What Does a Copy Editor Do?

[@lanaheartley814]

"Do you think of scary red pen?" Yes but it was always my favorite part!

[@Steph-sb9tc]

Those first 13 seconds of the video is what i lived for in school. I’d look at my mistakes and better them after.

[@JodiBrandon]

Continuous improvement is what it's all about, Steph! Thanks for watching.

[@solarino9603]

Thanks for this! looking at a career as an editor, and honestly i could see myself being any type of editor based on your description; i guess that shows its a good choice for me!

[@JodiBrandon]

So glad you found the video helpful. Whatever path your career takes, good luck!

[@jdt8983]

I'm another lost English major who has tried several careers. Thinking on this. Thanks for the insight

[@JodiBrandon]

Thanks for watching, Jeff!

[@jenniferward6821]

So are you editing now??

[@jdt8983]

@@jenniferward6821 no but I'll take another look at that idea thanks for the reminder. I'm one of those people who is always changing things up for novelty. Hard to settle on one career

[@thechannelwithshows]

Awesome video, thank you for the information. I needed this.

[@SuperCosmicSpaceMagnet]

Thank you so much for this video! I have just heard back from a prospective employer that they would love to have be aboard as a copyeditor, and this video has been a wonderful resource in helping me understand what that role entails. This is also the first time I have ever learned about sentence diagramming, and I think I have a new mortal enemy.

[@JodiBrandon]

I'm so glad it was helpful. Good luck in your new role!

[@SuperCosmicSpaceMagnet]

@@JodiBrandon Thanks! I am currently taking an assessment as part of the recruitment process. When you are copyediting text and providing your edited copy, do you just present your finished work or is it important to also show the digital equivalent of red pen to mark where the mistakes in the original text were?

[@JodiBrandon]

@@SuperCosmicSpaceMagnet This really depends on your client or employer. I typically send self-publishing clients both a marked version and a "clean" version. It's up to them to accept/reject changes, but it can be difficult to read a marked version if there are a lot of changes. If you're working for an employer, they'll dictate this and you won't have to decide!

[@SuperCosmicSpaceMagnet]

@@JodiBrandon Ok! Thank you for the clarity, and for your response. I know I'm just an internet stranger, but this really is/could be a life defining moment for me. Taking the time to answer my question was a wonderfully kind thing to do.

[@thekarmafarmer608]

Thanks for this. It has made things a lot clearer for me

[@jdsheleg8332]

Great video, even with the not-so-good sound.

[@KacyJones]

This was super informative. Thank you for sharing!

[@JodiBrandon]

Thanks for watching! Glad it was helpful.

[@antoniodossantos5960]

Very nice video. Thanks. Greetings from Colombia. The Venezuelan Immigrant writer 🌎

[@JodiBrandon]

Thanks for watching, Antonio!

[@AndreaAltgayer]

Hi there! I've applied for a copy editing job at an ad agency, and got invited to an interview. What kind of questions can I expect that are specific to copy editing?

[@JodiBrandon]

Andrea, I only work with books, which use a different style guide (Chicago Manual of Style) than newspapers, magazines, and I imagine the ad world do (AP), so I can't advise you well. I'd guess you'll be asked about your familiarity with style guide(s) and your experience with editing, but I've never worked in or been around an agency setting like that. For book copy editing, editing tests are a part of the hiring process, so that's a possibility too. Good luck!

[@eduardoquiroga1494]

Thank you very much.

[@JodiBrandon]

You're welcome, Eduardo. Thanks for watching!

[@rayren4754]

great video, helps a lot ;)

[@JodiBrandon]

Thanks for watching!

[@walteravila5299]

Great vid! Im working as a copy editor for American small medium businesses' websites and Im a non native english speaker fron Philippines. Any tips if Im planning to start a freelance copy editing business?

[@JodiBrandon]

Thanks for watching, Walter! If you want to work with businesses, look at local business directories for companies similar to those you're already working with, and start there. If you're looking to work with book publishers, search their websites for production department contact info. Louise Harnby has a fabulous podcast called The Editing Podcast. Definitely check it out! www.louiseharnbyproofreader.com/podcast.html Good luck!

[@walteravila5299]

@@JodiBrandon wow! That's really helpful, will check that out! So you mean to say it's okay for me to be the one to come forward and offer my services? Ok. I'll do that.

[@PopeDave_1]

i want to learn to be a copy editor

[@JodiBrandon]

Good luck! Check out the Editorial Freelancers Association. They have lots of great training for editors, whether new or not.

[@Mindstew]

How does copy editing and writer prose coexist in a manuscript? In the publishing process how much sway does the author have when a conflict between proper and prose arises? Does a copy editor take prose into consideration or do they just focus on the rules?

[@JodiBrandon]

The answer to these questions depends on your editor. We all have different philosophies. Mine is that clarity for readers trumps 7th-grade English rules, but there are definitely editors who feel differently. When conflict or disagreement arises, the author makes the call if they are self-publishing. In a traditional publishing model, typically the copy editor makes the final call. Hope that helps!

[@sureshmajeela8484]

Nice

[@antoniodossantos5960]

Hello Jodi.

[@Devendrasati089]

Love from India 💖

[@seethaskannadavlogs]

how can translate it to kannada

[@jenniferward6821]

Would you edit my book? Please.

[@JodiBrandon]

Jennifer, thanks for watching! Feel free to email me details about your project and I'll see if it's a good fit. [e-mail]

[@ShazWag]

There "are" lots of different kinds, not "is", because "lots" is plural. Just saying 😉.

[@stephaniedatabricksrivera]

really.... 🙄

[@antoniodossantos5960]

Here I am again