So everybody knows I’m a big copy editing nerd, but that’s fine. I absolutely love it! One of my former co-workers, who graduated in December 2010 and was also a copy editor, sent me this picture during one of our production days at The Chronicle a couple Fridays ago. I thought it was hilarious, and it made me realize how important we copy editors around the world really are. If we didn’t exist, I can’t imagine how sloppy and unorganized newspapers and magazines would look. Everybody should have some type of copy editing experience or workshops. I think people would be more aware of the mistakes that could be made, and situations like the picture above could be avoided. We make reporters and editors look good, but the world would be lost without copy editors!
“Though pages you will see may have significant edits to make
(because maybe people didn’t do much work during the two-day break),
remember it is you who turns scattered thoughts into sentences
and makes the paper understandable.
You, copy editor, polish all writers’ work to perfection.
And when award season comes and the first writer claims a prize,
you’ll know it’s because of the passion behind your nit-picking eyes.
Without copy editors, things can turn out very wrong.”
– Lisa Wardle