Nothing stands out more than a document that reads as though that it was written by an expert, and virtually nothing will accomplish this better than skilled copyediting.
Let’s be honest, anybody can scribble. Everybody learns to write and uses the skill often. Even with the current technological revolution, however, no one has actually figured out how to replace the human element in writing. Whether it is a dissertation, a blog entry, a small business strategy, an e-book, or any other document, somebody has to sit at a keyboard and pound it out.
And most men and women have the basic ability to do so–or think they do, at any rate. But the truth is that the very best writer is going to need the services of an expert editor at some point. You can certainly submit your dissertation or report, bring your businesses agenda to the board, or send that e-book manuscript off to a book agent or publisher without the help of an editor, and it may even be well-received. But more than likely, it’s not going to receive the accolades, grade or enthusiasm you were hoping for.
Almost everyone writes for a grade, for publication or for work at some point. You are not the only one in this situation. The objective is to have your work stand out for its polish and professionalism, not for its typos, poor sentence structure and lack of organization , all of which will promptly lead to a failing grade, a rejection slip, or no job promotion.
If you really want your work to stand out, copyediting is a must. You might have buddies or relatives who offer to edit your material, and they might even do a good job. Or not. For the best and most trustworthy editing, opt for a professional editing firm. A professional editor understands each and every nuance, just about every rule of word usage, sentence structure, fact-checking – you name it. This is someone who understands when to make use of an en-dash as opposed to an em-dash. Do you really want to risk entrusting your dissertation, business plan or e-book to anybody less than a professional?
Okay, okay. You know how to write. But it’s not an indication of weakness to seek copyediting assistance; it truly is an indication that you want your document to be the best possible. Professionally edited material will stand out from the crowd.