Different Editing Styles and When to Use Them

A commonly overlooked piece of information when people order editing and proofreading services is the question of the editing style that should be used. It is always crucial to tell your editor which editing style you need them to prepare your document with.

In book proofreading services UK, it is also common for authors to need to prepare their manuscripts according to the publisher’s style, and this is similarly a frequent requirement in academic writing. In particular, journals often require authors to submit articles in a certain style in terms of the following criteria:

·         Layout

·         Font and text size

·         Presentation

·         Formatting

·         Table, figure, and image formatting

·         Use of language

As of 2021, there are over 20 reputed and widely-used English editing style guides – ranging from the Chicago Manual of Style (CMoS)to The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA). For this reason, it is sometimes a confusing question as to which one you should choose.

This article provides an overview of some of the more common editing styles and editing style guides that you are likely to encounter as a student or academic. Afterward, the article briefly discusses how best to choose and apply a style guide to your written work.

 

Editing styles

In the disciplines of history and arts, and also commonly for books, the Chicago Manual of Style (CMoS) is currently the standard. CMoS was one of the earliest style guides created for American English, and it was first published by the University of Chicago Press in 1906.

The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (APA) was one of the publications of the American Psychological Association issued in 1929. The purpose of the style guide was to ensure that scholarly papers published in the field of psychology were consistent in terms of their layout and presentation. A core feature of APA style is its emphasis on simplicity in terms of tables, citations, abbreviations, and writing structure.

Industry-specific style guides also exist, including the following:

·         Chemical fields:The American Chemical Society (ACS) Style Guide

·         Medical fields: The American Medical Association (AMA) Manual of Style

·         Technical fields: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers(IEEE) Style Guide

·         English editing manual: New Oxford Style Manual

As a final example of an editing style guide, consider The Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law (also known as the AP Stylebook or AP). This style is frequently used in the context of journalism but it is similarly popular in public relations, corporate communications, marketing, and broadcasting. While the style was first introduced in the 1920s, the AP Stylebook was not published until 1953.

 

How to choose an editing style

One of the simplest ways to ensure that you choose a suitable editing style is to purchase an editing and proofreading service and, after doing so, consult with a professional. When you speak with this professional editor, they will be able to check your requirements – for example, by communicating with your publisher or targeted journal – and give you suitable guidance.

It is also worth noting that because many editing styles are industry-specific, your choice of editing style may also be informed by the nature of the topic you are writing about. For example, if you are writing a newspaper article, using the AP Stylebook as a model to prepare your manuscript is preferred. Also, if you have a publisher in mind, stay close to their requirements.