Let's assume you have started editing a large report.
First, you looked at the big picture and ensured the purpose and main message were clear and the structure and size appropriate.
Blog: Content writing and content strategy insights
Writing tip: When editing, use a system
Editing and proofreading are on a continuum that blurs in the middle. Whether you are acting as editor or contracting an editor, be very clear about the brief. What do you mean by ‘editing’ for a particular job? A considerable amount of time and money may be at stake here.
Writing tip: Stage 1 of your editing system—big picture
Let's assume you are editing a large report. Stage 1 of your editing system is to look at the big picture. Do not get distracted by details such as spelling.
Writing tip: Use Styles for accessible web content and PDFs
When writing in MS Word or Open Office Writer, have you noticed a feature called Styles? If not, check it out and start using it immediately: Styles is surely the most under-appreciated, underused miracle of word-processing software.
'Styles' is a stupid name for this amazing tool. 'Styles' suggests a design feature. The word 'styles' in various closely allied contexts offers us a choice of using plain, bold, italics, underlining or capitals for text.
Contented (resplendent adjective), content (modest adjective), and content (the noun)
What's the difference between the adjectives content and contented—as in I am content/contented? This is an oft-recurring discussion topic among people who are learning English as a second (or third or fourth) language.