Basic versus Heavy Editing

Here is where literary acumen and stylistic accuracy intersect. When I review your document, I will look for grammatical errors, typos, consistency, et cetera. However, sometimes text needs more revision. Rewriting and rephrasing is my specialty! The goal is to make your copy direct, clear and free of errors. A dash of eloquence never hurts, but the priority is clarity and straightforwardness. I want your text to mirror your meaning in a lucid way while retaining the buoyancy of good written communication. Contact me at holly@grafeditorial.com for a free sample edit of your work.

Examples

  • #1 - a BASIC edit


The third challenge was communicating to the public on how to use the first recreational Express Lane in the nation in a short period of time. It is also an unusual type of Express Lane for the state, because every vehicle with two axles has to pay a toll  - even carpoolers, hybrids and motorcycles. There is no HOV option available. This lane is the nation's first lane for recreational use, and most people already have more than two people in the vehicle, when they travel to the beach. 

The third challenge was communicating to the public in a short amount of time how to use the first recreational Express Lane in the nation. The lane is an unusual type of Express Lane for the state, since all vehicles with two axles are required to pay a toll. As there is no HOV option, this requirement extends to carpoolers, hybrids and motorcycles. The lane is the nation's first for recreational use, and most cars traveling to the beach already have more than two occupants.

 

  • #2 - a HEAVY edit

Of course the plants do receive certain major nutrients they need to grow from these inputs but they lose out on the micronutrients that only healthy and thriving microbes can provide. A useful analogy is synthetic fertilizers are like agricultural steroids, pumping up short term yields at the cost of long term fertility and soil health. 

Of course, the plants do receive certain major nutrients they need to grow from these inputs, but they lose out on the micronutrients that only healthy and thriving microbes can provide. Synthetic fertilizers can be compared to steroids. The analogy is useful because the soil absorbs a foreign, ultimately harmful substance that produces a short-term benefit with dire long-term consequences. This artificial injection "pumps up" short-term yields, but with the long-term cost of harming soil fertility.

AP versus Chicago style

There are two main sources for style and format. The Associated Press Style Manual is used when a composition is written for a quick, space-restricted source, such as an online article. The Chicago Style Manual is reserved for lengthier sources such as an academic journal. As a general rule, AP style aims for brevity. For example, in Chicago style, numbers lower than 100 are spelled out. In AP style, only numbers below 10 are spelled out. 

I have experience using both manuals and will edit your document as required by your specific editorial circumstances. The main goal is maintaining clarity and consistency within your document.

Advertising versus Web Copy


You want your reader to respond to the message positively and viscerally. I understand the importance of tailoring your message to your audience. Advertizing copy should always be concise, persuasive and interesting. It frequently contains few words and eschews grammar. I like to think of it in terms of "action." Advertizing should be stimulating and brief, energizing the reader to have an equal reaction to the action of your copy. He or she will try the restaurant, subscribe to the magazine, watch the film. The messaging stays on brand, is consumer-focused, and can be absorbed at a glance. 

Web copy found in blogs and websites is similarly persuasive, but with much less emphasis on movement and brevity. It's always a good idea to be succinct in your communication. However, when writing content that is not meant to entice through entertainment, the immediate objective is not to compel. The objective is to divulge. It is revelation; it is essay. Like a matter-of-fact secret whispered in your ear, writing should always edify the reader without being too long-winded about it. 

Whatever your purpose, I enjoy clarifying the message while keeping the prose clean and mistake-free.