By eContent Pro
on Nov 9, 2017
Be realistic; publishers won’t release content
that’s error-ridden, sloppy, and poorly written. And for journal editors, well,
it’s usually their responsibility to ensure that each manuscript included in
upcoming issues has flawless grammar, sophisticated readability, and the
accurate use of style and formatting.
“If the content is decisive for acceptance of
the manuscript, then the language style is also important both in the review
process and later for its potential readers,” says Dr. Carlos Nunes Silva,
Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of E-Planning Research. Dr. Nunes Silva
talked with eContent Pro International about the vital role copy editing plays
in the development process of his journal’s manuscripts. Consider his
perspectives and advisements:
Q: First, what’s your favorite aspect of being
an Editor-in-Chief?
A: Being an Editor-in-Chief (EIC) is
time-consuming and requires a substantial amount of work. But, it is worth the
effort as it is a challenging, intellectually interesting, and rewarding
activity. If I have to mention three or four favorite aspects of being the EIC
of the International Journal of E-Planning Research (IJEPR), one would
certainly to be able to see the journal growing after being founded by me in
2011/2012 and working on a regular basis with members of the Editorial Board
and with the staff at IGI Global.
Another favorite aspect is certainly the
possibility of keeping in contact with ongoing, ground-breaking research, with
new issues and emerging trends in my research field. It’s a rewarding
experience to meet and keep in contact with established scholars and rising
stars in the new generations of researchers. I feel that being the founder and
Editor-in-Chief of a journal in a new and emerging research field—Urban
e-Planning—is a contribution to the advancement of science in this field.
Q: How would you describe the writing style that
your journal expects from the contributing authors to your journal?
A: I expect a simple and well-structured
presentation of the research reported in the article. The reader should be able
to clearly identify in the initial sections of the article the research
question(s), the theoretical approach, and the methodology. Data analysis and
discussion ought to be structured according to the theoretical and
methodological approach, all based in relevant bibliographical references. The
conclusion must retain the main outcomes of the research presented and shall
not be a second abstract (summary).
Q: What approaches do you take in providing
constructive feedback to contributing authors pertaining to writing style and
copy editing?
A: I recommend professional copy editing for the
manuscript. In these cases, I tend to recommend copy editing by an
English-native professional. In some cases, I call to attention that a
next-door colleague who speaks English well is probably not the best copy
editor, and therefore, a professional should be contacted.
Q: How do you handle instances where a
manuscript is conceptually sound but in need of major copy editing?
A: It is not accepted until it meets the required
copy-editing quality and criteria. It is the author’s responsibility to submit
a fully edited manuscript.
Q: In your expert opinion, what role does
copy-edited content play in the success of your journal in particular?
A: Although the journal was recently inaugurated,
more availability of a copy-editing service associated with the journal
certainly has or will have an important role in this journal’s success, as in
any other journal.
Q: When it comes to the copy editing of their
work, what advice do you have for authors whose native language is a language
other than English, or even for those who are native English speakers?
A: Despite the journal’s policy that requires from
the authors fully edited manuscripts, I frequently found it necessary to
recommend professional copy editing. If the content is decisive for acceptance
of the manuscript, the language style is also important both in the review
process and later for its potential readers.
I'm persuaded to say that authors seem to be
increasingly aware of how important it is to have proper use of the English
language, as some refer that the manuscript has been professionally copy edited
prior to submission.
Many thanks to the Editor-in-Chief of IJEPR, Dr.
Carlos Nunes Silva, for his cooperation and insights
