Over the past few years, we’ve quietly added formal editing services to our projects in both learning design and facilitation. We weren’t trying to keep this quiet on purpose (!); we’ve just been enhancing our services as we typically do over time and hadn’t yet shared the news widely. Our clients already know, of course, but it’s time everyone else did too!
In this post, we’ll:
- clarify why editing matters
- explain the levels of editing that we offer (with examples)
- share when each type of editing typically happens
- highlight the team members involved in each type of editing
Why does editing matter?
Editing not only brings consistency and accuracy to a project’s deliverables, but it also helps ensure that the products we create—whether they are online courses, handouts, reports, printable materials, or websites—are clear and easy to understand for the intended audience.
What are the types of editing?
There are four types of editing, and we provide them all:
- Structural editing
- Stylistic editing
- Copy editing
- Proofreading
Let’s briefly review each one, with examples.
Structural editing
Also known as substantive editing, structural editing is the first stage of editing. It’s a high-level type of editing. At this stage, we clarify the purpose of the project, who the audience is, and which medium will be used. We pay close attention to logical order, flow, and whether the content fits the context and audience, including any visual elements.
Since structural editing overlaps so much with learning design, it’s carried out by the learning designer (or facilitator) on the BCB team leading the project. It begins at the start of a project.
Here are some example questions and decisions we explore with clients:
- Should this section come before another to help the audience understand the concepts more easily
- Are there any newer or better resources that can be cited?
- Could a visual be added to help explain the framework that is currently described only with text?
Stylistic editing
Stylistic editing focuses on accuracy and consistency in terminology and language. This includes plain language and conscious language to make sure the writing is clear, respectful, and easy to understand. We also pay attention to how paragraphs and sentences flow, including transitions between sections, to keep the overall tone and rhythm consistent.
On the BCB team, both the learning designer/facilitator and communications coordinator/editor contribute to the stylistic editing process. It usually starts near the beginning of a project, often by creating a style sheet that captures key language and formatting choices to guide our work.
Here are some example questions and decisions we explore with clients:
- Which style guide would you like us to follow (e.g., APA, Chicago, MLA)? Do you have a house style/writing guide?
- If you’d prefer not to use the term “loved ones” for family members of the care recipient, what terms would you like to use instead?
- Should we write “First Nations, Inuit, and Métis” in every instance, or do you agree it’s appropriate to alternate with “Indigenous Peoples,” as recommended in the resource, Elements of Indigenous Style?
Copy editing
Copy editing focuses on the details, like correct grammar, punctuation, spelling, and usage. It ensures consistency, accuracy, and completeness across the entire document, resource, or course.
On our team, copy editing is typically done by the communications coordinator/editor on the final draft or storyboard before it goes into layout or development in the final platform. Often, copy editing and stylistic editing happen at the same time.
Here are some example questions and decisions we explore with clients:
- What standard structure should we use for all photo captions?
- Will we use the Oxford (serial) comma or not?
- What dictionary will we be using (e.g., Canadian Oxford)?
Proofreading
The job of the proofreader is to correct any errors that may have been missed in earlier editing stages, or that may have been introduced during layout or development in its final platform. Proofreading enhances consistency and accuracy, and it also identifies any design or layout issues that need to be fixed.
Proofreading is done by the communications coordinator/editor after the document has been created in the final software, or the course has been developed in the online platform.
Here are some example tasks and decisions we might take on:
- fixing broken links
- spotting double spaces where there should only be one
- identifying inconsistencies in formatting, such as table cells that start with both capital and lowercase letters
Editing might not always be the most visible part of our work, but it’s an important one that reflects the care and quality we bring to every project. It’s where clarity and consistency come together to make our work shine. If you’d like to learn more about how we approach editing within our learning design or facilitation services, or as a standalone service, please get in touch.