Editor or Proofreader: Which Partner Do You Need?

Writers, don’t skip this important step in publishing your work.

As a writer, your work can be deeply personal.

You’ve written your heart out on a piece of copy, and it is often challenging to maintain objectivity: Is my piece ready to publish?

Before you click “send” or release your work out into the world, it’s important to find out. You know you need the help of a professional, but how do you know which professional you need? A proofreader, or an editor?

Let’s compare.

Proofreaders:

• focus solely on catching mistakes: grammar, spelling, punctuation, syntax, formatting, typos, duplicate or omitted letters or words, homonyms (i.e. accept/except, ensure/insure, and SO many others)
• meticulously go through your copy and find technical errors

Proofreaders do not make suggestions or edits to your content or the structure of your copy. Their only job is to make sure the final product is free from any technical mistakes. A proofreader’s role will be more limited than an editor’s, but it may be all that you need.

Editors:

• shape content to make it clear and effective
• are skilled at spotting what works and what needs improvement
• catch mistakes you didn’t realize were there
• focus on clarity, consistency, tone, removing ambiguity, and more

There’s a bonus to hiring an editor — you get two jobs in one professional, ultimately saving time and money. They will nurture your work, helping in ways you might not have realized you needed.

Why does it matter?

You want to present your best work in the most professional light.

Just as you wouldn’t write your copy in crayon on the back of an old greeting card, you want to use the right tools for the job. That means partnering with the right people.

So if you have already run your work through the editing process and don’t want any changes made to the content, then another editor would be overkill. You don’t want to spend time and money on someone offering revisions that you’re certain you don’t need.

This is when you’ll hire a proofreader.

But if you want to take your work to the next level, hiring a proofreader may limit you. You’ll risk missing out on important edits and suggestions that can give your piece the perfect polish it may be missing.

In this case, an experienced editor is what you’ll need.

What’s next?

If you’re not sure which one to hire, let’s talk. I can help you evaluate which one you need and make sure your work gets the TLC it deserves.

Regardless of which you choose, either professional will give your work the final fine-tooth-combing it needs. You’ll be ready to publish, confident that you’re submitting your very best.