What is the main function of an editor?

Every editing job is different in some respect from others, and different editors may be responsible for different tasks. In general, editors do any or all of the following (or may delegate some tasks to others):

*Correct language errors, such as poor grammar, incorrect spelling and punctuation, and ambiguities.

*Identify technical inaccuracies (e.g. in a non-fiction book.)

*Improve conciseness and clarity, if and where this is of significance.

*Identify potential legal problems, such as plagiarism, ethical or moral problems, copyright infringements, and defamation risks.

*Check for uniformity and appropriateness of content and style, and make or recommend adjustments if necessary.

*Determine whether the content of a manuscript should be deleted or replaced (usually with approval from both the author and publisher).

*Determine whether additional content is required within a manuscript (usually with approval from both the author and publisher).

*Determine the order in which the manuscript is to be published.

*Liaise with all other persons involved in the production of the publication.

*Check and clear copyright material to be used in the publication (for instance, anything which is not the original work of the author should be properly referenced and used only in accordance with the law in any jurisdiction relevant to the publication).

*Prepare preliminary pages and cover, and mark up any end matter, usually in collaboration with the author.

*Prepare instructions for others involved in production, such as the designer, illustrator, typesetter and printer. (This may involve marking up the manuscript, preparing a series of ‘briefs’ and, in some cases, contract or tender documents.)

*Select illustrations, including photographs, tables and drawings from material submitted by the author.

*Identify and source additional illustrations if required (from the author or elsewhere).

*Write marketing material if required (often in collaboration with the author and/or the marketing staff).

*Monitor (and sometimes control) production schedules.

*Check proofs at each stage of production.

*Maintain a record of corrections after production for use in any reprints or new edition.