Copy editor

Description

Copy editors ascertain that a text is agreeable to read. They ensure that a text adheres to the conventions of grammar and spelling. Copy editors read and revise materials for books, journals, magazines and other media.

Other titles

The following job titles also refer to copy editor:

language editor
editorial assistant
copy-editor
senior copy editor

Minimum qualifications

Bachelor’s degree is generally required to work as copy editor. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

ISCO skill level

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

  • the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
  • the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
  • the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Copy editor is a Skill level 4 occupation.

Copy editor career path

Similar occupations

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to copy editor.

fact checker
book editor
desktop publisher
magazine editor
columnist

Long term prospects

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of copy editor. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of copy editor with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

Essential knowledge and skills

Essential knowledge

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of copy editor.

Typography: The procedure of arranging written texts for printing processes.
Writing techniques: The different techniques to write a story such as the descriptive, persuasive, first person and other techniques.
Spelling: The rules concerning the way words are spelled.
Grammar: The set of structural rules governing the composition of clauses, phrases, and words in any given natural language.
Copyright legislation: Legislation describing the protection of the rights of original authors over their work, and how others can use it.

Essential skills and competences

These skills are necessary for the role of copy editor.

Follow work schedule: Manage the sequence of activities in order to deliver completed work on agreed deadlines by following a work schedule.
Follow a brief: Interpret and meet requirements and expectations, as discussed and agreed upon with the customers.
Suggest revision: Suggest adaptations and revisions of manuscripts to authors to make the manuscript more appealing to the target audience.
Consult with editor: Consult with the editor of a book, magazine, journal or other publications about expectations, requirements, and progress.
Apply grammar and spelling rules: Apply the rules of spelling and grammar and ensure consistency throughout texts.
Track changes in text editing: Track changes such as grammar and spelling corrections, element additions, and other modifications when editing (digital) texts.
Use dictionaries: Use glossaries and dictionaries to search for the meaning, the spelling, and synonyms of words.

Optional knowledge and skills

Optional knowledge

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of copy editor. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Literature: The body of artistic writing characterized by beauty of expression, form, and universality of intellectual and emotional appeal.
Editorial standards: The guidelines on how to deal with and report on privacy, children, and death according to impartiality, and other standards.
Desktop publishing: The creation of documents using page layout skills on a computer. Desktop publishing software can generate layouts and produce typographic quality text and images.
Office software: The characteristics and functioning of software programs for office tasks such as word processing, spreadsheets, presentation, email and database.

Optional skills and competences

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of copy editor. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Apply desktop publishing techniques: Apply desktop publishing techniques and software to create page layouts and typographic quality text.
Adapt to artists’ creative demands: Work with artists, striving to understand the creative vision and adapting to it. Make full use of your talents and skills to reach the best possible result.
Proofread text: Read a text thoroughly, search for, review and correct errors to ensure content is valid for publishing.
Consult information sources: Consult relevant information sources to find inspiration, to educate yourself on certain topics and to acquire background information.
Rewrite manuscripts: Rewrite unpublished manuscripts to correct errors and to make them more appealing to the target audience.
Read articles: Read unpublished articles thoroughly to look for errors.
Write headlines: Write” titles to accompany news articles. Make sure they are to the point and inviting.
Follow ethical code of conduct of journalists: Follow the ethical code of conduct of journalists, such as freedom of speech, right of reply, being objective, and other rules.
Rewrite articles: Rewrite articles to correct errors, make them more appealing to the audience, and to ensure that they fit within time and space allotments.
Read manuscripts: Read incomplete or complete manuscripts from new or experienced authors.

ISCO group and title

2642 – Journalists

 

 


 

 

References
  1. Copy editor – ESCO
Last updated on August 8, 2022