What is Manuscript Editing and Why is it Important?

Authors feel a sense of relief when they complete their manuscript. However, one critical step - manuscript editing - determines how soon the authors can submit their manuscript to the journals or publishers to achieve publication success. 

What is manuscript editing?

S. Alex Martin quotes, "The point of editing is to create a straight line out of a knot." 

Manuscript editing refers to fine-tuning or revising the content to eliminate errors in spelling, punctuation, grammar, phrasing, etc. It also includes correcting the manuscript's logical flow, structure, format, and tone to improve its overall quality, coherence, and readability for better publication chances. 

Now that we have shed light on what is manuscript editing, let’s address an important question. 

Why is manuscript editing needed?

• Quality enhancement

The manuscript has an entirely different quality post-editing. Manuscript editing refines everything ─ from the structure to the grammar ─ bringing the authors one step closer to becoming publication-ready.

• It makes the research impactful 

Even the most exceptional research work will fail to stand out if it is not well presented. Manuscript editing distills the unnecessary elements such as vague language, reiterations, etc., to bring out the critical aspects of the research, making it more impactful. 

• Polishes the writing

Manuscript editing includes making critical changes to the grammar, punctuation, tone, style, phrasing, word choice, etc., and enhancing the overall writing quality to help authors submit a manuscript that is free of language errors. 

• Improves the chances of publication

It is highly beneficial to opt for professional manuscript editing by an experienced subject-matter expert (SME). It is one of the best ways to achieve publication success as the SME editor ensures the manuscript has the correct language quality, logical flow, structure, and complies with the publication standards. 

What are the stages of manuscript editing?

• Proofreading

It is common to confuse proofreading and copy editing as they have the same scope ─ to make the manuscript error-free and ready for submission, but they are different processes altogether. Proofreading means giving proof of errors. Essentially, proofreading is the final step of reviewing the manuscript one last time before it is submitted for publication. Proofreading means scrutinizing the manuscript for errors in grammar, syntax, spelling, punctuation, formatting, hyperlinks, figure captions, table of contents, etc. The proofreader does not provide any comments or critiques about the overall writing.

• Copy editing

The scope of copy editing is much broader compared to proofreading. It makes sentence-level corrections in the manuscript. Copy editing refers to checking the accuracy and consistency in the grammar, spellings, tone, punctuation, terminology, and syntax. The text is edited to ensure conformity to the standards of publication, style guides, etc. Copy editing includes revising the text for clarity and conciseness but does not make any radical changes to the mechanics of the manuscript.

• Line editing 

Put simply, line editing not only fixes the errors in writing but also polishes it for effectiveness. Line editing is the process of examining every sentence and evaluating better ways of projecting them. It refines the word choice, sentence structure, style, flow, etc. Line editing eliminates the vagueness and redundancies and edits the text to make it error-free and highly engaging.  

• Development editing 

Developmental editing restructures the entire manuscript. The process considers multiple aspects such as the structure, logical flow, narrative, paragraph positioning, approach, formatting, consistency, etc., in addition to checking the basic grammar, spellings, and punctuations. Developmental editing is the first stage of drafting. Once the manuscript is organized and structured well, it can be further subjected to copy editing, line editing, and proofreading. 

Hence, manuscript editing plays an important role in helping authors achieve publication success. It improves the manuscript's quality and enables authors to become submission-ready. 

Undeniably, manuscript editing is a tedious task but, if properly done, it can make the authors research stand apart from the competition. Many authors opt for professional editing service to ensure their manuscript is expertly edited and ready for submission. 

So, what authors should look for in a manuscript editing service?

#1: The editing service will be only as good as the editor. Therefore, it is imperative to choose a subject-matter expert who has experience working with high impact factor journals, and most importantly, is a native speaker. 

#2: Authors choose professional editing to achieve the best quality of editing that invariably improves the chances of publication, and the editing service should be able to deliver the expected quality. 

#3: Whether it is proofreading or developmental editing, the service should be precise, accurate, and delivered on time.

 Finally, all the efforts of preparing a manuscript will come to fruition only if it is well-edited and ready to publish. So, choose a professional editing service and make your manuscript publication-ready!