Why Hire an Editor?
Some things are best left to experts. Electric wiring. Plumbing. Car repairs. Editing. The truth is that everyone makes mistakes. All it takes is a few words that can be misread horribly, amusingly, or horribly amusingly, and you’ll get spread all over social media (and not for the reason you want)—or all over the floor of a courtroom (with a legal decision against you).
Editing disasters are real, and they can be expensive and damaging. Editors do a lot more than catch errors. They tighten your text and make it more effective in conveying your message to your audience. A text that hasn’t been professionally edited can often be spotted as easily as fridge art can be distinguished from gallery art. But what really stands out is when lack of an editorial eye costs you money—and reputation.
If you don’t have an in-house editor on your staff, there are many advantages of using an independent editor. Here are a few of them:
- You save staff time—and you keep staff focused on the jobs they were hired for. That means you get more from your staff (and their job satisfaction will probably be higher when they’re not interrupted with proofreading assignments).
- It ensures consistency of style and vision when you have an ongoing relationship with your editor, and at the same time it only costs you money when you are having them do work.
- It gives a fresh external perspective that no one inside your organization can provide.
- Many editors are in-depth subject matter experts. And you may be surprised at how many editors have master’s degrees and doctorates.
- Editors have the right tools and know how to use them. Not only are they whip-smart at grammar and usage, they’re often expert fact-checkers. In other words, they’re there to make YOU look even smarter.
Never forget: Every text you’ve really enjoyed or found useful has had one or more editors who helped make it that way! An independent editor can help you do the same with your words.
Mission, Vision and Values
Áccent on Words’ Mission
- We embrace each story that comes our way as if it were our own.
- We empower you to tell your story, in your words, your way.
Áccent on Words’ Vision
To make a positive impact in the lives of individuals and in our small area of the world by successfully expanding our editing and writing services throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond.
Áccent on Words’ Values
- Consistently strive for excellence.
- Continually develop and improve our expertise.
- Always aim to enlighten and entertain with creativity.
- Forever operate with authenticity and integrity.
Leadership
Áccent on Words is led by freelance editor Dr. Deborah Jackson. She has more than 15 years of professional experience writing, editing, proofreading and formatting a wide variety of documents. She also has extensive academic writing and editing experience (dissertations, masters’ theses, grad papers, journal articles).
She has edited and ghostwritten various types of books and other publications (for more information, see our Clients page).
She has written newspaper articles and currently writes and edits e-newsletters and press releases for clients on request, according to Associated Press style and, if requested, designed to the standard of a particular PR website.
Deborah Jackson earned a doctorate in organizational management and consulting (a PsyD) from Phillips Graduate University, a bachelor of arts degree in English from the University of Washington in Seattle and earned multiple awards for excellence in newspaper writing and copy editing and in on-the-spot competitions in journalism while at Los Angeles Pierce College.
Áccent on Words 