You finally finished your article! You were awarded a byline, so you poured everything you had into it, edited it as best you could for clarity, and gave it a great title. You sent it off to the editor to review and publish online or in print (or both), and now you’re sitting back and waiting for your pride and joy to be revealed to the world so you can share it with your friends and family.

So you wait… and you wait a little bit longer… and then the article goes live! You rush to the nearest store to buy a copy before the contributor copy is mailed to you. You refresh the website, delete the cookies, and then refresh again. Finally, you see it. You see your name in shining lights at the top of the article and read your work in the flesh for the first time. It starts out reading great, but then you see… a typo. Some repetition. A misplaced modifier that you don’t remember.

“Did I… Did I write this?” you think to yourself, ashamed of the very thing you were just so proud of. You go back to your final draft and compare the two to get a sense check, and you find that, no, you’re not imagining things. These mistakes aren’t yours to claim; they’re new.

So what happened? Well, as much as we rely on editors to make sure that a manuscript or draft is completely free of error, they’re still human. Editors (myself included) tend to be perfectionists when it comes to words–but realistically, we won’t always get it right 100% of the time.

How to Address Introduced Errors from Editing

So, once you find the mistake(s), how do you address it?

• Assess the error (severity, type of error, if there’s an error, etc.).
• Communicate the issue to your editor (offer context to help them understand your intention).
• Remain professional (be respectful and understanding).

What About Printed Work?

Of course, when an article goes to print, we, unfortunately, can’t do too much about the copies that are already in circulation, but flagging any mistakes to the editor or editor-in-chief can help them prevent the error from living on to the next reprint.

How to Prevent the Introduction of Errors

As with anything we want to avoid, there are a few preventive things you can do to avoid the risk of introducing errors to your work, from using track changes to keeping copies of the work you submit or receive prior to edits.

Tips for Writers

• Communication is key! Discuss your expectations with your editor in advance. Share background information or research materials that support your work for them to easily reference.
• If you’re contracting an editor, offer a style guide or document outlining your stylistic and writing preferences.
• Always keep an original, unedited version of your work. That way, you can easily spot unintended changes if they occur.
• Request track changes from your editor so you can see all of the modifications made to your work.
• Review edits in stages rather than after all the edits have been completed.

Tips for Editors

• Take breaks! This is especially important if you’re working on a longer manuscript. When you step away, even if it’s just for five minutes, you can come back to the work with fresh eyes. Along with this, avoid rushing. While we all want to make sure a piece of writing is finalized as soon as possible, it’s not worth the risk of ending up with subpar work.
• Change your perspective. Print the article out, change the font or font size, or read everything out loud. Doing this will force you to see the work in a different way, helping you identify errors you might have missed.
• Leave the major revisions to the writer. As an editor, your job should be to help the writer ensure their work is clear and correct. If you have concerns about anything beyond this, have a conversation with the author about potential rewrites. Doing so will not only help the writer improve their own craft, but prevent you from accidentally taking on additional, unnecessary work.
• Remember: Editors aren’t perfect. Sure, we would love to have a clean, well-written article attached to our name, but don’t get too caught up in the fear of making a mistake. You’re still human, so focus on doing your best, and the rest will follow!

As embarrassing as it might seem to go back to your editor and request a change in the final live draft, it’s completely normal. However, if you’re still hesitant, think of it this way: Wouldn’t it be more embarrassing to leave a mistake up for readers to see when your name is all over it? So be proud of your work, and protect it from errors!