Substantive Editing Services: Making Every
Word Count

Substantive editing is a process where every word, comma and space is scrutinized in minute detail and the editor is an active collaborator in ensuring excellence, readability and sustaining the reader’s interest and attention throughout the ‘reading experience’.

For a writer, putting down words on paper is a labor of love and a solo endeavor; having a stranger go through the copy, poke holes in the narrative, delete sentences, paragraphs and even whole sections as unnecessary and provide lots of gratuitous advice and feedback!

Watching your masterpiece literally chopped and shredded may be painful and aggravating, but when it comes to creating great content, the editor is your best friend, mentor and alter ego!

With substantive editing, the main objective is to ensure that the writing is logical, explicit, accurate, comprehensive and concise. It is difficult to be objective about one’s own writing and an experienced editor’s impartial review of the writing provides you with a perspective and critique which preempts the reaction and experience of your eventual audience.

Substantive editing may also be referred to as ‘developmental editing’, ‘structural editing’ or even ‘comprehensive editing’. We sometimes call it ‘Language editing’.

Substantive Editing: What’s involved

Substantive editing is one level above copyediting and two levels above proofreading in terms of comprehensiveness and attention to detail. It includes all the activities undertaken in both proofreading and copyediting, while additionally covering the following:

• Read the entire material to understand whether the ‘idea’ or ‘message’ intended to be conveyed is done;
• Identify gaps, inconsistencies and factual or other errors for correction by the writer; ensure that the content flow is smooth, logical, accurate and contextual;
• Restructure or rewrite (or recommend that the author do so) certain sentences (though not entire documents) in order to improve the content, facilitate readability and hold the audience’s attention;
• Point out the use of passive voice for correction, simplify sentence and paragraph structure, remove wordiness and improve visualization of ‘intent’ with simpler and fewer words;
• Check for accuracy and usage of subject-specific jargon/terminology, especially in technical and non-fiction writing;
• Identify and correct content which may have future legal and ethical implications, e.g. inflammatory language or libelous statements, etc.

Of course, it is the writer who has the ‘final word’ and the job of an editor is to encourage and guide the former into creating a piece of writing work which fulfills its chosen purpose(s), while creating an enjoyable and enlightening experience for all its readers.

What is the difference between Copyediting and Substantive editing? What if I have a specific set of custom requirements? What if I need a document edited in 24 hours? Can I pay online and submit my document without going through the entire sales cycle?

We love those questions. Keep them coming. Read more about our editing services and our express and custom editing service packages.

Substantive Editing @ Chillibreeze

Chillibreeze editors are experienced, subject-matter experts who will help you in delivering your ‘message’ in the intended manner and spirit. In choosing Chillibreeze’s substantive editing services, you are guaranteed satisfaction and superior quality at very competitive and affordable rates, which will definitely have you coming back for more!

Contact us today with your requirements and come participate in the Chillibreeze experience!