#epublishingandcontentmanagement

At Katalyst-Nova Techset, we are well aware that writing academic work can be an exhausting and time-consuming process, taking months to years to complete. The last thing you want to do is read it over from top to bottom immediately after finishing the brunt of the work, which is why it is so handy to have a copy editor to reduce the workload you must deal with. From fixing simple syntax errors to merging the format of your writings following style guides, hiring a copy editor to improve the quality of your publications can take much of that weight off your shoulders.

However, finding an editor to alleviate this anxiety is not as easy as Googling for freelance workers and picking the cheapest option. You need to consider many things when finding the right editor for your academic work, as the wrong choice could saddle you with even more work fixing all the inadequate edits.

To make sure you make the right choice the first time, here are some things we recommend looking out for when looking for a copy editor for your next academic piece.

Find what YOU want out of your editor There is quite a bit that goes into the copyediting process, from general grammatical corrections to focusing deeper on the organization of your arguments. Before you even think about paying an editor, it is wise to fully pin down what exactly you want fixed or taken an extra look at.

For some, you might just need to make sure your sentences and paragraphs flow and transition smoothly, while a more research-heavy piece may need a deeper dive into the accuracy of any citations and quotes. There are also many different kinds of editing that could be done for academic publishing, from macro to micro edits, and nailing down which kind is the best for your paper can save both you and your copy editor valuable time.

What are the style and language formats? Once your paper is completed, the search for a journal or publication to select begins. However, a common mistake many academic writers make is presuming that every publication adheres to a single agreed-upon style. From differing style guides (APA, Chicago, AMA, etc.) to the preference for American or British spellings, there are many things to consider when pitching your work.

As a writer, you often put months or even years into composing and researching to get published in an academic journal; understandably, the first thing you want to do is send it off immediately to a publication. However, there will always be a few grammatical and spelling errors no matter your skill level, and they can quickly build up the further you get into your work. While seemingly minor, this general lack of polish can distract the reader from your overall point, possibly even resulting in your work being rejected outright.

At Nova Techset, we understand that having a reliable copyeditor is absolutely vital in academic writing. Reviewing the entirety of your work for the utmost accuracy and clarity, bringing in a copy editor after you complete the writing process can often be the make-or-break factor to get your article noticed. Copy-editing can truly make your submission look as professional as it would in your head.

But what exactly is copyediting? With so many different words like “proofreading,” “content editing,” and “substantive editing” thrown around, we understand that it can be very confusing to peg down exactly what to expect out of a copy editor.

To put it simply, copyediting is a careful and deliberate process that generally checks:

General mechanics like spelling, grammar, and punctuation Word choice (any industry jargon or phrases that may need explanation) Consistent voice and tone with the rest of your content Clarity of the sentences and paragraphs General fact-checking of sources and quotes to ensure utmost accuracy As you can see, that is quite a bit of material to keep track of, especially after you are exhausted from finishing your manuscript. That’s where a copy editor comes in to reread your article with fresh eyes, catching any errors that you might have missed when focusing on the writing process.

On the off chance that you managed to come out the other end reasonably unscathed without any punctuation or syntax errors, you still have to contend with the possibility of plagiarism or misquoting a subject. Considering that those two mishaps could harm—or flat out destroy—your career more than a few spelling mistakes, it is more often than not the safe bet to have a copy editor on at some point to give your piece a read-over.

For the most part, copy editors usually work with magazines, publishers, and websites, but are incredibly useful across a wide variety of industries, especially academic publication. While services like Grammarly are useful to pick out obvious errors in real-time, a fully automated end-to-end copyediting system like Nova Techset’s Casper™ is what will end up saving you the most trouble when you want to be published in an academic journal.