Sub-editing can be challenging and intimidating. How can one be constructive and critical at the same time? Here’s a walk through of how to edit a story, piece, article, even if it’s your own work.
Spend 15 – 20 minutes on each page.
Quickly read the first two paragraphs to get a sense of the content. If a headline pops into your head, put it in even if it doesn’t fit.
Start subbing, sentence by sentence.
Keep an eye out for:
- Spelling mistakes. If you’re in America, use American spelling. If you’re in the rest of the world, add more “u”s in your words. Double check if you’re unsure. In Australia, if you use American spelling, it’s a mark against your name.
- Style mistakes. If you’re working for a big newspaper/magazine, chances are they have their own style guide. I once created a style guide for a company that had eight staff, so always ask.
- Keep your eye out for mixed tense. It’s a slippery slope of past and present tense.
- Double check every fact with books,the reporter or a (reputable) source from the internet. Since the www, there’s been countless cases where a rushed sub-editor put in the wrong picture/fact about two people with the same name.
- Make sure there isn’t too much white space or split words. The text should flow. For example, see if you can see the excess white space on the right hand side column. This isn’t too important for online content, if anything, online, the more sparse an article seems, the better.
- Poorly written copy is a mistake. Correct it. On the other hand, don’t re-write it to your own style. Only correct structural errors or glaring mistakes. As a sub-editor once said to me “let the writer’s work breathe, even if it deserves suffocation.”
- Check names. Make sure the spelling is consistent.
- Never rely on spell check.
- Don’t forget to sub captions.
- Once done, focus on the headline. If you could fit a verb, some kind of action or colourful word, great!
If you’ve got your own tips, don’t forget to add them.