By: Jane Sumerset
Submitted: 2010-02-15 11:42:04 | Word Count: 537
Some people use proofreading and editing almost interchangeably. It couldn’t be more wrong. While both terms refer to a post writing process, they usually denote very different things.
We often heard these words all time when we are searching for answers the writing process but do you know what’s the difference between editing and proofreading?
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In the first place, most people though that these words means the same but the truth is, there’s a quite difference between proofreading and editing. When someone is going to proofread his work, he may take approximately a half hour to finish his job while in editing, it takes a lot of time to revise your work. However, these two steps are every critical when it comes to writing and publication process.
The difference or Proofreading and Editing
Proofreading refers to the act of correcting mistakes in writing. In today’s writing environment, this involves poring through the written text to uncover typographical errors, misspellings, failings in grammar and other similar errors. Its main task is to correct a piece of writing.
Before, proofreading only involves spelling errors, punctuations and other forms of typographical mistakes but now, it includes checking your writing grammars as well as the spelling, punctuations and all forms of typos.
A proofreader must be eager enough to check these kinds of errors in writing. To do that, he must have a clear mind and objective to do the assigned task. One can use symbols that follow the standard rules in grammar checking as well as the capitalization, spellings, punctuations, indentions and other parts of the context that needs to be proofread.
For the most part, proofreading requires keen attention to detail, a sharp eye and a focused mind. Good proofreading, in particular, is usually a function of experience and a good grasp of publication standards. The more you’ve done it, the greater the chances you’ll catch those errors when they happen. Many functions of proofreading can now be handled by a good English writing software.
Editing, on the other hand, is a largely general term that carries plenty of connotations, depending on what are parameters of a particular job. It takes a lot of responsibilities and a lot of time to accomplish the task. When used next to proofreading, though, editing usually refers to the act of revising copy.
It is also known as technical editing or copy editing. Proofreading is part of editing a written copy. That’s because part of editing task is to check the written work in order to secure accuracy and correctness. It involves standard rules in grammar, syntax correction, readability and fact checking.
When someone is going to edit a piece of content, he can omit unnecessary words and sentences or even insert another word, phrase or sentences. It requires full revision of the context and arranges all details accordingly in order to ensure the quality of the content.
Your facts don’t add up? That gets caught in the editing phase. Your thesis isn’t well supported enough? That decision is reached during editing too.
A good distinction between the two is to think of proofreading as a purely technical endeavor, while editing involves more creativity.
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