When I visit
schools, I often encounter a disconnect between the way professional writers
use the word “editing” and how students have been taught to use it. In many
schools, editing = checking one’s own manuscript for proper use of conventions
such as spelling, punctuation, and capitalization.
That’s
not how professional writers or people who work at publishing companies use the
term. For us, editing involves reading a manuscript written by someone else and
providing feedback. The person who does this job is called an editor.
In a
school setting, the teacher is the primary editor. The teacher-editor guides
the writer by asking questions and making specific, gentle suggestions that
will help the writer improve the manuscript . Then the writer uses those
comments as he/she revises.
not how professional writers or people who work at publishing companies use the
term. For us, editing involves reading a manuscript written by someone else and
providing feedback. The person who does this job is called an editor.
Many
schools include “buddy editing” or “peer editing” as a step in the writing
process. This is the proper way to use the word “editing” as long as the
student reader is providing substantial feedback (not just checking conventions).
In a
school setting, the teacher is the primary editor. The teacher-editor guides
the writer by asking questions and making specific, gentle suggestions that
will help the writer improve the manuscript . Then the writer uses those
comments as he/she revises.
Professional
writers rely on proofreaders employed by their publishing company to check conventions.
This is a tiny little step at the very end of the process, just before the
manuscript goes to the printer.
writers rely on proofreaders employed by their publishing company to check conventions.
This is a tiny little step at the very end of the process, just before the
manuscript goes to the printer.
As educators
work to emulate the professional writing process with their students, I hope
that they will modify the way they use the term “editing” and introduce the
term “proofreading” to describe the final step of the writing process.
work to emulate the professional writing process with their students, I hope
that they will modify the way they use the term “editing” and introduce the
term “proofreading” to describe the final step of the writing process.
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