Copyeditors play an important role in getting materials in shape for printing or publication. They may work on all sorts of texts including books, magazines, journals and business documentation, as well as digital resources and web content.
Some copyeditors undertake all sorts of work but others specialise in particular texts, such as works of fiction or professional publications in areas such as medicine, engineering or law.
In this article we’ll examine what copyediting involves, outline the sort of skills you would need and describe how you can put yourself in the best position possible to find work in this area.
Beth Dymond is a freelance editor and proofreader. She kindly tells us a little about her job and career journey, and provides some useful career tips.
What would I do as a copyeditor?
As a copyeditor you would receive the text (sometimes called a ‘copy’, ‘manuscript’ or ‘typescript’) from the author. Your actual role will vary depending on your employer and the nature of the texts, but your job would normally involve:
- Checking for any inconsistencies, repetition or ambiguity
- Making sure that the information makes sense, is complete and flows well
- Checking that the tone and language used is appropriate for its purpose
- Amending spelling, punctuation or grammatical errors
- Marking up heading levels and giving instructions to the typesetter regarding layout
- Liaising with the author, agent or client regarding queries and agreeing any major changes
- Checking that pictures, diagrams etc have the right captions and that references are quoted accurately
- Possibly working with designers, typesetters, indexers and proofreaders
- Checking for any potential legal issues, such as breach of copyright or libel, and flagging up non-inclusive language
Beth explains, “When you get some editorial work you need to know what level of edit is desired and any particular points to look out for. You also have to study the publisher’s house style or be able to compile a style guide yourself, for example for an independent author.” A style guide will tell you how to approach things like capitalisation, hyphenation and bulleting; there are often no rights or wrongs, but consistency is important. As an example, have a look at the GOV.UK website style guide.
These days most edits are onscreen and copyeditors make corrections themselves, but sometimes they mark up on printed copies.
Depending on your exact role, you may also typeset and/or proofread texts. A proofreader checks for any errors that have been introduced during the design/typesetting stage and flags up any remaining inaccuracies or layout issues.
We asked Beth about her work:
“I offer professional editorial services to publishers, businesses and independent authors. I have worked on over 300 books for a wide range of publishers, including Bloomsbury, DK, Quarto, 3dtotal, Rethink and Haynes. I mainly focus on non-fiction text, and my areas of specialism include art, craft, cookery, children’s literature, history and business.”
“My work includes project editing (overseeing projects from manuscript to pre-production), copyediting and proofreading. I work mainly onscreen using Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat and InDesign.”
“There is much more to copyediting than just checking spelling, grammar and punctuation! My job also involves making sure all copy is complete and makes sense; liaising with authors to resolve queries; checking for consistency in style; ensuring bibliography entries and citations are correct; checking facts, quotes, dates, graphs and illustrations; flagging up any legal issues, and more, all while maintaining the author’s voice and working within the client’s brief, budget and timeframe.”
Where could I work as a copyeditor?
There are occasional opportunities for in-house copyeditors. Potential employers include publishers of fiction and non-fiction books, magazines and educational and academic materials. Big, commercial organisations and public bodies may employ copyeditors to work on their staff/customer magazines, publicity materials, reports, newsletters and so on, but they are more likely to use freelancers.
TIP: To get an idea about the opportunities available, have a look at vacancies in the national press and on sites such as The Bookseller or Publishing Scotland.
Freelance work is common so many copyeditors work from home and take on projects from different clients.
Would I suit a career in copyediting?
Beth explains, “To be a copyeditor, you need a solid grasp of the English language, excellent written and verbal communication skills, a keen eye for detail, and the ability to work with others, concentrate, use your initiative and work under pressure to meet deadlines. You must also have good computer skills – knowledge of how to use Word, mark up PDFs with comments and use software (such as InDesign) is useful. When querying issues with authors, you need confidence, sensitivity and tact.”
A pragmatic approach to your work is necessary. Given time constraints and budget, you may not be able to do as much work on some text as you would like.
If you are freelance, you need to be able to market yourself and negotiate contracts. Self-discipline, an organised approach and reliability are vital.
TIP: Relevant experience will help you decide whether you would be suited to a career in copyediting. You could work on a student or community magazine or website, for example, and look for work experience placements, internships or traineeships; the Publishers Association website provides links to employers that offer such opportunities. Rather than just focusing on large publishers, it’s worth targeting less well-known ones, especially those that specialise in areas that interest you.
How do I get into copyediting?
Finding work
Entry is competitive and it can be tough finding your first job or getting clients. Having some relevant experience is important.
There’s no one set entry route. Many people move into copyediting after having another career. Others start by working in-house, possibly as an editorial assistant.
In England, a higher apprenticeship at level 4 for publishing professionals has been approved for delivery (this is replacing the level 3 apprenticeship for publishing assistants). When running, this will be a route to becoming an editorial assistant.
TIP: Building up contacts in the industry is important. Attend trade fairs and join a professional body, such as the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP) or the Society of Young Publishers.
Beth says, “Keep your LinkedIn profile up to date, as this can be a good way to be approached by publishers or authors. It is also worth emailing publishers with your CV so that they can contact you as and when relevant work comes up.”
Education
Most copyeditors are graduates. Useful degree subjects include English, publishing, journalism and media, although for some roles you need to have an in-depth knowledge of your subject area, so a background in your specialist subject would be more appropriate.
Holding a postgraduate qualification may improve your chances of finding work. Search for relevant courses through the Prospects website.
Training
Undertaking relevant training prior to looking for work will equip you with some skills. Online and face-to-face courses are available at different levels through a range of organisations including the CIEP, The Publishing Training Centre, the London School of Publishing, the Association of Learned and Professional Society Publishers and Publishing Scotland.
Once working your employer will train you for your particular role. Some publishers offer structured training programmes for graduates.
Beth says, “Once you are copyediting, it is important to keep your skills current. There are some excellent training courses; I’ve taken a number through the CIEP.”
We asked Beth about her career journey:
“I always loved English and had a passion for reading from an early age. I took a BA in English at the University of Exeter and achieved a first-class degree. My first job was as an editorial assistant, before I moved on to gain five years’ in-house publishing expertise as an editor of a craft list. After having my first son, I wanted flexibility, so I set myself up as a freelancer, which I have been doing for the last 13 years.”
What opportunities are there to progress?
If working in-house, you may start by copyediting simple texts before moving on to more complex work. It’s common to move between employers in order to gain promotion.
As you become more experienced, especially if you are freelance, there may be more opportunity to be selective about the texts you copyedit.
TIP: Becoming a member of a professional body will give you access to career development opportunities. CEIP Professional/Advanced Professional Members can promote themselves through the CEIP Directory. Members of the CEIP follow a code of practice, so this gives reassurance to those buying their services. Beth told us, “I am a Professional Member of the CIEP and a number of clients have found me through the CEIP Directory.”
How can I find out more about careers in copyediting?
The CIEP website has lots of useful information about the publishing process, including copyediting. Career profiles can be found on national careers sites, such as Prospects, the National Careers Service and My World of Work. You’ll also find advice through bookcareers.com.
Finally…
Depending on where your interests lie, there are all sorts of related careers you could consider. To explore the wide range of jobs in publishing, a good starting point is to look the Publishers Association website.
We asked Beth about the challenges of her job:
“I do have periods of ‘feast or famine’ – at times I have so much work that I have to turn down projects I would have enjoyed, while there can also be quieter periods (although these give me the chance to focus on my own training or marketing).”
“I have to maintain a high level of concentration and focus at all times, which can be tiring, and there are texts that can be difficult, e.g. when English is not the author’s first language. The work can also be quite isolating, and at times I miss office banter. However, the benefits far outweigh the downsides.”
Let’s finish by asking what Beth enjoys about her job:
“I get a lot of satisfaction from improving text, resolving queries and building relationships with authors and clients. I get to edit some pretty cool books – I’ve particularly enjoyed and I’m inspired by the highly illustrated art and craft titles I’ve worked on. I love the variety of my job, as I can work on such a range of material – from a historical essay to a cookery book, from a business report to a yoga manual – no two days are the same.”
“I also enjoy the flexibility of working for myself, managing my own hours and selecting which projects to take on. I love it when authors are delighted with the changes I make to their text or are thrilled when I spot what could have been an embarrassing mistake, and I have had some lovely feedback over the years, which brings me joy.”
Debbie Steel, March 2024
With a background working with apprentices and teaching in further education, Debbie was employed as an in-house careers author before establishing herself as a freelancer. As well as co-authoring numerous careers books, Debbie has produced resources and web content for a range of high-profile clients. She is an enthusiastic proponent of impartial and reliable careers information, and a member of the Career Development Institute and the Careers Writers Association.
