STET Blog

Announcements for the 2026 Fall Semester

There are many differences between American and British English (e.g., “cheers mate” instead of “thanks dude,” “chips” instead of “fries,” and “boot” instead of “trunk”). We have some different phrases, expletives, and names for everyday things. A lot of these differences are the product of culture, but other differences—like spelling—are the product of language planning (a.k.a. studious old men with spectacles on the tips of their noses sitting down and deciding what’s correct and what isn’t).

My Personal Experience

Many editors use The Chicago Manual of Style, 18th Edition, as the go-to style guide for fiction manuscripts. Editors also use it to edit academic papers in the arts and humanities as well as nonfiction articles and books.1 According to the University of Chicago, The Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) is a dynamic guide that has been “published continually since 1906,” so it contains great tips for both grammar and usage questions.2 Although it is an American style guide, many foreign publishing houses have adopted its suggestions and guidelines as well.3 Unlike more tailored style guides such as MLA, APA, and AP, CMOS’s guidelines try to focus on broader suggestions for editing in any genre.4

Most—if not all—readers are familiar with the beloved Harry Potter novels written by J. K. Rowling. Her novels sparked interest across the world, and she quickly became one of the most beloved modern authors of all time.1 In her personal account, she wrote that she had experienced the death of her mother, the birth of her first child, and the marital abandonment of her husband while she was writing Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.2 The process of writing the book took her five years, so she likely treasured the book as a piece of stability and magic among the difficulties she went through.3 For editors, it is important to understand how special books like these are to the authors who write them.

According to The Chicago Manual of Style, 18th Edition, there are four main types of editing: developmental editing, line editing, copyediting, and proofreading.1 In short, developmental editing focuses on fixing the big-picture issues of a manuscript. It does not involve editing at the “sentence or word level.”2 In American publishing departments, the terms “developmental editing” and “substantive editing” can sometimes be used interchangeably. In other countries, such as Canada, developmental editing can involve a lot more hands-on writing and planning with the author.3 In fact, some developmental editors work alongside the author before writing has even started!4

As editors, we have a knack for fixing the smallest details; we painstakingly assess every grammar principle, every punctuation mark, and every usage of a word. But it can be easy to let simple mistakes slip through the cracks. Here are some easily overlooked mistakes to look out for:

Have you ever wondered how your preference for books affects your strengths as an editor? Our preferences can significantly impact these strengths because we have grown to focus on specific elements of the stories we love to read.1 Listed below are a few genres that require a focus on certain types of editing over others. Pick your favorite genre and read about what this genre preference says about your editing strengths.