What to expect from an editing professional

If you are considering hiring an editing professional, you may be wondering what you can expect.

You can check out what the Society for Editors and Proofreaders has to say. For me, there are three major points to consider.

1. High-quality editing
   • Your editor should provide clear guidance on the appropriate level of service for your document, when requested.
   • They should edit or proofread your document, as agreed in advance, to ensure that spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors are resolved.
   • Depending on the level of service, you may also expect changes to improve the word choice and structure of your document.
   • Your editor or proofreader should provide comments and suggestions that aid you in adding necessary information and correcting any remaining problem areas in the text.
2.  Professionalism
   • Your editor should provide the details of the service in writing prior to beginning the work.
   • They should respect your time: reply to you in a timely fashion, avoid contacting you with unnecessary queries, and abide by your agreed deadlines.
   • Your editor should communicate effectively and tactfully.
3. Expertise
   • Your editor should have experience in editing and crafting documents similar to your own.
   • They should also undertake training in editing or proofreading.
   • If you have a specialized field, like the biological and biomedical sciences, ideally your editor will have a degree or practical experience in your field.

Some of these points are intertwined. I will expand on some of these topics at greater length in the future. For now, I hope this list provides a starting point for evaluating an editing professional.

If you are interested in working with an editor or proofreader, I recommend you contact them to determine if they meet these criteria and seem to be a good fit for your project. Please feel free to contact me; I would love to work with you or point you in the direction of another editor who may be more suited to your project.

What do you look for in an editing professional? Ask questions or share your experience below!