Rivers Editorial

Rivers Editorial

Editing vs proofreading – what’s the difference, and which do you need?

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Some people may think editing and proofreading are synonymous. This is not true – they are distinct tasks for separate purposes.

Others may not be quite sure what either actually entails, and may be surprised when their document is returned by a proofreader or editor.

A writer may ask for a document to be proofread, and then wonder why a particular fact wasn’t checked, or a passage made more concise, or a certain point wasn’t explained for a layman audience.

On the other hand, a writer might appoint an editor, thinking their work will simply be checked for spelling and grammar, and be upset to find portions of their work rewritten, rearranged or cut out entirely.

So, what is the difference?

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Why editorial quality is more important than ever

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More than two decades in the editorial industry has granted me many things, and taught me even more.

What I’ve been granted is a rich and varied experience across a range of companies and publications, in different countries. What I’ve been taught is the importance of quality and consistency, as well as a keen understanding of how not to do things.

The latter point is especially important as the industry I forged my career in has undergone massive changes, and continues to do so. Consumer media nowadays is vastly different to what it was in 2000, when I took on my first job as a subeditor for a local newspaper.

However, I firmly believe that print media will never die (after all, video never actually did kill the radio star), and that there will always be a place for quality journalism and fastidious editing, in whatever format it’s delivered.

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