Editing Made Easy: Simple Rules for Effective Writing - Softcover

Kaplan, Bruce

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0942679369 ISBN 13: 9780942679366

Publisher: Upper Access, 2021

Synopsis

As the title states, this book is designed to be easy to use for all writers. It offers straightforward, practical guidelines for editing, without getting into the weeds of advanced English grammar. You will find no loftier technical grammatical terms here, such as present perfect progressive, correlative conjunctions, imperative mood or interrogative adjective. However, much of the advice in this book is not to be written in stone. English is a flexible language, and writing a creative calling. As you will see, there are many acceptable ways for writers to express themselves. What you will find in this book is:

--How to avoid the most common errors of grammar and spelling.

--How to spot typographical and factual errors.

--Understanding the styles of print and online media.

--How to make your writing more exciting and dynamic.

--And improving your odds of having your work published.

The goal of this book is simple—to put the odds on the writers’ side; to increase your chances of being published or finding success as a reporter, feature writer, novelist, freelance writer, blogger, Web developer, Web editor, communications consultant, advertising copywriter, speechwriter or public relations consultant—in fact, anything involving the written word.

About this title

About the Author

Bruce Kaplan is a veteran newspaper copy editor and editorial trainer with international experience spanning more than forty years. He has held senior positions with major publications in Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore. He trains editors and writers for newspapers and magazines, and tutors at writers’ centers and tertiary education.

From the Back Cover

An earlier version of Editing Made Easy, published in Bruce Kaplan's native Australia, has become a best-selling resource for writers in much or the English-speaking world. Because of the different spellings and conventions of American English, it has been unavailable here--until now.

The new book is thoroughly revised, updated, expanded, and Americanized. It maintains the attractions of the original--friendly, easy-to-understand rules for improved writing. It's a quick read, and an easy reference for anybody who wants to communicate clearly with American English.

The book is non-technical in its approach. It doesn't cover grammatical terms such as present perfect progressive or correlative conjunctions. It boils grammar and style into a few simple rules that will serve you well whether you are a journalist, a student, a novelist, a business executive, a blogger, or anybody else who would like to make effective use of written language.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Why learn editing?

The benefit to you



So why learn how to edit? Most importantly, learning to edit will make you more proficient, more polished writer. It will improve your writing in more ways than you might ever imagine. It will do the same for people whose writing you edit.

This book will give you the practical skills that techniques that professional editors use every day. The advice applies to almost all forms of writing. Exceptions may occur with diction, scientific and academic writing, and personal expressions such as e-mail and Facebook. But most of the rules apply across the board.

Essentially, this book is about plain English. The advice will help you add news, newsletters, brochures, business communicatios, short stories, staff bulletins, business proposals,non-fiction books, and—yes—even novels.

Writing is demanding, exacting, rewarding, and enriching craft. Proficiency in editing is the key to excellence in writing.

Edition details

• Publisher: Upper Access
• Publication date: 2021
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0942679369
• ISBN 13: 9780942679366
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 112