The Importance of Fresh Eyes, Consistency, and Proofreading in Academic Editing

This week, while copyediting a doctoral dissertation, I was reminded of the importance of three things. 

1. Reading with fresh eyes 

Time and energy are not always in abundance, but when possible, taking breaks during editing can greatly enhance creativity and quality. By serving as the “fresh eyes” on this dissertation, I was able to suggest a creative acronym for my client’s research project that embodied and elevated the unique value and impact of her work. 

2. Checking for consistency

Using consistent terminology makes a text appear more intentional and professional. While it can be difficult to recognize inconsistencies in your own writing, checking for consistency is an important part of the editing process. By editing for consistent terminology, I even helped my client eliminate an unintended synonym and avoid potential misunderstanding. 

3. Saving time for proofreading

Our ideas are as impactful as the language we use to articulate them. Proofreading for clarity, coherence, and academic conventions is an essential step that allows important ideas to reach other minds - but it takes time. My client had a tight, six-day deadline to submit her thesis. I delivered the initial copy edit in three days so that I had time to incorporate missing references and complete a final proofread. 

What important steps are part of your editing process?