Nowadays there are so many things that are based on articles, blogs, and essays. Starting from the papers we write in college, up to website content, and even emails and documents that we send to our customers and clients. When we create a document, no matter the topic and the length, we need to make sure that everything looks properly and everything is grammatically correct. We need to pay attention to the spelling, grammar, and sentence structure, and we also need to make sure that the sentences are properly divided into paragraphs so that it is easier for the reader to skim through the article and find the most important things.
After the content is done, it needs to be edited and proofread to be ready to get sent, and in this article, we are going to talk about proofreading and editing, and we will tell you if you should hire a copy editor or do it yourself.
What is the difference between the two?
Let’s first talk about the differences between proofreading and editing. We tend to put these two together in a sentence, and we don’t always know if there is a difference between the two. Even though they are pretty similar, they are still not the same, and you should be aware of what you are looking for to be done, especially if you think about hiring a service.
The two are something that needs to be done at the final stages of the writing, and once the processes are done, the paper or the article should be complete and there should be no changes done to it.
Proofreading is usually checking for errors and finding things that are wrong; that includes spelling, grammar, and punctuation. In some cases, all these things can be easily found with software, and depending on which writing platform you use, most of the spelling and punctuation errors should be underlined by the platform alone.
It is said that proofreading is far easier to be done by a person who is not a professional, and having a decent knowledge of the language, should be enough to be able to catch these errors.
On the other hand, editing is much more complex, and an editor should be able to proofread the paper without any issues and do much more than that. When it comes to editing, the process is made to improve the quality of the article or the paper, and improve sentence structure, readability, and enhance the flow.
With proofreading, you should be focused on separate words only, and with editing, the whole structure of the writing needs to be considered, along with the sentences and paragraphs. The editor can change the sentences, remove words that are not needed, and add things to make the text easier to read.
As we mentioned, an editor is also a proofreader, but a proofreader cannot be an editor without additional training and knowledge.
Should you hire an editor or do it on your own?
Now that you know what the difference between these two jobs is, you have a better idea of how difficult the whole process is. It may look like it can be done by anyone, or even by software, but as you try and do it on your own, you will see that the task is much more complicated than you think.
When you opt for a service, you will know that everything is done properly and that there are not going to be any mistakes. These services are going to save you a lot of time and effort, and you will be able to focus on more important parts of the project.
The only thing that you need to be aware of is that not every service is going to be honest and reliable, and because of that, you should use websites such as top20writingservices.com to find proofreading and editing services that are trustworthy. With platforms like this, you can check out not only what is offered by each service, but also see how satisfied the clients were and what the pricing is.
When it comes to doing it on your own, you are free to try. Some people have a talent for the job, and if you are proficient in the language if you have the needed skills and knowledge, and if you know what are the mistakes you should be looking for, you may want to do it alone.
The positive thing about tackling this editing job on your own is the fact that you are going to save some cash in the initial phase. Keep in mind that if you don’t do a perfect job, you will still need to hire the professionals, and that would mean that you have lost your time trying to do it on your own, and you will still need to pay for the service.
In case you choose to do it on your own, take your time, inspect every sentence, look for errors, and don’t forget to inspect every paragraph as well. There are some platforms that are free and that can help you find some mistakes with the grammar, spelling, and even sentence structure, so you can utilize them to get the job done faster. Note that the best platforms still come with a monthly subscription and if you want the software to find a lot of mistakes instead of you, you will still need to pay. When using these platforms, keep in mind that not every suggestion is going to make sense, and sometimes the automated system is just going to follow rules without understanding the concept of the text. So, you will still need to be the one who takes the lead and you will need to be aware of what you are selecting.
Overall, when it comes to these jobs, it is always better to hire a professional copy editor than to do it on your own. The expert will know what to look for, what to correct, how to help you get straight to the point, and how to avoid using too many complex words to explain a simple thing. You can choose if you want your writing to be edited in a professional way; if you want it to have a bold tone, if you want it to be more relaxing, or if you want to achieve something else. Know when is the right time to invest your cash and when it comes to professional writing and college essays, it is always best to rely on a trusted service.
