Proofreading & Editing Editorial Ethics & Professional Practice

Question 1

What does 'preserving the author's voice' mean in editing?

Accepted Answer

Making edits that improve correctness without changing the author's unique style or tone

Answer

Refusing to change any part of the text

Answer

Rewriting the text to match a preferred style guide

Answer

Removing all colloquialisms from the text

Question 2

Which organization provides a professional code of ethics for editors in the United States?

Accepted Answer

Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA)

Answer

Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ)

Answer

American Library Association (ALA)

Answer

National Education Association (NEA)

Question 3

What is 'ghost editing'?

Accepted Answer

Editing a document anonymously without credit

Answer

Editing only for errors that are invisible to most readers

Answer

Removing all traces of an author's revisions

Answer

Editing text after it has already been published

Question 4

What should an editor do if they discover potentially factual errors in a manuscript?

Accepted Answer

Query the author to verify or correct the information

Answer

Correct the errors without notifying the author

Answer

Delete the questionable content

Answer

Reject the manuscript immediately

Question 5

What is the significance of a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) in editorial work?

Accepted Answer

It requires the editor to keep the content of the manuscript confidential

Answer

It sets the editing fee schedule

Answer

It transfers copyright from the author to the editor

Answer

It specifies the deadline for the editorial project

Question 6

When editing a document, what is a 'conflict of interest'?

Accepted Answer

A personal relationship or financial stake that could bias the editor's judgment

Answer

Disagreeing with the author's argument

Answer

Editing in a field you are not an expert in

Answer

Charging more than the standard editing rate