ABSTRACT
This chapter presents two types of editing work that are more difficult because they do not involve applying rules: tailoring vocabulary and sentence structure to the particular readers of a text and to the use they will make of it; and creating a smooth-flowing text by fixing problems such as poor inter-sentence connections, wrong focus within sentences, confusing verbosity, and awkward sentence structures. Since stylistic editing is not as cut and dried as copyediting, there is a danger of making too many changes. The geographical location of readers may differ from the geographical location of the author, whose work is being edited. As a result, it may be necessary to eliminate Australianisms, Americanisms, Britishisms, and so on. Besides time and place, editing of material, which was written decades ago, may involve changing obsolete words to contemporary terms.
