Wondering where and how to begin? Start here with the basics about the editing profession.
What Is Editing?
Definitions of Editorial Skills
Structural, stylistic, copy editing, and proofreading—what do they entail exactly? This PDF explains the core skills involved in each, as well as other editorial skills Editors Canada does not certify, such as comparative editing and indexing.
Editors Canada Presents: Copy Editing
A clear definition of copy editing, including how it differs from proofreading.
Editors Canada Presents: Proofreading
A description of what a “reading of the proofs” really entails.
Editors Canada Presents: Substantive and Stylistic Editing
This YouTube video provides a clear definition of the differences between these types of editing.
Mahima Bhagwat on Editing with Authenticity
Mahima Bhagwat shares her perspective on how editors can help authors shape authentic narratives.
Meet an Editor: Aaron Dalton Shares Advice for People Who Need an Editor
Aaron Dalton’s advice to aspiring editors is all about skills. You need to have a lot of empathy and be able to collaborate—to see things from the readers’ perspective and understand what your writer needs.
Meet an Editor: Merel Elsinga Shares Advice for People Who Need an Editor
Merel Elsinga is a non-fiction proofreader and a plain legal language specialist. She advises writers and others who need an editor to not be afraid of editors by explaining what it is they do.
Meet an Editor: Professional Editors Share Their Insights, Skills and Tips
Several professional editors share their experiences and advice. In these profiles, you’ll hear about different types of editing and the importance of training and getting involved in editing communities.
This PowerPoint is perfect for the novice editor looking for answers to the following questions: What is editing? What stage of editing does a manuscript need? What are the Professional Editorial Standards?
The Editing Process for Fiction Authors
This short series breaks down the fiction editing process into understandable and accessible chunks—useful for fiction authors and novice fiction editors alike.
What Can a Professional Editor Do for You?
You know why hiring an editor is worthwhile, but these reasons might be helpful to share with your future clients or help you refine how you speak about what you offer.
Why Hire an Editor and What to Expect When You Do
While this free webinar is intended for writers looking to hire editors, it can also be useful for novice editors looking to understand the process better—and to learn that process from the pro Lynne Melcome.
How Do I Become an Editor?
There’s a difference between being “good with words” and being a professional editor. You’ve got the potential. What do you do to take that potential to the next level?
The Career Builder provides a roadmap for would-be editors, students and novice editors to increase the chances of successfully launching their editing careers.
Career Builder: An Action Plan for New Editors
Read more about this free resource to help aspiring and new editors build their editing career.
Editors Canada Presents: Are You Editor Material?
In this video, James Harbeck tells us what editor material really is. Do you have what it takes?
Edit Like a Pro is a series of four workbooks published by Editors Canada to help editors assess and improve their skills through hands-on editing practice.
Finding Work: Tips for Students and New Editors
You’ve learned all the necessary skills to become an editor and now you’re wondering what is next. How can you make the move from student to professional? This webinar will teach you what skills to highlight, how to stand out in the crowd and how much you should focus on your brand as a freelancer.
Editor Tracey Anderson interviews writer, lecturer, and Killam scholar Joshua Whitehead about his work as an editor.
Meet an Editor: Amanda Goldrick-Jones Shares Tips to Become a Professional Editor
As an editor, Amanda feels that she can offer advice, perspective and expertise to the writer that they appreciate and find valuable.
Meet an Editor: Greg Ioannou Shares Tips for Writers and Aspiring Editors
Greg edits everything. He has worked on love letters, Burger King giveaways, board games and many other projects. Greg’s advice to aspiring editors is to not turn down opportunities that come out of left field; those could be the most rewarding projects.
Meet an Editor: Iva Cheung Reveals a Myth About Professional Editors
Iva is a non-fiction editor and plain language specialist. Iva’s advice to people who want to be a professional editor is to never stop learning and be critically curious.
Meet an Editor: Jahleen Turnbull-Sousa Explains the Work Professional Editors Do
Jahleen is a medical-legal and non-fiction editor. Her goal as an editor is to learn more about the things that really matter to her clients.
Meet an Editor: Lola Opatayo Explains the Relationship Between Writers and Editors
Lola is a structural and stylistic editor, and she advises aspiring editors to be cognizant of both what they know and what they don’t know. That way, they can hone their skills and build their editing muscles.
My Neuroscience Thesis Helped Me Find My Dream Career… in Editing
An example of how one might discover they want a career in editing—and how to materialize that career.
Pathways to Success / Les voies du succès
Plot yourself on this bilingual infographic to see what Editors Canada benefits and services are available at your career level so you can continue on the path to the next level.
So You Want to Be an Editor: Information About a Career in Editing
All aspects of a career in editing are revealed—including the necessary skills, education and training, possible work places, career paths, and more.
Professional Editorial Standards
Professional Editorial Standards 2024
Editors Canada’s resource on the fundamentals of editing.
Editors Canada Presents: Professional Editorial Standards, Réviseurs Canada Présente: les principes directeurs en révision professionnelle
Learn more about Professional Editorial Standards, the vital publication for editors by Editors Canada.
Editors Canada’s Professional Editorial Standards: Part 1
Berna Ozunal provides historical context of the Professional Editorial Standards and discusses her involvement and the text’s importance.
Editors Canada’s Professional Editorial Standards: Part 2
Berna Ozunal discusses the questions and ideas that come up when updating Editors Canada’s Professional Editorial Standards.
Editors Canada’s Professional Editorial Standards: Part 3
In the final post in her series, Berna Ozunal discusses the future of Professional Editorial Standards.
Meeting Professional Editorial Standards
Meeting Professional Editorial Standards is a hands-on resource that covers the core editorial skills you will need to work as an editor.
Professional Editorial Standards: How Do They Work for You?
This free webinar teaches you how the Professional Editorial Standards is relevant to your work, what should people who hire or work with editors know about the standards and more.
What Are the Core Resources I Need As a Beginner?
The Canadian Oxford Dictionary
Jewellery or jewelry? Dialog or dialogue? Access to the online version of The Canadian Oxford Dictionary, essential for anyone editing work in the Canadian context, is included in your Editors Canada membership.
Editing Canadian English, Third Edition
Get the latest guidance on Canadian English, from Canadianization to spelling, abbreviations, punctuation, measurements, bilingual texts and more.
Learn more about Editorial Niches, a companion to Editing Canadian English, third edition.
Editing Essentials: My Experience
Libby Graham shares her thoughts on how to study for and take the Editing Essentials test.
This test assesses your knowledge of the basics of editing and provides a qualification for entry-level editors.
Mediation
Did you know that Editors Canada offers mediation services to members? This service is designed to help members resolve grievances or contract disputes (involving editing work) with their clients. While the mediator cannot intervene in cases that have gone to legal action or when the editor involved is not a member of the association, the mediator may be able to help settle the matter when other steps have not solved the problem.
The current mediator is Monica Gill. You can contact the Editors Canada mediator by sending an email to mediator@editors.ca.
The Oxford English Dictionary, widely regarded as the accepted authority on the English language, is available to Editors Canada members.
Oxford Reference Online Premium Collection
As a member of Editors Canada, you have access to Oxford Reference, featuring the contents of Oxford University Press’s Dictionaries, Companions, and Encyclopedias.
Ensuring the consistency of a document’s adherence to a given style guide is a fundamental aspect of copy editing. At this link, the Hub provides a list of common style guides you may need as an editor.
Uses for a Dictionary (Besides Defining Words)
This post discusses some ways to use your dictionary as an editor.
Style Guides
American Psychological Association Style
APA Style is used by writers in many disciplines around the world for concise, powerful, and persuasive scholarly communication.
Read blog posts about the style written by professional experts, or sign up to receive the APA Style Monthly newsletter.
The Associated Press Stylebook
The 56th edition includes more than 300 new or revised entries.
The standard style guide for Canadian journalists.
The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) is the publishing industry’s standard in Canada, and access to CMOS Online is free for members and student affiliates.
At CMOS Shop Talk, editors and staff hope to bring clarity, education, and amusement to anyone who works with words.
The Conscious Style Guide offers resources and articles for writers and editors looking to be more mindful with their language—an essential practice for editors.
The Diversity Style Guide is a collection of resources that allows editors and other professionals to work in “a complex, multicultural world with accuracy, authority and sensitivity.”
Editing Canadian English, Third Edition
Get the latest guidance on Canadian English, from Canadianization to spelling, abbreviations, punctuation, measurements, bilingual texts and more.
Elements of Indigenous Style, 2nd Ed.
The second edition of Elements continues to offer crucial guidance to everyone who works with words on how to accurately, collaboratively, and ethically participate in projects involving Indigenous Peoples.
“Harvard style” refers to the author-date system of citation, which originated at Harvard University.
Modern Language Association Style
The ninth edition of the MLA Handbook builds on the MLA’s approach to documenting sources using a template of core elements that allows writers to cite any type of work.
Quick, useful guides for APA, Chicago and MLA.
The Radical Copyeditor’s Style Guide
The Radical Copyeditor’s Style Guide for Writing About Transgender People recognizes the paradox of writing definitive rules for a diverse group sometimes defined by transitions. Still, this accessible guide is useful for those editing works by and about the transgender community specifically, or those seeking a better understanding of inclusive language.
Scientific Style and Format Online
The SSF manual for writers, editors and publishers.
A quick run down of the three SSF systems for referencing materials.
Developed in Vancouver in 1978, this style is used by editors of medical journals.