1. Reduce clutter in a newsletter:

   Original copy:
   In the article entitled Weatherproof Your Investments from the March issue, the magazine reported its search results for all-weather funds.

   Edited copy:
   In the March issue, an article entitled Weatherproof Your Investments examined all-weather funds.

2. Add a verb to a series for parallel sentence structure in a newsletter:

   Original copy:
   Unexpected events, such as losing a job, wrecking a car in an accident, or the death of a loved one, can put a strain on your emotional and financial well-being, as well as the people who depend on you.

   Edited copy:
   Unexpected events, such as losing a job, wrecking a car in an accident, or losing a loved one, can put a strain on your emotional and financial well-being, as well as the people who depend on you.

3. Improve clarity in a high-tech magazine article:

   Original copy:
   This November, the foundation mailed a $1 million surprise grant to the nonprofit Portland homeless agency, Outside In.

   Edited copy:
   This November, the foundation mailed a $1 million surprise grant to Portland’s Outside In, a nonprofit agency that helps homeless people.

4. Repair subject/verb agreement in a special report:

   Original copy:
   One factor in the growth, according to Ayre, were efforts by the state and industry to keep the high-tech sector an engine of job growth and economic stimulus.

   Edited copy:
   One factor in the growth, according to Ayre, was efforts by the state and industry to keep the high-tech sector an engine of job growth and economic stimulus.

What else can a copyeditor do for you?

A copyeditor knows when you need “it’s” or “its,” knows when a collective noun (such as couple, committee, team or staff) takes a singular or plural verb, knows which words to capitalize, knows where to place apostrophes, quotation marks and commas … and much more.