| Economics and Business |
 |
 |
| Educated in the UK and Germany, this editor has over 25 years of experience working for publishers, universities and as a freelancer. A member of the Society for Editors and Proofreaders, he has worked as a technical author for numerous international journals. |
|
| |
 |
You've had some exciting times recently, haven't you? Could you tell us something about that?
|
| |
I am working with a doctor at the University of Manchester. He is a scientist and is single-handedly developing software for corporate use. My role is to improve his English and to help researchers all over the world better understand his work. His research is quite ground-breaking and is supported by the UK government. I am lucky to be working with such a brilliant doctor from one of the top universities in the UK. |
| |
|
|
The doctor is a native English speaker, isn't he? Do you think it necessary to edit his papers? |
| |
Yes, I do. Let me explain how I usually edit. During the first reading, I edit from a grammarian's perspective. For example, I check whether the position of conjunctions is correct, and whether the style of English is consistent. In the next reading, I make sure that the meaning is expressed accurately. It is important to make sure that the document as a whole is consistent; I check punctuation and resolve minor formatting issues, and make sure that the document is presentable. Finally, I read from the beginning and ascertain if the target readership can decipher the message of the document in a single reading. |
| |
|
|
Do you edit manuscripts written by non-native English speakers? |
| |
Of course; I have edited several. The most common mistake non-native authors make concerns the use of "z" in American English, which they almost always forget to use. I've found this to be true in most cases. However, I usually do not make changes to an author's style of writing. One way of explaining my style of editing is to say that I admire the work of writers, and help them present their results more effectively, although there are some papers in which I cannot make head or tail of what the authors are trying to say! |
| |
|
|
Have you ever edited manuscripts from outside your area of expertise? |
| |
Of course I have. Clients have requested me to edit manuscripts from varied fields. However, I do not edit everything I am asked to. I have come across several cases that have taught me to check the content before starting an edit. Understanding the subject is of great importance to me. |
| |
|
|
Could you give us an example of an assignment that challenged your skills as an editor? |
| |
Hmm.an example! Once, a long time ago, a client wanted me to edit a recipe book. Once I had started, I found that it was quite difficult because there were so many instructions, and ingredient names that I was unfamiliar with. In fact, I had to refer to a couple of books and several websites to make sense of them. I finally discovered that they were recipes for African dishes! |
| |
|
|
It's difficult to make sense of recipes if you don't know what the final dish is going to be! |
| |
Exactly! I've never even seen any African food, and I didn't find much usable information about it on the Internet. I usually get feedback from clients, and fortunately, the lady liked my work at the time; but I would rather avoid such manuscripts that lie beyond my subject area, because I cannot do them full justice. In my opinion, editors need to understand the subject thoroughly, without which it is difficult to accomplish any kind of editing.
|
| |
|
|
Most editing firms are very careful in their choice of editors, and rely on subject area expertise. In your opinion, when can an editor call himself or herself a 'professional' or an 'expert'? |
| |
I have been involved in editing for 25 years, and I think that it is a continuous learning process. The English language is vast, and there is so much to learn. From my own experiences, I can say that a willingness to learn and the right attitude are important if one wants to become a professional editor. I'm a member of an Editors' Association, and they've sent me many complex documents to edit. Also, recently, I've been receiving papers from Oxford University. Thus, I have been growing continually. Editors have a lifelong learning curve.
|
|
| |
Note that the views expressed on this page are of the person interviewed and do not necessarily reflect the views of Enago as a company. Please contact feedback@enago.com if you have any questions regarding the content of this interview. |
