Features “Copy Editor” vs “Manuscript Editor” vs . . .: Venturing onto the Minefield of Titles

Cheryl Iverson Figure. Job description for a JAMA/Archives manuscript editor, as In the spring of 2003, a request from a posted on the CSE Web site in June 2003. copy editor at the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) was taken Manuscript Editor to the senior staff meeting for consid- eration: Could the copy editors’ title be You will edit scientific articles written by physicians and researchers for a specialized changed to manuscript editor, a change medical readership of clinicians and academicians. You will edit technical medical that would—the requestor felt—bet- copy on an electronic publishing system for clarity, accuracy, precision, readability, ter reflect the scope of work done and technical and structural accuracy, and strict conformity to AMA style. You will sub- help gain the editor the respect needed stantively rewrite all copy as necessary, particularly for authors whose first language to negotiate changes with authors? The is not English. You will perform research for clarification and verification of medical group was in agreement with making a terms, technical terms, drug names, correct units of measure, reference citations, change that would reflect the work done medical product names, and medical manufacturers’ and institutions’ names and and satisfy the staff—and (an important locations, as well as perform mathematical conversions to the international system factor in days of tight budgets) cost noth- of units (SI). You will also edit charts and graphs, tables, and equations to conform ing! When all the copyediting staff were to AMA style and to ensure the integrity and clarity of tabular and graphics content, polled on the change, agreement was and you will create tables from prose, make tables into prose, or combine tables as almost unanimous; a few felt that “copy appropriate. In addition you will negotiate the approval of edited copy and perform editor” encompassed more than “manu- liaison duties between the author, the editor, and other editorial and production staff script editor”, reflecting that editors also members. edit figures and tables in addition to the manuscript, but the objections were in lighter than manuscript editing.” Diane Burroughs-Boenisch, freelance editor the minority and were not strong. Stacy Berneath Lang, assistant director of and translator in the Netherlands, asked, Christiansen, director of editing for publications at the Radiological Society “Is ‘technical editor’ another name for JAMA, supported the change: “I have of North America, concurred: “We use ‘manuscript editor’?” and “Is the techni- always associated ‘copy editor’ with ‘manuscript editor’ at RSNA. Our editors cal editor also responsible for the copy- newspapers. . . . While copy editors per- do more than just edit the copy, as a ‘copy editing?” Kathleen Lyle, freelance editor form valuable services for newspapers and editor’ might do (eg, checking spelling, in England, responded that “editorial other media, I think the medical editing correcting punctuation, and formatting). titles and job descriptions are a mine- positions on JAMA/Archives [see Figure] Our editors actually do substantive edit- field—there is no guarantee of consisten- and similar publications are different. We ing, revising the manuscripts for consis- cy between one publisher and another, or don’t write headlines and worry about tency and readability by the readers (eg, one journal or another.” She responded copy fitting. . . . We also have a much editing to ensure that all readers—includ- “probably” to Dr Burroughs-Boenisch’s richer relationship with the authors on ing those for whom English is not the first question and, to the second, “Yes, each article . . . and we edit substan- native language and those who are not and for proofreading (or collation), tively.” experts in radiology—could reproduce indexing, and liaison with typesetters and Christiansen’s sentiments were echoed the study or apply the technique in their other suppliers. Also wrapping parcels, by a few colleagues in Chicago whom I own patients). Thus we prefer the title making coffee, and all the other things polled. Margaret Perkins, chief manu- ‘manuscript editor’ since we are editing people do in offices.” script editor for the medical journals the manuscript as a whole.” It was the issue of substantive editing published by the University of Chicago This reminded me of a recent discus- and working closely with the author that Press, responded: “We use ‘manuscript sion on titles that had appeared on the most often was key to characterizing editor’ here: copyediting is viewed as European Association of Science Editors the editor’s work, regardless of the titles (EASE) listserv. (This dialogue was sum- used. On one side was what some called CHERYL IVERSON is managing editor of the marized in the EASE bulletin, European copyediting (and some called technical AMA Archives Journals. Science Editing, in August 2003.1) Joy editing): a lighter editing that focused

Science Editor • March - April 2004 • Vol 27 • No 2 • 39 Features Titles continued on tidying up—ensuring house style, the publication for that author, convey- ed none of these people in the masthead. correcting misspellings, and attending to ing comments about the article from The masthead included the editor of grammar, punctuation, and usage. On the other editors and the legal department, the journal; the associate, assistant, and other side was what some refer to as sub- helping settle any disputes with the fact deputy editors; the members of the edi- stantive editing (and some called techni- checker, making sure that the author torial board; and perhaps the managing cal editing, or work done by an author’s gets paid, keeping him or her informed editor. No editorial or production staff editor): deleting redundant information, about changes of editorial direction, etc. were included. That prompted me to find asking for clarification of meaning, short- It’s true that the jobs of the copy editor out when JAMA began including the staff ening verbose text, reformatting figures and the manuscript editor overlap even who work on the journals on its mast- and tables as appropriate, clarifying ques- in this model. When I worked as a copy head—something I assumed had been tions from the scientific (content) editor, editor, I was never hesitant about sug- done from time immemorial. Wrong. The and working closely with the author. For gesting major substantive revisions when first appearance of more than the manag- some who responded, the dividing line they seemed warranted. And particularly ing editor or the division director of the was often the point of acceptance of the if the person responsible for the copyedit- editorial department was not until 1964. manuscript: what was done before accep- ing is also the person who works directly At that time, a one-third-page masthead tance was the second type of editing; with the author, I can understand why he was devoted to a list of staff involved in what was done after acceptance was the or she might want to be called a manu- the work on the journal. That made me first type. This is related to the question script editor. It suggests responsibility for wonder whether, in addition to questions of allegiance raised by some as the deter- the manuscript, which, I think, seems to of what titles people hold, we should also mining factor: The technical editor works carry more authority than simply being inquire about how the work done by staff for the publisher, and the author’s editor responsible for the copy does.” with all these titles is recognized. works for the author, so the author’s edi- The key is that regardless of whether One doesn’t venture onto a minefield tor may be more likely to do the second the editor is editing before or after accep- lightly. Aside from curiosity or daring, type of editing and the publisher’s editor tance or working for the author or the reasons for taking this risk might be to the first type. publisher, the editor is really working see how the minefield can be cleared or However, as seen in the comments for the reader and—if blessed with suf- at least how it can be navigated safely. from editorial directors at JAMA/Archives, ficient initiative, knowledge, and sup- Curiosity and daring aside, here are a few RSNA, and the University of Chicago, port—will perform tasks on both sides of thoughts for further reflection. that distinction does not hold true. Mary the “divide” (light vs substantive editing) Ellen Kerans, in Spain, noted that “I’ve without separating them. • It is important to be clear about found that copyediting has been redefined To see how people in the CSE database responsibilities. Titles afford one way with each generation. . . . When I first described themselves, there was a slight to do that. For in-house staff at a pub- edited in the 1970s, no one used terms predominance of “manuscript editor” (or lisher, this can be achieved through like ‘substantive editor’ because copy edi- titles containing those words) over “copy a title that is linked to a detailed job tors were all such.” I think that there is no editor” (or titles containing these words): description. For freelance staff, work- doubt that many of them still are. 23 vs 16 (based on a “sort” of the database ing with authors or publishers, it can Barbara Wallraff, editor of the newslet- provided by Seth Beckerman, September be achieved through discussions and ter Copy Editor: Language News for the 2003). Other titles found in the CSE contracts. Publishing Professional and editor of the database that might reflect similar types • Responsibilities can grow—editors who “Word Court” column in The Atlantic, of work include “scientific/technical edi- show ability and initiative and have related her own experience as a copy tor”, “technical editor”, “medical editor”, the support of those they work for can editor and seconded that notion. When “scientific editor”, and “author’s editor”. expand the boundaries of their edit- queried about the question of “copy A quick review of the mastheads of a con- ing in many different directions (for editor” vs “manuscript editor”, she venience sample of journals on display in example, writing abstracts, rewriting responded: “At a publication like The the American Medical Association’s text, and reformatting tables) and, by Atlantic, the copy editor reads galleys James S Todd Memorial Library con- so doing, perhaps expand their titles. and makes suggestions, which get passed tributed yet more titles that might fall • It is critical to recognize not only the along to the manuscript, or article, editor. into the same category: “staff editor” work that is expected but the work The manuscript editor may (or may not) and “publisher’s editor”. The minefield that is done. Recognition may take the have commissioned the article in the is large. form of a title change (which may or first place; is responsible for any major But what amazed me in my review of may not be linked to a salary change), reshaping, cutting, or other substantive these publications was that many of the it may occur through the support that editing that is done; and is the face of scientific publications I surveyed includ- is given to the editor, and it may occur

40 • Science Editor • March - April 2004 • Vol 27 • No 2 Features Titles continued

through a listing on the masthead or Why is it that the copy editor/ the people who do copyediting or manu- positive comments from author to manuscript editor/technical editor/ script editing? editor. As an example of such a title author’s editor question has for many We have not cleared the minefield, change, in 2002 The Lancet changed excited such debate—been such a mine- only become a little more aware of its its manuscript editors’ titles to assistant field? The minefield of titles exists for scope. And possibly gained a few ideas on editor precisely because “they do more many titles beyond these—“managing how to walk through it more carefully: than editing” (for example, writing editor”, for example, a self-designation request clearer job descriptions, be will- summaries of articles, writing short claimed by over 100 CSE members, covers ing to take initiative, request support for pieces for the end-of-year supplement, an enormous range of tasks. Yet people do our contributions, and ask for greater rec- writing “News in Brief”, and commis- not seem to fret about it or write about it. ognition (as with authorship) of editing’s sioning and editing the “Health and Is it because freelance work is most often contribution to the final publication. Human Rights” section of the journal done in manuscript editing and this work [Zöe Mullan, senior editor, written requires a better clarification of what is Reference communication, 3 November 2003]). required or requested? Is it because of the 1. EASE-forum digest: March-June 2003. European lack of recognition sometimes given to Science Editing 2003 Aug;29:79-80.

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