How Proofreading and Editing Can Help ESL Authors

1. How Proofreading and Editing Can Help ESL Authors Although the English language appears simple enough to pick up, the reality is that without proofreading and editing, some authors, through no fault of their own, can flounder. At times like this, for those individuals looking to clarify what they can’t quite put into words, working with an editor, proofreader or paraphrasing services may be the solution. The complexities of English mean it is more complicated than many people imagine. Words can convey multiple meanings, and the nuance of their delivery means that how they are read or understood can alter their meaning. For an ESL author unfamiliar with English, the idea of writing and submitting papers, articles and so on can be alarming. This is where proofreading and editing can definitely help. Editors and proofreaders have plenty of experience with sentence construction, academic standards, phrasing and refining content to provide it with a natural flow. And their language skills mean they can also offer paraphrasing services for authors who feel their presented work doesn’t match their intended meaning.

2. In other words, the language barrier shouldn’t be a problem. Editors have experience working with clients from across the globe and are fully aware of the different standards of English these authors have, reflected in the proofreading and editing support these editors provide. An editor should remove issues like unclear meanings, inconsistent tones, formatting issues and incorrect facts and produce a manuscript that reads as though produced by a native speaker. Editors can provide different services, depending on the clients’ requirements. For instance, a client might decide that paraphrasing services would benefit them the most. It’s understandable: sharing a viewpoint in your native language is simple, but doing the same thing in another language is a different matter. A document may have too many unclear meanings that the customer may not know how to improve. But that doesn’t need to be a problem. Through the judicious use of rewrites and paraphrasing, an editor can convey the author’s true meaning in a natural tone. Proofreading and editing are safety nets to ensure ESL authors put forward their viewpoints as clearly as possible. This process may entail extensive revisions, also known as heavy editing, especially when the presented content features unclear meanings. Typically, the editor will flag up an unclear sentence or section in the comment box and offer their interpretation of what they thought the author meant, with the recommendation that the author re-word their work. It’s similar to the work provided by paraphrasing services, albeit more concisely: heavy editing may well only apply to a sentence or two from an entire document. Considering how much work goes into creating a document, it’s only natural to consider using these types of services. Editors can add the final flourish that gives ESL authors the confidence to present their work, knowing that it retains its intended meaning and reads like the work of a native English speaker.