The short answer is yes.
At the very least, everything should be proofread once. You could ask a friend to do it, and they might be quite good at grammar and spelling, but unless they are trained and experienced in editing they are likely to miss things that help make a quality publication – things like consistency (did you write break-down in one chapter and break down in another?), appropriate use of headings, referencing, and even something as simple as whether the headings and page numbers are set out correctly throughout.
You can hire an editor to proofread your work after the manuscript is complete and again after the printer’s proofs are ready. Proofreading is primarily about checking for errors rather than better ways of saying things or improvements to structure. Those two tasks are the remit of copy editing and structural editing respectively, and should come before the proofreading.
Every piece of work can benefit from a second opinion (in addition to the author’s) on these aspects of a work. Editing your own work is a bit like trying to take a selfie – you’re just too close to the source to get a full picture.
What can an editor help me with?
An editor will also think about the purpose of the book, the audience, the accessibility and a bunch of other concerns your average writer would never have considered. The Institute of Professional Editors Ltd outlines some of the things an editor can do for you:
- act as an impartial first reader before you launch your words on the world
- structure your documents logically
- choose the right style and language
- help you use illustrations to advantage
- remove ambiguity and clarify your meaning
- correct grammar and spelling
- simplify obscure language and bureaucratic, technical or specialist jargon
- help you get straight to the point
- ensure consistency in style and language
- help you manage large communication projects
- make your novel more appealing to an agent or a publisher.
Some editors are good at all three levels of editing, or you might prefer to engage one for structural and copy editing and another for proofreading.
Ultimately it is up to the writer how much scope they want to give their editor, and whether or not to listen to them! As with any personal or working relationship, some editors and clients will gel more than others. There’s no shame in hunting for the right person for your work.
Find an editor
To find an editor in Australia, search the state registers, which you can find links to on the iPed website.
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