Editing and sub-editing are related activities, but there are different scopes and responsibilities. Editing usually refers to the process of reviewing written content for clarity, accuracy, consistency, and overall quality. An editor has to work on different types of texts, be it books, magazines, articles or reports. Whatever the text, the main goal of editing is to make it accurate and understandable to the reader with the accurate information.
On the other hand, sub-editing is more specific type of editing that is often associated with journalism and publishing. We know, sub-editors also known as copy editors. Usually they work for media organization like as newspapers, magazines or online news portal and they are responsible for reviewing and correcting text that has already been written.
Sub editors need to understand the own organization’s policies and they have to edit the copy accordingly. Not only they check spelling error, they also check accuracy of information, add necessary information to the report, correct grammatical errors and overall make the report more readable. They write headlines and photo captions also. Together all they do help the editor to publish a quality newspaper every day.
Some additional details on editing and sub-editing:
Scope:
The meaning of the term editing is quite broad. It refers to several tasks, such as original editing, developmental editing, and proofreading. On the other hand, sub-editing is the final stage of editing, where emphasis on correcting mistakes and ensuring clarity in the story.
Responsibility:
Editors usually oversee the work of all employee’s, define goals for organization, and manage the editorial process. On the other hand, sub-editors focus on specific content and might not have as much control over the editorial procedure as a whole.
Skills:
Language skills are essential for both editors and sub-editors. They need to have the ability to see the facts in-depth. However, sub-editors must have good knowledge of grammatical errors, language skills and writing techniques. They should understand the reader’s habits and have a clear understanding of own editorial policies.
Tools:
Many editors and sub-editors use specialized tools for do their job more efficiently and effectively. For example, editors may use project management software, writing tools, and communication platforms to manage their team and collaborate with authors. Sub-editors may use grammar and spelling checkers, style guide book and publishing software to ensure accuracy and consistency.
An example
For example a reporter has written a 500-word article on a new product launch. The reporter has already gone through the piece and made some initial revisions, but they need help to refining the content and ensuring that it’s ready for publish.
Here’s how an editor might approach this piece:
Substantive editing:
The editor reads through the article and identifies areas where the content could be improved or expanded. For example, he can suggest for adding more information or propose deleting some information which is not related to the story topic.
Developmental editing:
The editor works with the writer to refine the structure and tone of the article. He may suggest different ways to organize the content, or provide feedback to the reporters about writing style or tone.
Line editing:
The editor goes through the article line by line, checking for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors, as well as awkward phrasing or word choice.
Proofreading:
The editor reads through the article one final time, looking for any remaining errors or typos.
Now, let’s say that the article has been through the editing process and is ready for publication.
Here’s how a sub-editor might approach the piece:
Fact-checking:
The sub-editor checks all of the facts and figures in the article to ensure they are accurate and up-to-date.
Style-checking:
The sub-editor verifies that the text complies with the rules for spelling, grammar and capitalization by comparing the piece to the newspaper’s style guide.
Copy-editing:
The sub-editor goes through the article line by line, checking for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors, as well as inconsistencies in tone or style.
Headline-writing:
The sub-editor writes headline and sub-headline for the article or report. They have to make sure that what are doing is accurate and right within the organizational guidelines.
Final thoughts
Editing and sub-editing share many of the same goals, such as improving the quality and effectiveness of written content. But finally we can say, sub-editor has some specialized roles that is focused on technical aspects of writing and editor has a wide activity that is focused on editorial responsibilities.
