In the Localization industry there’s some confusion about
editing, proofreading (or proofing), reviewing and copywriting.
Even the roles of freelancers or language vendors seem
confusing.
Is it the same the role of a copywriter vs copyeditor?
Editor or reviewer or even proofreader? In the following post I’ll summarize my
view based on what I have seen in my career in the Localization industry.
·
Copywriting
phase is where the content is created. Someone will create the specific texts
of your game, software or any other media. A copywriter is an expert in using
language in different ways for different reasons. The texts of a videogame
where you have to fight are totally different from the content of a puzzle
game. The text you need to create for a traveling web site is also different
from a web site providing you cooking recipes. A copywriter will ensure your
message comes across the way you want. In this phase the goal is to produce content.
·
Editing
put the focus on the review and flow of the language. The focus is getting the
best possible quality of the written text. Editors will ensure the expressions
are clear, they will remove errors and inconsistencies, and they will give
feedback about the tone & style. Suggestions are made concerning words,
sentence grammar, spelling and punctuation. Content during editing is also
reviewed to change active passive sentences, if there are too many it might be
a good option to swap to more active verbs. In this phase the goal is to produce a good style
·
Proofreading
we go deeper in the review process, we use our “magnifying glass” and we review
the final draft. We ensure there are no errors at all. Proofreading goes beyond
the spelling checks we have in Word where the mistakes are highlighted. For
example a typical mistake reported in this proofreading phase is the correct
use of there, their or they’re. In proofreading we will ensure that our content
is ready to be published, and usually, proofreading will be a cheaper service
than editing. No content or style changes are done in proofreading. In this
phase the goal is to produce mistake
free output material
In summary:
·
A copywriter
will create the texts you need for your target audience
·
An editor
will rewrite sentences (if needed) so the text is more understandable. They
will use their know-how to take the content to the next level
·
A proofreader
will catch any typo in your texts
I hope this summary helps to clarify the different roles in
this specific aspect of our industry and do not hesitate to contact me at
@yolocalizo in my Twitter account in case you have any questions or comments.
Have a nice editing/copywriting/proofing week!!
