Ruthless Editing

Do you agree or disagree? #ruthlessediting #DevelopmentalEditing #CopyEditing #LineEditing #Proofreading #worldclasseditingservices #bookediting #bookeditingservices #bookeditingservicesUK #bookeditorUK #LolaAyangbayiGroup

Many editors polish content without ever asking what it’s meant to achieve. Is it supposed to: - drive sales - explain a process - build trust - or get clicks? When the goal isn’t clear, editing becomes guesswork. The saying, “When the purpose of a thing is not known, abuse is inevitable,” applies perfectly to editing. So before you fine-tune any piece of writing, define what the piece should make the reader do. Then, edit with that goal in mind. _______ Ready to try this? Comment "I'm in." #ruthlessediting #DevelopmentalEditing #CopyEditing #LineEditing #Proofreading #worldclasseditingservices #bookediting #bookeditingservices #bookeditingservicesUK #bookeditorUK #LolaAyangbayiGroup

Did you know these blind spots can cost you credibility as an editor? Here are some of the most common ones:  – Editing in one pass only – Trusting spell checkers too much – Skipping the read-aloud test – Editing without understanding the content goal – Missing logical gaps between ideas – Letting personal style override brand voice   The truth is, some editors don’t lose credibility from big mistakes but from these quiet ones. ________ Your turn: Which of these mistakes are you guilty of? Follow Ruthless Editing for more editing-related content.

If clients keep asking for revisions after editing SaaS content, you’re probably making one of these mistakes: 1. Overediting technical details Not all technical details are bad. In many cases, they are essential to the audience. When you take out relevant technical details, you risk losing the main message the author is trying to communicate. The fix: Edit with the target audience in mind, and keep technical details that strengthen clarity and credibility. 2. Missing the target audience’s needs If you don’t understand the reader’s knowledge level, pain points, or goals, your edits can miss the mark. The fix: Before editing, clarify what the target audience needs from the content. Changing the client’s tone Most SaaS brands have a defined voice. When you change it based on personal preference, you weaken brand consistency. The fix: Study the client’s brand voice and maintain it throughout the content. __________ Repost this to your network. And follow Ruthless Editing for more editing-related content. #lineediting #proofreading #contentediting #contenteditor #developmentalediting

Have you ever wondered what makes a PROOFREADER different from a CONTENT EDITOR? Here’s the difference: A proofreader fixes surface errors like typos, grammar, punctuation, and spelling inconsistencies. However, a content editor fixes deeper writing issues, such as: - structure - redundancy - clarity - flow - transitions - ambiguity In the following example, notice how each one would edit the same sentence. Let’s assume you have this sentence in your technical documentation: “The new software enables teams to collaborate more effectively and efficiently complete tasks faster.” A proofreader would see no grammatical or spelling errors — and leave it as is. But a content editor would spot: - redundancy - awkward structure - ambiguity And rewrite the sentence to fix all these issues. The bottom line: a proofreader makes content readable, but a content editor makes it work. ______ Repost this to your network. And follow Ruthless Editing for editing-related content. #lineediting #proofreading #contentediting #developmentalediting

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You probably won’t like what we're about to say about editing. Clean grammar doesn’t ALWAYS mean professional editing. - If the message is still unclear, you didn’t edit. You polished the piece. - If it’s still full of redundancies, you turned noise into grammatically correct noise. - If the structure doesn’t guide readers from one point to the next, you cleaned a mess without reorganising it. - If the logic still has gaps, you have made them grammatically perfect. - If the flow feels choppy, you corrected sentences that don’t connect. Truth is, grammar fixes typos while editing fixes writing problems. ________ Ever edited something that still felt wrong?  Let’s hear from you. And follow Ruthless Editing for editing tips that work. #Lineediting #contentediting #proofreading #developmentalediting #bookeditorUK

Are you doing SURFACE EDITS or REAL EDITING? Here’s the difference: Surface editing fixes typos, tightens sentences, and polishes grammar, then calls it done. It makes content look presentable without asking whether it actually works. For instance, you write a landing page, correct “their” to “they’re,” remove extra commas, and think you’ve edited it. But conversions stay flat because you never questioned whether paragraph three moves people closer to buying or whether your intro hooks the right reader. On the other hand, Real editing asks harder questions. For example, - Is every point factually accurate? - Are technical terms explained when needed? - Does the conclusion tie everything together? Real editing cuts the paragraph you spent an hour on because it doesn’t serve the reader. It moves your strongest point to the top. It deletes clever phrases that confuse more than they convince. Unfortunately, some people stick to surface editing because real editing forces them to admit their first draft wasn’t as good as they thought. But if you want content that actually converts, you need REAL EDITING. _____ If this helped, REPOST it. And follow Ruthless Editing for more educational editing content. #Editingtips #developmentalediting #copyediting #lineediting #bookeditorUK #bookeditingservicesUK #LolaAyangbayiGroup

A few weeks ago, we edited the opening paragraph of a client’s landing page. It had rhythm and a clever metaphor about climbing mountains. Then we read it like a tired founder who just wants to know: Will this product solve my problem? The metaphor and rhythm got in the way. We cut them, even though it hurt. Two weeks later, conversions jumped to 34%. Truth is, readers don’t come for clever writing; they come for clarity. If you’re keeping a line because you love it, not because they need it—cut it. _____________ Save this post NOW! #Lineediting #contentediting #proofreading #developmentalediting

A subtle reminder: Before you edit that piece, answer these questions: 1. Does your opening sentence hook the reader? The reason: If the introductory sentence is weak, you lose the reader. 2. Is your message clear?  The reason: If your message is unclear, a reader might skip it. 3. Does every paragraph serve a purpose?  The reason: If any section doesn’t move your message forward, cut it out. 4. Is the tone right for your audience?  The reason: An inconsistent tone kills engagement. 5. Can you say it in fewer words?  The reason: Most times, less is more. _________ Happy new month! Follow Ruthless Editing for editing tips that work. #EditingTips #DevelopmentalEditing #CopyEditing #LineEditing #Proofreading #worldclasseditingservices #bookeditingservicesUK #bookeditorUK #LolaAyangbayiGroup