Academic editors edit and proofread research papers, dissertations, academic book manuscripts, or other education-related publications. They must have advanced degrees, strong writing/editing skills, and a thorough understanding of academic standards. They may work with universities, professors, think tanks, or online writing services. A scholarly editor must be an expert in citation format and manuscript formatting. They may hold master’s or doctoral degrees in English or other fields. Technological advances have allowed for expanding opportunities in online writing companies.
An academic editor usually works full-time or freelance with academic editors, faculty, or students to edit and proofread research papers, dissertations, academic book manuscripts, or other education-related publications. Most academic editors hold advanced degrees in one or more academic disciplines and have strong writing/editing skills. Another important qualification for becoming an academic editor is a thorough understanding of academic standards, including citation requirements. An alternative career, perhaps of a part-time nature, might be for a scholarly editor to work for an online writing service.
Professional expertise to thoroughly review and proofread all forms of scholarly content prior to publication is an important quality for a scholarly editor. In short, a scholarly editor must be an expert wordsmith. Many publications, for example, also require manuscripts to be formatted a certain way, including and including a specific font and spacing. A scholarly editor must also be an expert in citation format for a given discipline. Requirements for footnotes, endnotes, and bibliographies may differ depending on the field of study and publication.
Among other jobs, a scholarly editor may choose to work with a university press, an individual professor, or a think tank. Academic editors can work in-house for academic editors to oversee the editing, formatting, and proofreading of academic papers. Some professors hire freelance academic editors to review written work for grammar, spelling, style, or fact-checking before formally submitting their articles or manuscripts to academic editors. A scholarly editor may also work with experts from a public policy think tank or private research foundation to review text in upcoming publications, online or in print.
Technological advances in the 21st century have allowed expanding opportunities for scholarly publishers through online writing companies. These companies offer editing and formatting services of various types to the students. This job often allows an editor to work flexible hours, earn additional income, and help students who may be struggling with their courses.
The diverse field of scholarly editing does not necessarily have a uniform educational requirement. In the United States, however, many scholarly editors have earned master’s or doctoral degrees in English, plus perhaps a specialty in another field in the humanities or the social or hard sciences. These degree programs can provide enough opportunities to strengthen editing skills. Many academic editors have training and experience beyond the published authors themselves.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
