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Guide

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Proofreading or editing? A quick guide to using editorial professionals

CIEP factsheet: Proofreading or editing

Working with an experienced editorial professional makes sense if you are producing any sort of written text. This free booklet will show you why. Learn what editors and proofreaders do and how they can help you produce clear and consistent communications.

  • Use our ‘who does what and when’ chart to find the right person to work with you.
  • Apply the tips and proofreading checklist to help check your own writing.

PDF download, 24 pages

 

 

Fact sheets

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Good editorial relationships

CIEP factsheet: Good editorial relationships

This infographic has some top tips for building good working relationships between client and editor.

Proofreading or copyediting?

CIEP factsheet: Proofreading or copyediting

Do you need proofreading or copyediting? This fact sheet summarises some of the differences to help you find the right kind of editor to work on your text. Editors may find it a useful resource to pass onto clients.

The publishing workflow

CIEP factsheet: The publishing workflow

This infographic sets out the ideal stages in the publishing workflow, for all sorts of texts from documents to books, and highlights where editors and proofreaders can help.

What training do I need to become a proofreader or copyeditor?

CIEP factsheet: What training do I need to become a proofreader or copyeditor?

Advice on how to get started as an editorial professional, why it's important to invest in training and how to choose a course. There’s more to it than being good at spotting typos.

 

Fact sheets – Members only

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Negotiating business contracts

CIEP factsheet: Negotiating business contracts

If you are running a freelance editorial business, you need to understand what's in contracts you are asked to sign by clients and be able to draw up your own simple agreement where you are setting the terms. Epoq Legal, providers of the CIEP legal helpline, have written this fact sheet to help you understand the various contract provisions and ways to negotiate the best possible outcome.

 

Focus papers

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How to write irresistible copy for your website

CIEP focus paper: How to write irresistible copy for your website

Bestselling author and copywriter Andy Maslen tells you how to make your web copy stand out in a crowded marketplace, how to keep readers on your webpage and how to communicate quality and justify your fees.

How well read should editors be?

CIEP focus paper: How well read should editors be?

Freelance copyeditor and writer Stan Carey explains the importance of reading to professional editors. Stan looks at the benefits of reading broadly, highlights the ‘must-reads’ for editors, and likens reading to a workout for editors.

Imagine an editor

CIEP focus paper: Imagine an editor

The CIEP’s honorary president, David Crystal, puts the case for using the services of a professional editor. A good editor, as he makes clear, is not a pedant or a self-styled member of the grammar police, but someone who reads the author’s work carefully, objectively and sympathetically; points out ambiguity and lack of clarity, checks references and cross-references for accuracy and consistency, and ensures that the style follows the stylistic norms of the publisher. Someone, in other words, who can keep the author ‘linguistically and creatively safe’.

In a globalised world, should we retain different Englishes?

CIEP focus paper: In a globalised world, should we retain different Englishes?

Professor Lynne Murphy questions whether a worldwide standard English would help us communicate, or whether there's value in retaining the distinct voices of the many different Englishes across the globe.

The future of the editorial role in publishing

CIEP focus paper: The future of the editorial role in publishing

Professor Alison Baverstock considers how the publishing industry and the role of the editor might develop in the future. She explores the value of editors both to publishers and the wider society, and argues that the role of the editor will continue to be essential.

The linguistic sophistication of swearing

CIEP focus paper: The linguistic sophistication of swearing

Rob Drummond, Reader in Sociolinguistics at Manchester Metropolitan University, looks at his research on language and identity, language diversity and the language of young people and asks what makes swearing so linguistically interesting in form and function.

The state of gendered language

CIEP focus paper: The state of gendered language

In this discussion paper, Sarah Grey looks at recent changes around gender and language. She starts with a quick review of how language change works, looks at some specific examples of recent changes, and ends with tools you can put to work in your editing to make sure that you stay up to date with language usage.

To whom it may concern

CIEP focus paper: To whom it may concern

In this entertaining and erudite focus paper, Jeremy Butterfield considers what editors should do about the whom vs who debate.

What's in a name? Disability terminology for writers and editors

CIEP focus paper: What's in a name? Disability terminology for writers and editors

Social scientist and bioethicist Tom Shakespeare looks at the changing terminology around disability. How do we know what's acceptable? Where's the line between sensitivity and political correctness? Can we use generalisations at all?

Who needs Standard English?

CIEP focus paper: Who needs Standard English?

Professor Bas Aarts discusses what Standard English means, in English schools and worldwide, and whether we still need Standard English in a globalised world.

Tools

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Editing jobs log

CIEP toolkit: Editing jobs log

A practical tool for recording your editorial jobs, including hours worked, word counts and fees earned. A more extensive set of recording spreadsheets, which can be used for upgrading your CIEP membership, is available in the Going Solo toolkit.

 

 

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