Report on copy editing and its tools, Cara Verleni of Door

You may occasionally come across an author who will incorrectly claim that they do not need an editor, but you will rarely, if ever, meet a writer or editor who says that they do not need a copy editor.

The role of copy editor is often misunderstood or underestimated by those who are not in business. Cara Verleni, Senior Copy Editor The Reporter Door, When asked to explain the role of a copy editor, put it this way: “Copy editing is about maintaining the consistency and accuracy that sites like this give The Reporter Door The right to tell our audience about a subject. In addition to checking for grammatical errors and eliminating the Oxford comma, copy editors also monitor sensitivity and things like tone, style, source variation, and clarity. The Reporter DoorJust before it is published there is a copy of the editors checking the pieces in the editorial process, so we are often the last line of defense before something happens on the site. “

We talked to Kara to find out how she does her work and what tools she uses.

What’s your job The Reporter DoorThe

I am a senior copy editor, and I have worked here for five years. My day-to-day responsibilities are different, but a large part of my time is devoted to editing… whatever we publish. It includes news stories, lengthy features, Instagram captions, video assets – there are so many words!

Which hardware tools do you use?

My sound preferences change depending on the length and / or subject of the piece I’m editing. Sometimes I blast the music; Sometimes I enjoy silence while reading. Working remotely, I mostly rely on my AirPods Pro, which allows me to control the level of noise transparency. I also move a lot in my space while working, so I essentially stick to my 2019 MacBook Pro at work.

What software tools do you and your colleagues use for your work?

Various publications have created stylebooks to guide authors and editors – examples include The Chicago Manual of Style And this MLA Handbook. The rules and formats of each stylebook vary slightly depending on content and audience, but consistency is universal.

Like many news organizations, our style largely follows The Associated Press Stylebook (Otherwise known as AP) Belongs to. Ask its online topical style guides and editors can be great language resources (although sometimes the answers are confusing). The Reporter DoorThe default dictionary is Mary-webster All. It raises Weekly Vocabulary Quiz Super fun, if that’s your thing. I have AP And MW is open all the time.

I do most of my editing work in the CMS (Content Management System) chorus of Google Docs or Reporter Door, so I can skip comments and track changes.

What other devices do you use?

One aspect of copy desk management is updating and maintenance. The Reporter DoorCommunication of those rules for style guides and authors. Some of our in-house styles are unique to our publication, so we’re somewhat different AP Style. The language is constantly evolving and changing, so I need to stay on top of other publications and genre guides to keep my language relevant and inclusive.

I like using the Body Style Manual – anytime I can avoid staring at a screen, I do! – But most of my hard copies are still blowing dust in the office. I brought one home with me, though: Strunk & White Elements of style, Which which Is essentially the lifeline of any editor. The illustrated version pictured at the top of this article was given to me as a gift, specifically because of its cover. (As my coworkers will tell you, I resolve pictures of dogs and other pets as an emotional pose.)

What advice do you have for those who are considering copy editing as a profession?

Being a copy editor is a very involved job. You have to communicate well with the writers, editors and creators who work with you; Operate efficiently under some tight deadlines; And try to understand the essence of each story you read, listing some of that information for later reference. It is very granular work to be very sensitive.

I would recommend refreshing and reading your grammar skills as much as possible. ()new York Times makes Edit copy quiz; I have very rarely got a perfect score.) There are also tools like Grammarly that will highlight and explain different parts of speech and language rules, which some people find really helpful.

Mostly, you need a willingness to discard (and unlink) a bunch of rules that you were probably taught in the fourth grade English class. Language is learning!