Editing Tips

From complete beginners to experienced editors, our blog has something for everyone! Learn about the different types of editing – developmental, comprehensive, line, and copy editing – and read our expert advice on editing all different types of documents (including business, creative, and academic).

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    Literally and Figuratively: What’s the Difference?

    Literally and Figuratively: What’s the Difference?

    Nov 16, 2022

    • Editing Tips
    • Proofreading Tips
    • Vocabulary Tips

    The English language’s waters can be muddy. So too can the difference between this pair of words: literally and figuratively.  Literally and figuratively aren’t the same thing, despite what some people may think. Literally used to denote a literal, or letter-by-letter, meaning. People didn’t start to use literally in a figurative sense until about 200 […]

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    Similes and Metaphors: What’s the Difference?

    Similes and Metaphors: What’s the Difference?

    Nov 09, 2022

    • Common Errors
    • Creative Writing
    • Editing Tips

    Have you ever wondered what the difference is between a simile and a metaphor and how to use them in writing? If you’re an editor, particularly of creative writing and fiction, it’s important to know the difference between these two literary devices so that you can advise your client on when to use them – […]

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7 of the Best Podcasts About Language

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    What Is the Standard Manuscript Format?

    Oct 28, 2022

    • Creative Writing
    • Editing Tips

    Many publishers expect submissions to use a standard manuscript format. As a proofreader or editor, knowing what the standard format requires will allow you to better help your clients. Read on to find out what the standard manuscript format is and when it should be used. What is the Standard Manuscript Format? The standard manuscript […]

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    Narrative Structure: What Are the 7 Basic Plots?

    Oct 21, 2022

    • Creative Writing
    • Editing Tips

    Often, the aim of narrative theory is to identify common plots that are used in many stories. One of the most well-known attempts in recent years is Christopher Booker’s 2004 book The Seven Basic Plots: Why We Tell Stories. In this book, Booker proposes that any story will follow one of seven different plots: Understanding […]

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    Narrative Structure: What Is In Medias Res?

    Oct 14, 2022

    • Creative Writing
    • Editing Tips

    Starting a story in medias res is a common technique that authors use. If you’re a creative writing editor, you should know how this narrative structure works. In this post, we’ll explain what in medias res means and how you can use your knowledge of this technique to assess your client’s writing. What Does In […]

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    How to Craft Strong Titles in Academic Writing

    Oct 11, 2022

    • Academic Writing
    • Editing Tips
    • Style

    In academic writing, a strong title hooks the reader, reflects the tone and content of the paper, and contains keywords to increase the paper’s visibility on search engines. If you’re an editor working with academic clients, you may need to highlight issues in their titles and subtitles. Read on for some tips on how to […]

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    Narrative Structure: A Guide to Freytag’s Pyramid

    Oct 05, 2022

    • Creative Writing
    • Editing Tips

    If you’re a fiction editor, understanding narrative structure can help you assess your client’s work. One of the more common ways of conceptualizing narrative structure is Freytag’s Pyramid, which we will look at in today’s post. Read on to find out more about Freytag’s Pyramid and how to use it when editing. What is Freytag’s […]

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    Common Fallacies (and How to Fix Them)

    Oct 01, 2022

    • Academic Writing
    • Common Errors
    • Editing Tips

    Logical fallacies are deceptive or false arguments that use faulty reasoning to shift the direction of a discussion away from the main point. Whether you’re writing a critical essay or having a heated discussion with your neighbor, being aware of logical fallacies can help you build stronger arguments and establish credibility. As an academic editor, […]

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    Narrative Structure: The Hero's Journey

    Narrative Structure: The Hero's Journey

    Sep 28, 2022

    • Creative Writing
    • Editing Tips

    For anyone who edits creative writing, understanding narrative structure can be extremely useful. There are many different ways of conceptualizing narrative structure, but one of the most common is known as the Hero’s Journey. In this post, we’ll explain what the Hero’s Journey is and how you can use it when editing your client’s work. […]

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    What Is an Executive Summary? (And How to Edit One)

    What Is an Executive Summary? (And How to Edit One)

    Sep 21, 2022

    • Business Writing
    • Editing Tips
    • Proofreading Tips

    If you’re a proofreader or editor who specializes in business writing, you’ll need to know how to edit an executive summary. An executive summary is a short overview of a business document that outlines the basic topics covered. In today’s post, we’ll explain executive summaries in more detail before giving you some tips on how […]

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