Everybody. Even editors. We all make mistakes. Editors just happen to have this particular thing in their personality that makes them enjoy finding and fixing errors in text. I have come to realize that I am cursed with noticing everything. That doesn't mean my house is spotless, just that I see every spot and pile every time I walk by them. I've come to terms with the household mess. I've calculated the work necessary to fix it and decided it's not worth my time to reach perfection in tidiness just now. But I cannot pass up an inconsistency or confusing spot in a manuscript and just let it be. I will return to it again and again until I am satisfied I have it right.
A penchant for noticing things is why I enjoy doing detailed watercolor paintings in my spare time (see at https://skyeaubrey.wixsite.com/website, coming soon). I try to replicate nature, which to me is perfect, even though it is always changing. As an editor, I try to find the perfection in English even as it changes as well. This allows me to let the author's voice come through because I am able to fix grammatical errors without making the text sound stilted or old fashioned. Merriam-Webster is my constant companion, one that has recently taught me to loosen up on my "comprise/compose" stance (yes, now you can say "a list comprised of three items"--cringe). I hope I can elucidate on some language details that have people stumped. Let me know if you need a good eye for detail on your writing.
Comments