Glossary of Editing Terms for Better Content Review Conversations

The extent to which content is free from errors or inaccuracies.

A sentence structure where the subject performs the action stated by the verb.

A word that modifies a verb, adjective, or other adverb. Adverbs frequently end in -ly.

A prefix or suffix added to a root word to change its meaning. For example, the prefix re- and the root word do make the word redo.

The repetition of initial consonant sounds.

Consisting of both letters and numbers.

The process of closely examining the structure and elements of content.

To add notes or commentary to text.

The Associated Press’s widely used writing style guide followed by news publications.

A piece of nonfiction writing found in publications.

The evaluation or estimation of content to judge its quality, readability, structure, etc.

A systematic review of content to identify problems.

Content that is trustworthy, accurate, and credible due to the expertise of the creator.

Prejudice in favor of or against something that results in unfair treatment or representation.

A list of references or sources cited in a piece of writing.

The main text that makes up the bulk of a written work.

Standardized text that can be reused in multiple documents with little or no modification.

Written instructions about the goals, key points, tone, and audience for a content project.

The name of the author published with a piece of writing.

Writing words with their first letter as a capital letter and the remaining letters in lowercase.

A writing style guide published by the University of Chicago Press.

The quality of being coherent, logical, and free from ambiguity.

The logical, orderly flow of ideas in a piece of writing.

Ideas that connect logically using transitions and flow smoothly from one to the next.

An in-depth edit addressing content, structure, and mechanical issues.

Expressing ideas clearly and directly using few words. Removing unnecessary words.

The written, visual, or audio information contained in media like articles, blogs, videos, etc.

Evaluating and analyzing existing content to determine its quality, relevance, effectiveness.

The systematic process of reviewing, evaluating, and ensuring that content meets established standards for accuracy, consistency, clarity, and brand guidelines before publication or distribution. The AI Content QA Kit is a short, practical system for doing this with AI-assisted content.

Reworking and updating old content so that the refreshed content is more reflective of your current offers and product features.

Taking existing content and adapting or repackaging it into a new format or medium.

The planning and governing of content creation across channels to meet business goals.

The text content of any written material, like brochures, websites, ads, direct mail, etc.

Editing text for grammar, spelling, punctuation, accuracy, and consistency.

The exclusive legal right to reproduce, publish, and sell creative content.

Substantive editing or structural editing that focuses on the big picture of a written work.

The preliminary version of a piece of writing that will undergo revision before being finalized.

The process of revising written content to improve its clarity, organization, conciseness, and accuracy.

A professional content reviewer who examines and revises written material to improve it in line with established standards.

Verifying every claim in a piece of content (numbers, names, dates, quotes, features, and prices) against a reliable source before publication. It is essential for AI-assisted drafts. See the free AI content review checklist.

The clear, natural, easy flow of language in a piece of writing.

Arranging text on a page through spacing, fonts, headings, etc.

Optimizing content for AI models so that your wording is what the AI pulls into its answer.

The set of rules that govern how words are used in a language.

Subheadings that orient readers and break text into logical sections.

When an AI tool states something false or invented with confidence, such as a made-up statistic, quote, source, or product feature. Editors catch hallucinations through fact-checking. See Hallucination in the AI glossary.

Short, attention-grabbing sentences placed above articles to summarize content.

The set of editorial rules or guidelines followed within a particular organization.

A process in which a person reviews and approves AI-generated or AI-assisted content before it is published.

An alphabetical list of keywords with page numbers used to help locate information.

Specialized technical terminology used in a particular field or industry.

The opening section of an article that draws readers in and introduces the topic.

How easily text can be read based on elements like font, size, and spacing.

Adapting content for a specific culture, language, country, or market.

Professional editor who refines and enhances marketing content to ensure it is clear, engaging, and on-brand.

The grammar, spelling, punctuation, formatting, and other technical aspects of writing.

To arrange pieces of writing in a logical way using structure and sequencing.

A hierarchical overview of a writing plan including key points for each section.

A sentence structure where the subject receives the action. Example: The document was proofread by the editor.

The repeated use of literary devices like metaphors, imagery, dialogue, etc.

Having colleagues examine and provide feedback on a document.

Passing off someone else’s writing, ideas, or work as your own.

Checking a piece of writing for errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

Preparing and issuing content to make it available to an audience.

Marks like periods, commas, and semicolons used to organize and clarify writing.

The ease with which a reader can understand a written text.

Unnecessary repetition of words, phrases, or ideas.

A work cited by another work.

Reworking a piece of writing by adding, organizing, clarifying, and deleting content.

The process of rewriting and refining a draft of writing.

The art of effective and persuasive speaking or writing.

A SaaS editor is someone who edits content for software-as-a-service companies, where the writing usually lives online and is meant to explain, sell, or support a software product.

The parameters, limits, or breadth of a writing project.

Search engine optimization; crafting content to improve visibility and ranking in web searches.

A particular order in which related events, ideas, etc. follow each other.

Expressing ideas clearly and directly without unnecessary complexity.

An original document or text used during research.

The organization of sections and order of ideas in a piece of writing.

The distinctive way text is written regarding word choice, phrasing, sentence structure, etc.

A set of standards for writing and designing content within an organization.

The arrangement of words and phrases to create sentences.

Editor who ensures technical content is clear, correct, and actually understandable to its target audience.

An editor of technical content, such as SaaS content, with experience in editing for that industry.

A predesigned document used as a starting point for new projects.

The attitude expressed by the language, style, and content of a text.

A sentence that summarizes the central idea of a paragraph.

Connecting words like however, therefore, finally that link ideas and sections smoothly.

Including different types of sentence structures, words, and phrases to engage readers.

Text voice is the personality your writing gives off. It’s how something sounds in someone’s head when they read it.

Selecting specific words and phrases to convey meaning vs. other options.