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).

  • What Is an Antihero? (With Examples)

    What Is an Antihero? (With Examples)

    Nov 30, 2022

    • Creative Writing
    • Editing Tips

    An antihero is an interesting twist on the conventional “good guy” protagonist and is something you may encounter when editing narrative fiction. In this post, we’ll explain the defining traits of this character archetype and how you can help your client to write a great antihero. What Is an Antihero? An antihero is a protagonist […]

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  • What Is FOMO in Copywriting? (And How to Use It Effectively)

    What Is FOMO in Copywriting? (And How to Use It Effectively)

    Nov 25, 2022

    • Business Editing
    • Editing Tips

    Fear of missing out (also known as FOMO) is a concept widely used in marketing copy. If you’re an editor working in this area, you’ll need to understand how it works. In this post, we’ll explain what FOMO means in copywriting and how you can help your business clients use it effectively. What Is FOMO? […]

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What’s a Colloquialism?

  • 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?

    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

    Nov 07, 2022

    • Editing Tips
    • Professional
    • Proofreading Tips

    Podcasts are more popular now than ever before, with a podcast on every topic from paranormal investigations to ancient history. They can be an inspiring educational or proofreading tool as well as a way to make learning more fun. You can even listen to a podcast while doing work and household chores, making them great […]

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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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  • Titles in Academic Writing

    Titles in Academic Writing

    Oct 11, 2022

    • Academic Editing
    • 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

    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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