing your document for the first time. 

2. They have experience – 

Professional editors are offering you many years of experience working on manuscripts and documents that are similar to or within your trope. They edit for a living. They know where to look and how to look, what to add or take out from your plot that will give the maximum impact to a novel or story, or how to rearrange the flow of a piece to fit your objectives. 

3. You gain knowledge –

Hiring a professional editing and proofreading service is a good way to learn and become a better writer. When you work with an editor, the process is mostly conversational; a continuous bounce back of ideas, questions and answers between you and the editor. The write–edit–rewrite process of editing can help you find your voice, discover writing styles and new interests, and sharpen your skills. You become better at grammar; learn new words, punctuate better, refine your tone, spell better etc. 

4. They give objective feedback – 

An editor's goal is to help you achieve your goal. To refine your draft and make it consumable. 

An inexperienced editor may make questionable editing decisions and fall short of this goal. For instance, they may not be able to structure your plot in such a way that it appeals specifically to your audience, not to you as the writer or to themselves for that matter. 

A professional will constructively communicate to you your strengths and weaknesses and give you clear and helpful feedback. 

5. You save time –

Professional editing and proofreading service will save you long hours of continuously reading your draft and tearing through the nitty gritty for possible errors; time you can spend on your productivity or something else! You will get quality service in less time.

6. Your readers will enjoy the read –

When you write, you focus on gathering and putting down your ideas, hence you may not notice other concerns. It is the editor’s responsibility to notice these concerns. For instance, overuse of prepositional phrases, poor language or an inconsistent setting can distract your readers and cause them to lose interest. A professional editor will give your content a better structure for a stronger first impression. 

7. You have better chances of getting published and high-ranking content –

Especially for short stories, nonfiction articles, and online content, professional editors who are familiar with SEO can optimize your content for a wide reach. They spot and correct issues that could cause you to get rejected by publishing houses, and help get your content published through recommendations and connections. For people who self-publish, hiring a proofreader or editor can help you avoid criticisms and negative reception.

8. You become a better writer – 

Editors and proofreaders return your draft full of little notes, highlights, coloured lines and even an editorial letter. These items are chock full of helpful resources to learn from.

In conclusion, You should hire an editor and a proofreader who will pay attention to every detail and give your document a professional look, one who guarantees the safety of your draft and is committed to helping you succeed.

Your material needs a critic who can see the big picture and solve the problems with you and at Pennacle, we are exceptional at these. Let's talk about your manuscript. 

Not sure if you need editing and proofreading services? 

Contact Pennacle here for a free consultation with one of our experts and we will help you find out.