If you Google “editing,” you will find a seemingly wide variety of explanations as to what, exactly, this process entails. Seemingly is the operative word here; for while there are definitely many ideas about what editing is all about, and many web pages that describe the process of editing a text, the reality is that editing is all about one thing: improvement.

Now, of course, “improvement” can be an incredibly subjective term. What one person thinks is quality writing, another will find stilted or jargony; what one person finds to be compelling prose, another will find boring. Nevertheless, there are some standards which one can apply when editing one's work (or, even better, when editing the work of another writer, as it can be very difficult to edit one's own words).

Many editors refer to these standards as the “Five Cs,” and they refer to what the text should be when the editing process has been completed: Clear, Concise, Correct, Comprehensible, and Consistent. Again, while even these terms can be interpreted slightly differently, they do quantify the approach to some extent. For example, a text that is clear does not contain convoluted passages; a text that is concise does not use 10 words where four will do; a text that is correct will be free of all spelling, grammatical, mechanical, and punctuation-related errors; a text that is comprehensible will be easy to understand without being “dumbed down;” and a text that is consistent will not contain redundancies, will not shift in either tone or structure, and will otherwise be identifiable as the same document from beginning to end.

A good editor also examines a text for issues of style. While all styles are theoretically acceptable, as we are all individuals with different approaches to writing, the reality is that some styles are not suited for all genres. A flip, glib style of writing does not work with a case study or research paper, while it might do quite well in a descriptive essay meant to entertain. Such issues can make or break a text, and so it is critical for editors to assist with style.

Do not entrust your editing job to just anyone. When it has to be perfect in all aspects, make sure you seek help from a professional. Contact us now to learn about our excellent editing services.

Let PowerPapers help you with your editing needs now! Our smart order form technology ensures a fast, safe, and efficient ordering experience, and our writers have many years of editing experience.

Just fill out the order form, make sure you give us complete instructions, and relax while we get to work!

As soon as your editing work has been completed, we will send you a link to the finished product so you can download it instantly.

As always, we guarantee:

• Completely original work
• Absolute client confidentiality
• Adherence to your instructions
• All native English-speaking writers
• Total payment security

Have any questions or concerns? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions!