Alicia Chantal sits on a bench outdoors. A colourful wall is pictured behind her.

Why Hire a Professional Editor?

Your work deserves an expert touch

Our eyes are subjected to an astonishing number of words from dawn until dusk. They’re on our tubes of toothpaste, on our TV screens, and in the palm of our hands via our smartphones. All of those words have an author, whether that person is a casual commenter on Twitter or a writer with an established publishing house. One thing all authors have in common? They want our attention. How can an editor help?

The value of an editor

In today’s connected world, having your message stand out from the crowd is critical to being heard. That’s where an editor comes in. Editors have the training, skills, and knowledge to make their clients look good. Need to ensure your novel is organized in a clear, cohesive manner? There’s an editor for that! Need to translate highly specialized terms into plain language? Yep, there’s an editor for that, too! What about making sure your 50-page annual report has all of its components? That’s where an editing professional helps your business shine. Editors Canada characterizes editors and proofreaders as interpreters, facilitators, advocates, and wayfinders—skills that go beyond the stereotype that editors are nitpicky grammar geeks who seek to trample on an author’s vision.

Effective communication is key

Studies indicate editing increases credibility. The American Press Institute cited a study that found, when given edited versus unedited materials, students perceived the edited works to be more professional, organized, and better written; some even went so far as to report a greater willingness to pay for the edited work. Whether you’re an individual or a business, there is a clear benefit to working with an editor to ensure your audience chooses to zero in on what you have to say in a crowded field.

Simply put — it’s science!

Writing is a higher-level task that requires our brains to synthesize complex information to convey meaning. In doing so, we naturally miss items that are absent from our own work—anything from misplaced letters to entire ideas. Why? It’s because our brains naturally fill in the blanks of what we meant to say instead of what actually made it to the page. This is why another reader is more likely to notice something is amiss; as Nick Stockton noted in Wired, “…[readers’] brains are on this journey for the first time, so they are paying more attention to the details along the way and not anticipating the final destination.”

Your message is valuable, an editor can help

You are the subject matter expert in your field; a professional editor is an expert ally in helping you deliver your message to your audience. Instead of spending time worrying about catching every detail you may have missed (or worse, how to rebuild your reputation if you overlooked a critical element in error) give yourself an advantage and seek the services of an editor. You’ll be glad you did.