Business editing, a complete guide
Business copy editing involves editing business writing so it reads clearly and stays consistent. A business copy editor polishes your writing and sharpens your key points, clearing away the errors and getting it ready for your reader. Business editing works across many types of content from reports and proposals to websites and marketing copy. Your writing comes back clear and ready to use.
You send your business writing, and I make it read clearly and consistently. I bring out your key points and remove the duplication and ambiguity. I also edit for flow and consistency, so each point follows the last.
If you have a document that’s ready now, see my business copy editing services.
What’s included in a business editing service?
The work a copy editor does on your content usually includes:
Light rewriting of sentences and paragraphs to bring out your most important points
Reordering sections so the writing flows from one point to the next
Reading for your audience and context, so the copy lands with the right people
Clearing up confusing or ambiguous language, and explaining jargon and unfamiliar terms
Tightening the writing by cutting words that are not earning their place
Strengthening the structure so the piece covers what your readers need
Updating headings and formatting so the content is easy to scan
Editing to your brand or house style guide, or to a standard like Associated Press
Keeping you updated, so you always know where your work stands
Meeting your deadline and returning your work on time
Proofreading the work as part of the same job, so it comes back error free
The two things running through all of it are clarity and consistency: clarity so each point reads cleanly, and consistency so everything your business publishes holds to one standard.
What’s not typically included in business editing?
A few things sit outside business copy editing:
Arranging or “flowing” content into new formats or designs: copy editing will tidy headings and lists, but it won’t put your content into a design template, which is a designer’s job
Localizing content for another language or region (e.g. US English to Australian English): for that, you’d need a specialist localization editor
Fact checking: copy editing assumes you’ve already checked the facts in your business copy
Writing from scratch: copy editing is for content that’s already written and needs polishing
Checking for copyright or plagiarism
Indexing of content
Large structural changes, like moving entire chapters or sections, that’s developmental editing
Why do you need business copy editing services?
Most business writing is done by people who know their subject and are short on time. You write the report or the proposal, and after hours with it, the small errors and rough edges are hard to see in your own work. A professional read fixes that. I come at your writing from the reader’s side and catch what you can’t see when the words are your own, making it clear and consistent along the way.
What is the difference between business copy editing and business proofreading?
Business copy editing and business proofreading do slightly different jobs:
Business copy editing works on the whole piece: how it’s structured, and whether it reads clearly and makes your points
Business proofreading checks and corrects for errors: grammar, spelling, word usage, and punctuation
Both make sure your business writing is clear and error free before it goes out. My business copy editing services include business proofreading as part of the editing service, at no extra charge.
What business copy editing does for your writing
A careful business copy edit does a few things for your content:
Context: I read your work thoroughly and edit it so it makes sense to your internal or external audience
Accuracy: I check that your terminology and wording follow standard English
Clarity: I remove duplication and ambiguity, and explain complex business or industry terms
Focus: I strengthen and highlight the most important content and key points
Consistency: I keep your copy consistent, with the same word usage and formatting within and across your content
Direction: I make sure the writing leads the reader clearly to the next step, whether that’s reading on or getting in touch
How can business editing improve my work?
Business copy editing works on almost any document your business produces.
Advertising. Editing checks that your advertising reads correctly and is free of errors, and suggests small wording changes that make it clearer.
Blog posts and articles. A good edit makes your articles and posts read clearly and hold together, so they make your points well.
Business documents. Your memos and internal documents come back consistent, so your key points reach colleagues and partners.
Business letters. Your correspondence comes back easy to read and understand.
Business plans. A clear edit brings out the important facts about your business and states them concisely.
Business reports. Editing sharpens a report and orders the supporting detail, so readers can follow the facts and figures and use them.
Case studies. A case study reads well and shows your work clearly once it’s edited.
Company profiles. Editing makes your profile read clearly and consistently, and say what makes your organization distinct, whether it’s on your website or your LinkedIn page.
Marketing materials. Your collateral and campaign copy come back polished and consistent with the rest of your brand.
Newsletters and email. Editing strengthens your newsletters and email campaigns so they read clearly and go out error free.
Policies and processes. Editing removes confusion and ambiguity, so readers know exactly what’s expected.
Presentations and slide decks. A tighter edit makes your most important points clear on the slide.
Press releases. A clean edit makes a release easy for a busy journalist to read.
Product descriptions. Editing makes each description read clearly and explain what the product does, in a style that stays consistent across your range.
Proposals and tenders. Editing tightens the writing and helps you put your case clearly.
Requests for proposal (RFPs). Editing makes an RFP clear, so the vendors responding understand exactly what you need.
Social media. Your posts come back sharper and consistent with your brand.
Staff and employee handbooks. Editing makes your handbooks easy to read and use, so staff know what’s expected.
Training materials. Your lesson plans and courses come back clear and straightforward.
Websites. Editing sharpens every page, from your home page to your product pages, so the whole site reads clearly and consistently.
Whitepapers. Editing keeps a whitepaper clear and well structured, and makes sure it covers your key points.
Are there other areas where a business editing service can help?
You can find more on my business editing across several areas:
Editing and proofreading for business operations, customer, and marketing topics
Editing and proofreading for HR and employment topics
Editing and proofreading for software and technology topics
Editing and proofreading for finance and investment topics
What are the main principles of editing for business?
A business copy editor reads your writing several times and works it from a draft to a final, polished piece. A copy editor is not a ghostwriter, and may ask you to make substantive changes or revisions so the content is right.
An editor looks at several aspects of your work, asking questions and making changes against these principles:
Purpose and context: What is the writing for? What are the key points you want to land? What is the context?
Audience: Who is reading this, and how do you want them to act once they have?
Introduction: Does the opening draw the reader in and set up the rest of the piece?
Organization and flow: Is the writing well ordered, and does it move smoothly from one part to the next?
Concise versus extraneous: Can the writing be sharpened, with fluff and overwrought language reined in?
Focus and clarity: Does the piece get its most important ideas across efficiently?
Tone and style: Are person and tense consistent? Does it read as one voice rather than several?
Content length: Are the piece, its paragraphs, and its sentences the right size for the job?
Wrap up and conclusion: Does the writing end well, with a clear next step where one belongs?
Guidance and feedback: Would comments and advice help you take the work further?
What is the business editing process?
A good business copy editing service follows some version of this process:
We agree what you need and any special instructions, including your intended audience
I read your writing to understand its purpose and key points, from your reader’s point of view
I copy edit a first pass, strengthening clarity and consistency as I go
I ask questions where the meaning is unclear
I add comments and advice where they help
I proofread on a second read for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and word use
I track all changes, normally in Microsoft Word, and return a tracked version and a clean version by your deadline
I provide editing and proofreading together as standard, at no extra charge. I also offer aftercare: if you change something because of my comments or questions, I’ll re-check those parts, with no additional fee.
How much does business editing cost?
Pricing is simple and all-inclusive, with no add-ons or surprises. What you pay depends mainly on the length of the work and how much editing it needs. A tight turnaround can affect it too. Because I include proofreading with every copy editing job, there’s no separate charge for it.
Most editing like this is priced per project rather than by the hour, so you get a fixed quote up front and can budget with no surprises. You can get an instant price from my calculator, or send me the work and I’ll quote it.
Related guides and pages
For the person who does the work, see what a business copy editor does
For your website specifically, see website copy editing
A word on who edits your work
I’m Tara Foss. I’ve spent more than 25 years copy editing business and professional writing, and I do every edit myself, so you always know who is working on your words.
Business copy editing: common questions
Will business editing completely change my initial work?
No. Business editorial services are designed to enhance your existing content so it reads better and flows well. A good business copy editor will strengthen your piece while keeping your brand voice and style intact.
Can I edit my own business content?
If you’re confident in your own writing and editing, then you can copy edit your own work. In most cases, though, it’s wise to have a professional look over your content. A business copy editor has likely worked on hundreds or thousands of pieces and can bring editing and feedback you can’t easily give your own draft. Hiring a business copy editor will be money well spent.
Shouldn’t I get the cheapest option when choosing an editing service for my business?
When it comes to good editing, the cheapest is rarely the best. A good business copy editor understands editing for businesses and what their readers are looking for. You will pay a little more for that expertise, but you’ll get more polished, more consistent work.
Ready when you are
When a document carries your business’s name, it’s worth getting the writing right. Whenever you’re ready, tell me what you’re working on.