How To Become A Copy Editor In South Africa

Copy editing is the process of revising written material to improve readability and fitness, as well as ensuring that text is free of grammatical and factual errors.

Below are steps to Become A Copy Editor In South Africa

Pursue a college degree

Employers often look for copy editors who have a degree in English or a related field to ensure they hire people who are well-versed in grammar rules and written communication.

Some employers may also accept an associate’s degree or equivalent experience, but a bachelor’s degree is a standard qualification for many copy editing positions. Select courses and electives that aim to strengthen your technical writing and editing skills, such as:

Editing fundamentals

News editing

Corporate communication

Pagination

Literary journalism

Public relations

Journalism ethics

Proofreading

Read and write regularly

The best way to strengthen your skills as a copy editor is to constantly practice by reading and writing regularly.

Read the types of content you want to edit to immerse yourself in industry best practices and identify common issues with flow and readability. Whenever you read someone else’s work, make note of the improvements you would make to develop an editor’s mindset.

Explore different specialties

Consider pursuing a specific niche based on what type of writing you enjoy working with the most. Apply for editing and proofreading internships in different fields to discover what specialties suit your talents and career goals.

Learn various style guides

Take the time to study popular style guides before applying for copy editing roles. While each organization or client may have its own unique style guides, they often use elements of the popular academic style guides such as APA, MLA, Chicago and Turabian.

Build a portfolio through freelance

Look for small freelance editing jobs that you can use to hone your skills and develop an editing portfolio. Building an editing portfolio allows you to demonstrate the exact impact you could have on a client’s writing projects.

Be sure to show your editing process by either saving a before-and-after version of these assignments or scanning documents to show your markups.

Frequently asked questions about copy editing

What qualifications do I need to be a copy editor?

You’ll need:

knowledge of English language.

excellent written communication skills.

knowledge of media production and communication.

to be thorough and pay attention to detail.

the ability to work well with others.

excellent verbal communication skills.

the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure.

How do I become a copy editor with no experience?

Use Grammarly. I started learning how to become a freelance editor with no experience, without Grammarly.

Sign up to a Freelance Editing Course.

Get some work samples.

Use Microsoft tracker and comments.

Set up a website.

Niche down.

Join editing and writing Facebook groups.

Join freelance work platforms.

Is a copy editor a good career?

It’s a great and in-demand career! “I had so many people (surprisingly, to me) tell me I could never make a living as an editor. It’s a great and in-demand career!”

Can I make a living as a copy editor?

Copy editors earn an average o R 529181.33 per year working full time. Where you live, what kind of company you work for and your experience level can all impact your income as a copy editor.

What’s the difference between a proofreader and a copy editor?

Copy editing is about making sure a text is clear, readable, and error free. Proofreading is about correcting errors in a “proof” version of a typeset text. This is the final step in the editing process before a book is printed and published.

How long is copy editing?

Copy-editing: as a rough guideline, copy-editing a full-length novel (about 90,000) in good shape normally takes anywhere from 4 to 7 weeks. Proofreading can be done more quickly, but you should factor in a turnaround time of at least 2 to 3 weeks for the proofread to be completed.

Is there an editing certification?

The Poynter ACES Certificate in Editing gives you a solid understanding of the standards, essential skills, and best practices of editing. This course contains six self-paced courses. The cost is R2213.22for nonmembers and R1106.61 for members.

What is the difference between line editing and copy editing?

A copy editor ensures that the language in a manuscript follows the rules of standard English and adheres to the house style guide. While a line editor shares certain attributes with a copy editor an attention to detail, an interest in the way language works at the sentence levelt heir jobs are meaningfully different.