In this day and age of technology and the “faster is better” credo, good writing seems to have fallen by the wayside. You write texts and messages with abbreviations, incomplete sentences, and emoticons. Informal writing seems to have run rampant and become more acceptable. Yet, proper and effective formal writing has never been as integral to keeping up and excelling in this ultra-competitive world.

You know that writing is a difficult thing to do, even for professionals. Your stomach churns and you feel a sense of dread when a professor gives you a college essay to write, when your boss asks you to prepare a presentation at a meeting, or when you work on crafting the “perfect” cover letter for your dream job.

But now it is more important than ever to have good writing skills and well-written documents, whether they are for business, personal, non-profit, academic, or job search-related use. You need to present yourself in the best way possible to avoid embarrassing mistakes, to get that job, to get into a top-rated school, to make an effective presentation at work, or to raise awareness and much-needed money for a charity cause

THE TYPES OF EDITING AND THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THEM

How many types of editing are there? The simple answer to that question is two: editing and proofreading. But one can also argue that there are three main categories: editing, proofreading, and copyediting. Then there are the specialized subcategories, such as book manuscript and dissertation editing.

Editing is more comprehensive and substantive, and it focuses on the style, flow, and subject area of your document and may require specialization. Proofreading focuses on going over each line of text and making sure all punctuation marks are in the right places, and that there are no spelling and grammar mistakes.

Copyediting is not as widely-known; it is typically found in publishing and may be done in addition to traditional editing and proofreading. It usually occurs before proofreading; the copyeditor checks for grammar, spelling, and punctuation mistakes, and looks at overall style issues and specific style guide adherence.

CAN YOU DO THE EDITING YOURSELF OR DO YOU NEED SOMEONE TO HELP YOU?

You need a second pair of eyes to spot mistakes and typos, to clean up, polish, and improve your writing. You need an outsider’s point of view because you are simply too close to your own text. There are typos, gaps, and awkward wording and structure that you won’t even notice. Your writing or story may sound clear and error-free to you, but you may be incorrect.

You need a fresh perspective and point-of-view. Famous novelists and writers have resorted to some weird tricks to get this much needed new perspective. Virginia Woolf allegedly wrote on an angled three-and -a-half-foot tall desk (http://mic.com/articles/96282/the-scintific-reason-making-typos-doesn-t-mean-you-re-careless) so she could read her work both up-close and at a distance. You don’t need to go to such extremes; hiring a professional editor will also do the trick.

WHY YOU CAN’T FIND ALL OF YOUR OWN WRITING MISTAKES

THIS IS YOUR BRAIN ON WRITING

When you think creatively, you use different parts of the brain than when you think with more routine traditional tasks. Studies by radiologist have shown that your brain concentrates more on formulating and communicating complex ideas and thoughts, and not on less complicated, simpler areas of writing such as spelling and other typos.

THIS IS YOUR BRAIN ON EDITING

You don’t see typos in your own work. You see what you want to see. You are too close to the text, you know what you have (or Intended) to write, so you don’t have a fresh perspective. Glaring omissions and mistakes escape your eyes. You think everything looks good in your document, but little do you know.           

WHAT PROFESSIONAL EDITING CAN DO FOR YOU

Business

In today’s fast-paced and competitive business environment, you require professional solutions to create a strong corporate identity. The stakes are high in the workplace, in all forms of business communication-from financial reports and presentation, to emails and websites. Companies often have one chance to make a positive first impression. Spelling, grammatical and punctuation mistakes, awkward wording, and lack of clarity and proper structure can underline and damage your professional reputation, credibility, and message. An incorrect abbreviation or missing or misplaced comma or apostrophe can cause miscommunication, confusion, and embarrassment. Poor writing style, typos, and omissions can reduce the look and sound of professionalism and turn off clients, potential investors, bosses, or co-workers.

Academic

An ever-increasing number of people are furthering their education these days. How can you make your essay stand out in the crowd when applying to college or grad school? Making the best possible first impression is necessary to stand out from the pack and to get admitted to your chosen school. Writing error-free and compelling college entrance essays will impress and gain the attention of admissions counselors.

A professional editor can polish your writing and increase the chances of your essay not being viewed as being mediocre. You need to capture the interest of admissions or impress that particular professor. Put your best foot forward with an editor’s help.

Job Market

In today’s ultra-competitive job market, a well-crafted resume and cover letter can make all the difference in scoring a job interview or offer. They are your marketing tools to potential employers. Make sure your resume and cover letter are not overlooked in the pile. Good editing will help make your writing shine and stand apart from the rest.

The goal of your writing is to make your particular document an effective communication tool, and editing helps accomplish that mission. Good editing is an investment in your education, career, or endeavor. It enhances clarity and makes your writing more credible, persuasive, and professional-sounding. It will give you the winning edge.

PROFESSIONAL ONLINE EDITING SERVICES

With Professional online editing services, you can choose the editor best-suited for your project. You can take the time to read editors qualifications and previous experiences, see their portfolios, and request free sample edits. You have the ability to find the editor who is the “perfect fit”.

So what can you expect from your editor? What benefits will be provided? A good editor has various responsibilities and serves different functions. She can be a mentor and guide your writing to where it needs to be. Your editor will provide a much-needed second pair of eyes, a fresh perspective, and an outsider’s point-of-view. She will provide constructive criticism, save you time, and reduce your anxiety about your paper. Remember that professional editors are just that-professionals. They are experts in the field of editing (and often writing). You can find one who has experience with the specific topic area of your writing.  Editors will provide feedback on how to best improve your document. You can always pick and choose which changes to accept and which advice to follow.

Professional online editors will help polish and perfect your writing, and make it the best possible version. They will take your document to the next level.