by Jennie Stevens
When I first started my career, I encountered an issue many new editors face: there are no clear-cut definitions for the different types of editing. It seems every publishing house, editing firm, and freelancer has their own vocabulary and definitions for the same work. Even the term editor is an umbrella term that can encompass every job from acquiring a manuscript to fixing errant commas.
So what are the different categories of editing and how do they fit together? Once I understood the terms and structure myself, I found it relatively easy to explain to others using a simple image: the editing funnel. The editing funnel represents the order of editing, moving from big problems to small problems.
It is important to remember that each editor has their own understanding of these terms and how to apply them. If you are an author, make sure you and your editor are on the same page about the level of editing your manuscript requires, but it should generally follow the same path from draft to final product.
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