What Is a Sample Edit?

If you’re an author who’s seeking out professional editing services for the first time, you’ll likely come across an option that may be unfamiliar to you: the sample edit.

What exactly does a sample edit involve? Why would an author want to see one, and why do editors offer them? Here’s what you need to know about this important aspect of the editing process.

The Details of a Sample Edit

A sample edit is a preview of coming attractions. It offers authors a peek into the scope and quality of services that a particular line editor or copyeditor, if hired, will provide on the full manuscript. (Note that typically developmental edits and proofreads do not include a sample; those services require a deeper look at the manuscript as a whole, which is not possible to demonstrate in a short extract.) Some editors charge a fee for a sample edit, while others offer them gratis. And depending on the individual editor’s or agency’s process, the sample edit might take place before or after a contract is signed; this could also be negotiated on an individual basis.

In the sample, the editor works on a short excerpt from the author’s manuscript—usually a passage of roughly 500 to 1,000 words (2–4 pages). The sample is generally sourced from around the middle of the work, as the opening and conclusion of a completed draft tend to be a bit more polished. However, an author can also request that an editor work on a particular chapter, section, or even specific pages.

The specifics of a sample edit will vary according to the level of editing you’re looking for.

Copyediting addresses elements such as grammar and mechanics, usage, citations, document formatting, spelling (e.g., ensuring consistent use of UK or US spelling), basic fact-checking, and adherence to a style guide.

With line editing, you may receive suggestions regarding word choice, sentence structure, organization and flow, concision, tone, and other areas pertaining to the style and artistry of the writing. You might also ask a line editor to focus on a specific goal, such as drastically reducing the word count, refining a rough translation, or smoothing out stylistic disparities or transitions between different components of a larger work.

A sample edit will typically include a summative note explaining in broad strokes what the editor focused on—that is, what the author can eventually expect from the full edit—and highlighting specific examples from the sample.

The Purpose of a Sample Edit

Both the editor and the author should approach the sample edit as representative of the work the editor can and will do on the full manuscript. But the two parties can also benefit from a sample edit in distinct ways.

• The Author

The most obvious reason an author would want a sample edit is to inform their decision about whether to hire the editor.

You might be unclear on the difference between various levels of editing, or uncertain what one particular type entails. You might be choosing between multiple potential editors (in which case it’s important to ask each editor to use the same excerpt for their sample edit). Perhaps you have only a nebulous sense of a problem you’d like a full edit to address, and you want to see a concrete example of how an editor might tackle the issue.

A sample edit provides evidence of an editor’s specific skills, talents, and alignment with the author’s goals. In an age of remote transactions, this kind of practical proof is essential. But whether you’ve found an editor through an online search or know them through your personal or professional circles, there’s a wide gulf between being broadly assured of an editor’s competence and being confident that they can give you the specific kind of editorial support you need.

Through the sample edit, an editor can display their technical proficiency in addressing, say, mechanical issues and footnotes. The sample can also help you gauge how attuned an editor is to your own voice, style, and intended audience.

• The Editor

On the other side of the relationship, the editor also reaps rewards from providing a sample edit.

The sample edit is an opportunity for the editor to demonstrate what the work entails—as well as showcase their value to the current project, and possibly future ones. Even an author who’s familiar with the editing process can be wowed by a stellar sample edit.

An editor may also use the sample edit to help determine the scope and timeline of the project, and therefore to set their rate.

Finally, a sample edit can act as an effective early warning system, confirming a manuscript’s readiness—or unreadiness—for a particular level of editing. For instance, a copyeditor may complete a sample edit and find that the manuscript as a whole would actually benefit from a line edit, or even a developmental edit, prior to a full copy edit. In these cases, the editor might send the manuscript back to the author with quite different recommendations for moving forward than the author had expected.

• The Author-Editor Relationship

Ultimately, the sample edit should tell both parties whether the editor is a good fit for the project—and for the author.

Does the editor’s approach match the author’s aims? Does their particular communication style make the author feel supported? Is there a strong misalignment when it comes to values or subject matter—that is, is the project one that the editor wishes to take on? These issues are all best caught at the sample edit stage, where both author and editor have the chance to amicably pass on this working relationship if need be.

And if both parties wish to forge ahead with a full edit, a sample edit will still have provided valuable information. It’s an opportunity for the author to give the editor crucial feedback on what they want them to focus on, which kinds of suggestions are most useful, whether to err on the side of querying or making changes directly through Track Changes, etc.

Conclusion

Whether you have extensive experience with professional editing or this is your first rodeo, you and your manuscript can benefit substantially from a sample edit. Say yes to the sample, and set your author-editor relationship up for success!