Substantive Editing

By Author: Manuscript Edit
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Substantive editing is also known as comprehensive or developmental editing. It deals with the substantial matter of the manuscript. The manuscript editor, not only focuses on correcting and organising the manuscript, but also aims to make the manuscript practical, purposeful and sensible for its readers.
Following are listed some of the latent substantive editing tasks that a manuscript editor should keep in mind while editing a document. The editor performs all perfunctory editing tasks including re-organising or re-writing some part or the entire manuscript.
Overall Manuscript
• Check that the subject matter is complete and organised in a systematic manner.
• Check that there is no inappropriate or superfluous information in the manuscript.
• Delete or remove all unnecessary and redundant repetition.
• Check that the subject matter is assembled and subdivided in a logical manner.
• Check that the manuscript title is clear and apt, perfectly reflecting the content.
• Check that the abstract is concise, providing adequate information.
• Check that all the ...
... sections, containing the respective topics, are clearly specified by their headings.
• Check that the appendix is suitable to be included in an appendix and whether extra appendix matter is required.
• Check that the subordination of information is consistent, rational and appropriate.
• Check that there are no inconsistencies in the subject matter, table and/or figure.
• Check the validity and consistency of references. Also, see if any reference needs to be added or removed.
• Check and clarify if there is any need to get permissions for the reproduction of any copyrighted material.
Readability and Clarity
• Check and correct factual irregularities, faulty judgments, like discomfited or unclear passages, and unfinished evaluations.
• Edit, modify or remove superfluous passages and simplify complex and difficult sentences.
• Check that there exists a smooth flow between paragraphs and/or sections.
• Use simple and clear language and definition avoiding the use of jargon or technical language.
• Substitute first and second person pronouns in case they seem unclear or inappropriate in the context of the manuscript.
• If required, insert a noun after uncertain expressive pronouns (this/that/these/those).
• Check that the style is regular and consistent throughout the manuscript in multi-author works.
Tables
• Check and ensure that the table titles are satisfactory and fitting.
• Check that the table design is standard and accurate, with all units of measurement appearing in column heads.
• Check that the table data are absolute, with all variables and units of measurement clearly acknowledged.
• Check that the tables occurring in series are presented in a parallel manner.
• Check that the table columns are arranged in a logical order for utmost reader comprehension.
• Check that the tables are properly placed according to their relevance to the text.
Figures
• Check and ensure that the figure captions are satisfactory and fitting.
• Check that the curves, ordinates, abscissas and data points are completely identified in a way that is suitable to the subject matter.
• Check and ensure that there are no unnecessary details in figures.
• Check that the units of measurement are presented in a simple, clear and steady manner.
• Check that the figures occurring in series or multi-part figures are organised in a consistent manner.
Substantive editing is more or less completely based on analysis. Assessment needs judgement, apart from the application of rules. The above provided information will effectively guide and help an editor for editing a manuscript.
For more information please visit our site www.manuscriptedit.com.