Writer Ruth WriterRuth home page featuring writing, editing, proofreading and speaking work of Ruth E. Thaler-Carter

I've received six awards for my writing work from the Missouri Professional Communicators (MPC) affiliate of the National Federation of Press Women (NFPW). These make me eligible for the national NFPW awards.
Award details are at www.writerruth.com and judges’ comments are at www.writerruth.com/why.

Ack - that should be clarify! Even experienced editors/proofreaders make the occasional mistake. :)

Thank you, Sasha, for your help! I'm glad to answer further questions via email (Ruth@writerruth.com) within reason. Best to all, Ruth

A10: ACES, of course, and the Poynter Institute; we have a partnership for a certificate. Courses at several universities, Facebook groups where you can ask questions or for advice, Editors Canada, Chartered Institute of Editors & Proofreaders, and similar associations in other countries. #ACESChat

A9: Book publishers come to mind first, but I edit and proofread for businesses, nonprofit organizations, a law firm, a PR firm, several magazines, individual authors, websites, and more. You have to use imagination to find projects/jobs/clients. Everyone needs an editor and proofreader! #ACESChat

A8: I'm very concerned about AI & am doing my best not to use it. It's a threat not just to human beings as editors & proofreaders, but to copyright protection for authors. And it's often wrong! A human being is still necessary, as long as they have the skills & experience to do it right. #ACESChat

A7: The work is the same, but in-house editors often have to answer to more than one colleague, are expected to be available whenever and if needed, and also to handle whatever they receive. Ideally, freelancers can set their own hours and say no to requests that seem unreasonable. #ACESChat

A6: Loving to read and noticing typos isn't enough. You might not need to take courses or a certificate program; for many editors, it's enough to work in-house with skilled colleagues who show the way. Formal training is preferable nowadays because in-house jobs are scarcer every day. #ACESCHAT

A5: The editor has a more in-depth role than the proofreader - the editor is expected to clarify material, flesh out incomplete thoughts or pinpoint where the author should do so, ensure consistency in style, often almost co-write. The proofreader fixes outright errors but doesn't revise. #ACESCHAT

A4: Both need attention to detail & knowledge of grammar/usage/etc. - essentially ingrained. Editors also need compassion & sensitivity to authors' feelings, tact in recommending changes or asking for clarification. Both need to know when to look things up, not assume we know it all. #ACESChat

A3: In editing, you can make changes - sometimes substantive ones - to clarif, expand, or correct the material. In proofreading, you're only supposed to correct outright errors, not rewrite. It can be very difficult to know where to draw that line. #ACESCHAT

A2: An editor needs solid knowledge of grammar, usage, spelling, punctuation, etc. - without AI! - and of at least one major style guide, as well as respect for authors and when to make changes. A proofreader needs the same skills and a sense of what's a "mechanical" error or typo to fix. #ACESCHAT

#ACESChat I was always the only person who really cared about accuracy in grammar and usage, etc., and learned from colleagues and co-workers as I went along. /2

#ACESCHat I had incredibly strong training in grammar and usage in, of all places, sixth grade, followed by excellent AP English and related classes in high school. I started out as a writer and became the copyeditor and proofreader by default in full-time jobs as the person with the skills.

Thank you to Sasha for being a great - and patient - host, and to colleagues for being here. #ACESChat

A7: That is, if you're new, find a cause or organization you support and volunteer to edit for them for a while. You'll build your skills and network. Future employers or freelance clients don't have to know something was unpaid; the quality of the work is what matters. #ACESChat

Just wanted to thank Sasha for hosting this session, especially since it was my first ACESChat and first such event on Bluesky. I also greatly appreciate everyone who attended. #ACESChat

A8: ACES, of course: guide, chats, conferences, courses, etc. College courses, even if w-out a certificate. Following colleagues on various platforms. Reading all the time! Incl. style manuals. Asking questions in discussion lists and forums. Joining EFA, NAIWE, Editors Canada, CIEP, etc. #ACESChat

A7: I've even had paid editing work from family and friends, but that can be tricky - a good way to ruin a relationship. :) #ACESChat

A7: I've found editing work via active, visible membership in ACES & other assns.; cold queries; referrals fr friends, colleagues, clients, employers; responding 2 listings. Not much luck w LinkedIn. Having your own blog can help by showing your knowledge and experience. If new, volunteer! #ACESChat

A6: I use queries to highlight any technical items/terms that I'm not sure of. That way, the client or author knows to double-check such items/terms and I'm not making changes that aren't needed or appropriate. #ACESChat

Q6: That said, it does help to have some SME knowledge, especially for anything technical, medical or scientific. But it isn't always essential. #ACESChat

A6: That is, I query anything technical that I'm not sure of. Clients want us to focus on language so readers know what is being said/written. We can offer that skill level as a value for their published material. We might miss something, but if we're honest about it, we're OK. #ACESCHAT

A6: Experience & skill w language often matters more than in a given profession or industry. Subject matter experts often need us to make their material clear, consistent, concise and grammatically accurate. I edit topics I know nothing about because I can catch language gaffes. Queries handle tech.

College/University programs are also a good way to hone skills and prove professionalism. #ACESCHAT

A5: Certificates and certification can matter - anything we can use to show that we are trained and keep up with trends is valuable because it demonstrates that commitment to being professional. There's a certificate program between ACES and the Poynter Institute that colleagues can take.

Because language and the world are always changing, and evolving. New words come along, geographies/names change, technology introduces new tools (not all of which work well), etc. We can't be static. What we thought was right yesterday might not be right tomorrow. #ACESCHAT

I'm not sure tact can be taught, but it can be demonstrated - you can show examples of a tactful vs. tactless edit or communication with someone whose work you're editing.

A4: Part of training and development is to read all the time - newspapers, newsletters, magazines, blogs, etc.

A4: Continuous, lifelong training and professional development are essential, because language and technology are constantly changing. Organizations like ACES play a huge role in that process or commitment.