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This page is not a must-read. It is an overview
of our editing and proofreading services, and is offered for
information only.
In a hurry? Then view
our fee structure or contact
us to let us know how
we can help you.
The Difference between Proofreading and Editing
Why Are Proofreading and Editing Essential
Our Proofreading and Editing Services
The difference between proofreading and editing. Are proofreading and editing the same?
No, editing and proofreading are not alike. Although many people use the terms interchangeably, editing and proofreading are two different facets of the revision process. Proofreading presents a challenge mainly because we do not read each letter, but whole words. Look at this sentence:"It's amzanig taht you can raed tihs sentnece even thuogh almsot evrey word is wrnogly splet."
As long as the first and last letters are correct, the word is 'readable.' That's why proofreaders and editors may charge what appears to be an exorbitant price for proofreading a piece of text. They have to almost 'read' every letter, not just the word.
Proofreading and editing or rewriting has to be split into several short blocks of time, and needs intense concentration. Proofreading is also segmented into checking for only one kind of error at a time. Trying to identify and revise too many things simultaneously dilutes focus and increases the risk of missed errors.
Proofreading is done after editing and is the concluding stage of editing and proofreading services. It focuses on errors in grammar and punctuation, and misspellings.
While all word processors include a spell-check function, they cannot be depended on for professional proofreading, editing or rewriting. In this sentence for example, a spell-check will not flag any errors:
"The quack brown fix jumps over the laze old god."
Grammar checkers can be even more baffling. Since they work with a small number of predefined rules, their 'suggestions' can be hilarious at times.
Essentially, proofreading involves checking for spelling errors, punctuation marks, and such. Spelling errors can usually be identified quite well through using a spell checker. Other errors are not identified.
The need for Proofreading,
Rewriting and Editing Services:
English is a difficult language to master. Word connotation, nuance, tone and wrong process can alter the intended message content and cause misunderstanding and misinterpretation. Proofreading and editing are applied to make sure your message is clear, uncluttered, and pleasingly constructed.
The 'fog factor' is a writer's yardstick to measure the acceptability of written work. It measures tautology, padded syllables, sentence length, multi-syllable words and other factors as a guide to meaningful writing. The ideal range is between 7 and 9. A fog factor above 1 1 indicates the writing is too heavy for most people to accept. As far as possible we try to achieve a range of between 7 and 9 when editing.
How To Determine The Fog Factor Or Fog Index?
- Calculate the average number of words per sentence)
- Add % of number of words of 3 syllables or more
- Multiply by 0.4 = Fog index
The "ideal" score is 7 or 8; 9 to 12 is a bit heavy; anything above 12 is too hard for most people to understand without difficulty.
What our editing services cover: [Note: Editing is on correct language usage only,
and does not affect content relevance or accuracy.]
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Text organization and presentation,
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Tone
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Fog index {a measure of multi-syllable words, words per sentence and sentences per paragraph}
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Word and verb choice,
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Transitions
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Redundancies and tautology
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Grammar
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Sentence & paragraph length
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Active v/s passive structures.
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Effective application of white space
Rewriting Services. What Rewriting Involves
Rewriting involves re-constructing an existing piece of writing to make it unique, novel or more readable. We also rewrite your document and PLR articles, for use on your web site, digital newsletters, or any other media. Rewriting involves making significant changes to the original writing. Words, sentences, paragraphs and whole sections may be rearranged or rewritten. Advanced language skills are needed for acceptable rewriting tasks.
More questions? Simply click here and ask away, being sure to provide us with all relevant information. Please include sufficient details so we can contact you easily. When sending documents for proofreading and editing by email, please send them as an attachment with a .doc or docx. extension.
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