Writing a research paper to be submitted to a journal in itself is quite a harrowing experience. Add to it, various stages between writing and final submission make a more daunting task. This is because of many of the technicalities of editing and other processes present. Numerous misconceptions that hinder the work progress and prevent it from receiving the efforts that it deserves must be considered.
The first one is that you need to only revise your work once. This common misconception may severely damage the quality of your work. Regardless of how skilled you are, you need to go through your work multiple times to ensure that every aspect of your subject is covered and considered. When you read a work more than twice, you may notice how certain elements stand out and you gain a perspective different from the one you already held.
Some authors have a preconceived notion about editors. They believe that editors may completely transform their work, changing their implied meaning to a vast extent. Although this concern may be valid in some cases, for example, previous experience, the main role of an editor is to improve a writer’s work. Thus, editors are required to check spelling errors, grammatical errors, and facts. When editors feel that the author’s implied meaning might change due to their insertion, they place a query for authors so that the authors can work on the issue as they would like.
The main confusion that most writers have is regarding the difference between editing and proofreading. Although the two processes might have some similarities, they are definitely not the same. Editing comprises correcting all types of errors, fact-checking, and checking the flow and structure of the text. Proofreading is the final stage of the revision process. It involves errors that have slipped past the editor. It only searches for surface-level errors.
Some writers deem it okay to skip the editing through a third-party process. They believe that since it has been edited and proofread by them, the work is suitable to be directly submitted. They forget the fact that the writer normally has a biased view of the article since they know how their article sounds and feels. Besides, by involving a different person, you are sure to get a new perspective that may possibly improve your manuscript.
Another common misconception many writers have is that all editors can edit any topic. As each writer has his or her own specialized field, so do the editors. Editors have expertise in their specialized field. At editingindia, we have a wide range of editors specializing in different fields. They can not only correct grammatical errors but also suggest points for improving the content of an article.
It is always helpful to consult a professional to improve the chances of getting your research paper published.