“The second pair of eyes always see more”. This is an apt phrase when it comes to editing. No matter how good you are at spelling or how good you are at structure, it can always happen that you overlook something. That is why editing is beneficial when you have written a book. But what is editing exactly? In this blog, we take a closer look.
What does text proofreading exactly?
Editing is checking and, if necessary, improving the text of your book (or article). Before you have a book printed, it is advisable to edit the text. How can you best go about this? What are the options? Writing a book takes a lot of time and creative effort. In the beginning, writers often pay less attention to language and spelling mistakes. They focus mainly on the story. In this way, inspiration is retained. But the fact that the writer pays less attention to language and spelling errors, in the beginning does not mean that this person is not good at them.
Editing a book yourself
Do you know that you are good at language and spelling? Then you can always do the revision yourself after writing your book. Even in your text, you will probably see plenty of areas for improvement when you take a second look. What are some of the things you should pay attention to when editing your text, also known as proofreading?
- Paragraphs must fit together logically. The structure should also be understandable for other readers.
- Make sure you use the same form of address everywhere. You form, I form, or he/she form.
- Is the same form of time used throughout? Past tense or present tense.
- It is always good to be on the lookout for d/t mistakes.
- Are punctuation marks used correctly?
This list is not exhaustive, but these key points will probably get you started.
Proofreading by a professional
If you type in the search term “text editing” on the Internet, you will immediately find a range of companies that deal with this. If you leave the editing of your book to a professional, you can be sure that it will be done correctly. What’s more, you can lay claim to it. You pay for the services of a professional editor. This editor is then obliged to fulfil the agreements made.
The disadvantage is that this option costs you the most. On the other hand, this option delivers the best results in many cases.
Have someone close to you check the text of your book
Do you know anyone good at reviewing and checking texts? The good thing is that a person who has never read the text of your book will probably be able to spot errors that you as a writer are blind to. You can ask them to look at structure and spelling. You can also ask them to look at spelling, for example.
Are you planning to have your book printed? Then be sure to have the text edited. That way, you will achieve the best result. Would you like to learn more about writing and printing your book? Then request a no-obligation quote for printing your book.
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