So, okay, as a former college history teacher, I would think that. I admit I’m very context-oriented. And copyediting is more than fixing typos—it’s about understanding context.

Recently, I was out with a friend and told her about a new copyediting tool I had discovered. It helps me ensure consistent application of the Chicago Manual of Style guidelines.

She looked startled and asked, “Won’t that make your job obsolete?”

Ha. No.

Here’s one example I gave her: My editing software doesn’t know the difference between “twentieth century” and “twentieth-century” or when to use one or the other.

One is a noun phrase (“twentieth century”), while the other serves as an adjective (“twentieth-century”).

  • The twentieth century (noun phrase): "The twentieth century was marked by breakthroughs in communication."
  • Twentieth-century (adjective): "Twentieth-century communication technologies revolutionized how people connected across distances."

The hyphen transforms the term into a modifier, clarifying its role in the sentence. Tools might miss subtle differences like this, but a human copy editor can evaluate a sentence in its full context to ensure it aligns with the intended meaning.

It’s not just about grammar. Automated tools can often undermine a writer’s tone or voice. One of the beautiful things about the English language is its remarkable flexibility. Some tools, however, can get a bit snippy about this flexibility.

For instance, one popular tool despises passive voice in writing. While no one wants to write entirely in passive voice (The ball was kicked by him), and active voice (She kicked the ball) is generally clearer and more concise, passive voice is a stylistic choice that can be used sparingly to emphasize ideas.

(My editing tool just had a meltdown over that last sentence, by the way. It is demanding I revise to get rid of my example of passive voice.)

Human copy editors are still essential. We do more than fix typos. We bring clarity, consistency, and context to your writing. (And often, we have to settle disputes between different editing tools when they go to war with each other on the screen, but that’s another story.)

Have questions about your next project? Let’s chat!

~ Sherry Howard Salois