The stylistic or content editing is done after a structural edit and before the copy edit. There can be some overlap between the stylistic edit and the structural and copy edit, but they’re individual steps in the editing process. The purpose of a stylistic edit is to address language that is awkward or unclear. A stylistic edit looks for passive voice—active voice is stronger and clearer. It looks for negative and unparallel sentences, tangled nouns, word choice, clichés, transitions, coherence, and logical order.

A stylistic editor is going to assess the manuscript and ask the following questions:

• Does the language/tone/voice meet the needs of the intended audience?
• Does the language/tone/voice suit the genre?
• Does the language/tone/voice fit the intended publication medium?

The goal of a stylistic edit is to preserve the author’s voice while improving sentences, paragraphs, and passages.

I provide stylistic editing services. When you are ready, please email me to talk about your manuscript: writingsparklebooks@gmail.com. I believe that each project is unique, and I will provide you with a quote.

As noted in previous posts, you can view the Editorial Freelance Association website for recommended base rates that some editors use. For other information about what editors might charge, you can visit the Editor’s Canada. These are both tools I use when providing your quote.

To find out more about me and my qualifications, you can visit the “About” page.

Here is a sample memorandum and content/stylistic edit I completed: