Artwork for podcast The Editing Podcast
8 copyediting essentials
Tools for writers and editors Episode 1514th February 2026 • The Editing Podcast • Louise Harnby (fiction editor) and Denise Cowle (non-fiction editor)
00:00:00 00:16:41

Share Episode

Shownotes

Learn about 8 tips that will make your copyediting life easier.

Listen to find out more about

  1. Understanding the power of Microsoft Word’s Styles pane
  2. Knowing how to use consistency-checking software
  3. Being able to use macros
  4. Using Word’s Navigation pane.
  5. Knowing how to find and use the pilcrow tool in Word
  6. Understanding how to use Word’s Find/Replace function
  7. Removing extraneous tabs and spaces
  8. Creating properly defined paragraphs

Resources

  1. Editing in Word: Using Styles: https://www.louiseharnbyproofreader.com/editing-in-word-using-styles.html
  2. PerfectIt: https://intelligentediting.com/home/
  3. Word Macro Tools: https://www.wordmacrotools.com/
  4. Wildcard Cookbook for Microsoft Word by Jack Lyon (via your regional Amazon store)

Book series: Notes from the Podcast

Want to hone your editorial business skills? Our actionable guides and workbooks help you plan and implement a programme for business growth and development.

Find out more here: https://www.louiseharnbyproofreader.com/notes.html

Support The Editing Podcast

Tip your hosts: Support Louise and Denise with a one-off tip of your choosing.

  1. theeditingpodcast.captivate.fm/support

Join our Patreon community: Our patrons benefit from access to PDF transcripts for episodes featuring just Louise and Denise, and for some of our guest episodes. Tier-2 patrons also receive bonus content for most episodes.

  1. patreon.com/editingpodcast

Denise and Louise

  1. Denise Cowle: denisecowleeditorial.com
  2. Louise Harnby: harnby.co/fiction-editing

Post-production

  1. Liv Cowle: livcowle.com

Music credit

'Vivacity’ by Kevin MacLeod

  1. Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/4593-vivacity
  2. Licence: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Links

Chapters

Video

More from YouTube

More Episodes
151. 8 copyediting essentials
00:16:41
146. Notes from the Podcast: New book series!
00:41:55
141. When should an editor build their website?
00:10:28
143. What are editorial reports, and should you write them?
00:13:14
138. Efficient editing: With Hester Higton
00:44:17
136. Editorial events: 10 practical tips for beginner presenters
00:17:31
135. Why not having client testimonials could be damaging your editing business
00:08:55
128. Should editors offer free discovery calls?
00:08:56
114. 5 ways editors can use text generative AI as a business tool
00:15:16
107. 5 ways to be a more efficient editor and proofreader, part 1
00:09:34
104. 8 reference books for business writing and editing
00:11:28
102. 5 questions you should answer before writing a business book
00:12:01
73. Editing with The Chicago Manual of Style for PerfectIt
00:41:33
2. Publishing lingo explained
00:15:35
24. Tips for formatting in Microsoft Word
00:13:24
7. Style sheets for writing and editing
00:11:50
23. 10 killer editing macros for writers and editors
00:13:27
21. How to edit for consistency and style with PerfectIt
00:45:45
19. How to prepare your book file for editing
00:24:38
31. Copyediting and the fact-checking process
00:16:23
50. 18 writing-craft blogs for editors and authors
00:17:05