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Tautologies and Feedback

When writing a paper, using a trillion purposeless words are a waste of time. They’re unnecessarily filling. It’s like pouring custard on a custard tart. Why would you do it? It is an obvious striving to reach that word count that looms ahead of you and you have run out of references or things to say. Thing is, your lecturer knows this.  You’re probably better off being under the word count than adding verbose jargon.  Reading papers like this as an editor and proofreader is like listening to a wordy little tune by Paul Simon about a bat faced girl.  No-one really enjoys that. My red pen comes out and slashes at these words with teeth bared and great resolve and gladness.  Superfluous words like tautologies of; in  addition or worse - in addition to that, furthermore, also, still, moreover, henceforth (personal disgust), hereafter, nonetheless, nevertheless. Then there is the over use of ‘the’ and ‘so’.  You don’t need to use ‘the’ all the time. ‘The best practice’ for example is okay, in fact superior being called ‘best practice’.  I can often see thesaurus suggestions jump out at me in paragraphs that have required paraphrasing. Phrases like ‘a large proportion’ instead of the word, ‘many’. ‘By virtue of the fact that’, actually just ‘because’ would do. What about ‘sum total’ isn’t that the same thing? Or ‘unexpected surprise?’  However, (there just did it myself, but sometimes it is necessary, you can’t always just leap into a room without knocking first) reading page after page where an author has consistently and persistently used the same phrase at every paragraph without pause, like ‘in addition’ rather than mixing it up just a bit really does my head in. 

It’s funny, or maybe not that funny, that authors have asked me after proofreading and/or editing many works, what I thought of the paper as a whole. I do understand this but find it immaterial too. My role is to correct it, make it better, they want the feedback. I feel that it’s a bit like when a defendant asks his/her lawyer, ‘do you think I'm innocent?’ and the lawyer says, ‘it’s not what I think, it’s what I can prove’. It doesn't matter what I think, it’s what I can do to make it the best it can be. But I understand that feedback is important and I'm the one reading their work so it makes sense. What I have noticed is that when I give feedback, the client develops more of a trust with me and I feel more supportive. It alters our relationship just that little bit and in a positive way because I have gone from just some entity making red and blue marks on their papers to someone who has some feeling and opinion about what they have written. I think they deserve feedback and make a point now to give some encouraging comments as well as suggestions of what they might need to change to make it great. Proofreader and editor? http://kirstieanders16.wix.com/editingproofreading

The power of proofreading

Proofreading is a system of scanning a document and correcting errors. This can happen electronically or on hard copy using proofreading marks (paper). Self-proofreading is fine and do-able, however, it can be quite difficult to step back far enough from your work to see errors within. Any last faults often occur just when stress levels are uppermost and time shortest, readers' minds resist recognising them as errors. Under these circumstances, proof-readers are inclined to see only what they want to see.

As a proofreader I find the best way to go about proofing work from someone is to initially print off a copy and read it out loud. I always mark as I go, in case I miss something on my second go over. I read aloud so I can hear a run on sentence or any other problems that you tend to pick up more than reading quietly. I often use another piece of paper to block the lines below where I am reading because I have a habit of reading ahead. This ensures that I am focused on the line I am on only. After I read it twice I put it down for 15 minutes and then come back to it. Just that small distance from it allows me often to pick up more errors. I don't rely simply on spell check when proofing online because it won't deal well with homonyms (e.g., 'they're,' 'their,' 'there') or certain typos (like 'he' for 'the'). Once I feel the document is complete and that the standard of presentation is suitable for publication, I again scrutinise each word, punctuation mark and graphic element for discrepancies before sending back. I also check that the layout and type stipulations have been precisely followed, and that the line breaks, and table and illustration placements are appropriate.

Good presentation to any piece of work of any sort can make a huge difference. Whether it's a website, newsletter, essay, brochure, or corporate document; errors tell me and the general public that it is not good enough, not professional enough. They ask, 'If they make mistakes like this, will their service be any good?' A simple proofread can make all the difference in getting good and numerous customers, good grades and establishing a good reputation for producing quality work. Proofreading is vital to creating completed pieces of quality work. Typos and inconsistencies happen to the best of writers. A spell-checker can only fix spelling errors, but do not take into account substituting 'is' or 'it' or using the incorrect forms of other words.

Contact me for an opportunity to get fast editing and proofreading completed on your masterpiece. http://kirstieanders.com

http://kirstieanders16.wix.com/editingproofreading

Attention to detail

Can you imagine a world where written work you produced was perfect? It could mean a 5-20% higher grade. It could mean embarrassing mistakes aren’t found that can reduce businesses to seemingly, ‘unprofessional with little aptitude’. It means a respectable reputation and public confidence.

Proofreading can help immeasurably. Your job is to get the words down. My job as proofreader is the attention to detail, to tidy it up, make it faultless and get you that better grade, perfect English and superior reputation. Editing, is also a service that can make a huge difference to your documents, projects, theses, brochures and so on. Just one or two errors in an essay or piece of work can change the meaning and sentence structure that might come across in a way you didn’t intend.

Online proofreading saves you time and effort to get your work proofed or edited without leaving home, Uni or work. The job can be completed fast and more efficiently and emailed back for you to go over and resend back if needed before the due date.  It also ensures there is a trail via email should you misplace a hardcopy. Many people feel that they can proofread their own copy but this isn’t as easy as you think. Proofreading and editing work that has been completed by a professional will provide you with a much better job. When you are too familiar with the work, it is hard to pick out typos and other errors that a professional will see immediately. Work can be done on hard copy and scanned and emailed or using tracked changes and emailed.

For ESL (English second language) students in particular, conversational English can differ greatly when it comes to putting information down on paper. It can be incredibly daunting for these students who know their content well but require some editing or proofreading to assist in tying it together.

When talking about attention to detail you don't want to come across as sounding redundant by getting sentences back to front or being repetitious but it’s not always easy to be resourceful in prose. Editing and then proofreading your work who is trained to be detailed and particular is what will enhance your work. detail is what makes a masterpiece. For an affordable quote, see my website at http://kirstieanders16.wix.com/editingproofreading

Editors do!

Why do we edit something? For the reader of course. The writer and editor work together to put something out there that is clear, elegant and correct. It's all about readability. We have all read something that feels uncomfortable to read; too many capitals, inconsistencies, poor grammar, confusing sentence structure or ambiguity, waffle and spelling mistakes. A poorly written piece of work can grate on nerves and in all likeliness prevent someone from finishing the rest of your work. Sometimes all it needs is a fresh pair of eyes from someone who knows what to scan for.

Editors can edit anything from essays, dissertations, books, brochures, websites, reports, resumes, letters, newsletter articles, and advertisements. An editor is able to improve effectiveness in terms of reading the target audience to convey information. Skills needed by an editor is reading skills, social skills to be tactful and patient, concentration, initiative and good attention to detail.

Copy editing occurs to remove mistakes, inconsistencies, or meagre styles of expression that could irritate or mislead readers and humiliate the author. During copy editing, the editor will check out all the aspects of that paper that makes for good reading and remove mistakes. Substantive editing focuses on the content, structure, language and style of a document. Some restructuring and rewording might also be done in the interests of accessibility, clarity, a cohesive style and tone, and a tighter reader focus.

As the writer, there are a few things to keep in mind. It is incredibly hard to get a draft right the first time around. You overlook errors because you are so familiar with the work. Don't make excuses or apologise, see it as a work in progress, not a final piece. Don't expect an editor or a proofreader to re-write your work. They can make suggestions, research or fact check and recommend alterations but they won't write your paper. You need to know what you might need. If you are writing a novel and you think your characters aren't interesting enough or possibly too one dimensional, a developmental editor can assist you to create depth and make them come to life, make your story line punchier and help with writers block. An editor can certainly make your paper, book, brochure more appealing and readable but they can't guarantee you an A+, High distinction or sell your book any more successfully. A professional editor and or proofreader can make your work the best it can be all the same.

Make your work the best it can possibly be with a professional editor and proofreader;http://kirstieanders16.wix.com/editingproofreading#