Why You Need a Copyeditor

A fellow writer and editor sent this photo to me the other day. It's the kind of thing that prompts a double-take, then a big laugh – until you realize it's an actual headline from a real newspaper. Then – at least, if you're a copyeditor – you cringe.

I know word-processing programs have spell-checking functions, but even folks who use them know they aren't foolproof. I cannot tell you how many errors I catch, each and every day, in print and online. I’m not even being picky – I’m just paying attention. That’s what my clients expect.

On a media company’s blog just today, I was reading some rules about social media. One was the importance of “checking and double-checking your [blog] posts before you actually post them.” It contained this bit of advice:

“Typos can be embarassing, and sometimes even disasterous. Yes, you can delete or edit posts, but there is no telling how many people saw it before you removed or edited it.”

Right away, I contacted the company and tactfully pointed out the two misspelled words that instantly blow the blogger’s credibility. (The correct spellings are 'embarrassing' and 'disastrous.') She made the corrections, and emailed to thank me.

If writing isn’t your thing – or even if it is – you often will benefit from having a second set of eyes on your copy. Otherwise, you might end up intending ‘fury’ and getting ‘furry.’ Not good.