1. Reduce clutter in a newsletter:
Original copy:
In the article entitled Weatherproof Your Investments from the March issue, the magazine reported its search results for all-weather funds.
Edited copy:
In the March issue, an article entitled Weatherproof Your Investments examined all-weather funds.
2. Add a verb to a series for parallel sentence structure in a newsletter:
Original copy:
Unexpected events, such as losing a job, wrecking a car in an accident, or the death of a loved one, can put a strain on your emotional and financial well-being, as well as the people who depend on you.
Edited copy:
Unexpected events, such as losing a job, wrecking a car in an accident, or losing a loved one, can put a strain on your emotional and financial well-being, as well as the people who depend on you.
3. Improve clarity in a high-tech magazine article:
Original copy:
This November, the foundation mailed a $1 million surprise grant to the nonprofit Portland homeless agency, Outside In.
Edited copy:
This November, the foundation mailed a $1 million surprise grant to Portland’s Outside In, a nonprofit agency that helps homeless people.
4. Repair subject/verb agreement in a special report:
Original copy:
One factor in the growth, according to Ayre, were efforts by the state and industry to keep the high-tech sector an engine of job growth and economic stimulus.
Edited copy:
One factor in the growth, according to Ayre, was efforts by the state and industry to keep the high-tech sector an engine of job growth and economic stimulus.
What else can an editor do for you?
An editor knows when you need “it’s” or “its,” knows when a collective noun (such as couple, committee, team or staff) takes a singular or plural verb, knows which words to capitalize, knows where to place apostrophes, quotation marks and commas … and much more.
