Editing and Proofreading

Scope of Editing and Proofreading in Persian

At a near‑native level you must distinguish clearly between editing and proofreading in Persian, and know what is realistically expected from a professional or academic text in Persian.

Editing in Persian focuses on content and structure. You check if arguments are clear, paragraphs are well organized, references are used correctly, and the register is consistent with the audience, for example academic, journalistic, or bureaucratic. Proofreading focuses on form, for example spelling, punctuation, clitics, number and gender agreement, and typography.

In Persian, this distinction is important because some issues that seem minor to learners have a strong impact on perceived professionalism. For instance, confusion between colloquial and formal verb forms, inconsistent spacing around the ezāfe, or the wrong script for Arabic loanwords can make a text look unpolished even if the content is solid.

In professional environments in Iran it is common to see labels like «ویراستاری علمی» for content or academic editing, «ویراستاری زبانی» for language editing, and «صفحه‌آرایی» for layout. Proofreading is often called «نمونه‌خوانی». You should be able to understand these terms and, where relevant, specify which service you are offering.

Typical Persian Editing Problems at Advanced Level

At C2 level, you no longer struggle with basic grammar, but you still need to correct systematic high‑level problems that occur in advanced Persian texts. Some of the most common involve register, redundancy, and overly literal translation.

Many advanced learners transfer structures from English or other languages, which produces heavy or unnatural Persian. For example, stacking too many possessives with the ezāfe, or reproducing English passive constructions where Persian would prefer an active or impersonal form. An editor must recognize when a sentence is technically correct but stylistically non‑Persian and propose a more idiomatic version.

Redundancy is another frequent issue in formal Persian. Pairs like «کامل و تمام»، «لازم و ضروری» or «به طور کلی به صورت کلی» can appear in texts that try to sound more serious. In most academic or professional writing these doublets should be reduced to one accurate term, or removed when unnecessary.

Register inconsistency is particularly visible in advanced texts. Authors may insert colloquial particles like «ها»، «دیگه»، «فقط خب»، or colloquial verb forms such as «می‌خوام» in the middle of otherwise formal prose. As an editor you must decide whether to neutralize all colloquial traces, or to keep a light conversational tone if the genre allows it.

Finally, advanced texts often overuse Arabicized abstract nouns. Strings of «ـیت»، «ـگی»، and compounds like «ناکارآمدی»، «غیرقابل‌قبولیت» can make a paragraph opaque. Editing involves breaking these into clearer verb phrases, reducing nominalization, and restoring a more dynamic rhythm that fits the communicative aim.

High‑Level Grammatical and Stylistic Checks

Proofreading at this level requires systematic checking of features that native speakers themselves often mishandle. You should internalize a mental checklist that you run through each paragraph.

Agreement in number and sometimes implicit gender must be checked carefully. For plural human nouns, the verb is usually in plural, as in «دانشجویان آمدند». But in formal writing, some authors use singular for collective or institutional subjects. As an editor, you ensure consistency, and adjust when ambiguity or awkwardness arises.

Clitics like «را», «هم»، «که», and object or possessive pronouns attached to verbs and nouns are frequent sources of errors. You must detect missing clitics, doubled clitics, and incorrect order, for example «آنها راش» instead of «آن را». Special attention is needed for «می» and «ن» as prefixes, and «ام»، «ای»، «است» as suffixes in formal copular forms.

Relative and complement clauses, especially those introduced by «که», are often overlong. Grammatically they may be correct, but you must evaluate whether nested clauses obscure the main point. Splitting one long sentence into two or three shorter ones is often an editorial improvement in academic Persian, even when the original is syntactically correct.

Finally, ellipsis and implied elements are frequent in educated Persian. Proofreading involves verifying that all omitted parts of the sentence can be clearly recovered from context. When ambiguity arises, you suggest adding minimal wording to clarify the referent of pronouns or the scope of modifiers, without overburdening the style.

Orthography and Spacing in Persian Texts

Professional proofreading in Persian pays particular attention to orthography. You must master contemporary norms, including those recommended by official bodies and major publishers, and you must be able to adapt to house style when necessary.

The most visible issue is the distinction between «ی» and «ک» in Persian and Arabic forms. In modern Iranian Persian the preferred practice is to use the Persian «ی» and «ک» in native and integrated loanwords, but to retain Arabic forms in direct quotations from Arabic. A proofreader watches for mixing of «ي» and «ی» within a single document, and normalizes consistently.

Another critical topic is spacing and the use of the zero‑width non‑joiner, called «نیم‌فاصله». Compound verbs, prefixes, suffixes, and some clitics require a half‑space rather than a full space or full joining. Unedited texts often show full spacing, which is readable but considered unprofessional, or full joining, which impairs clarity. As a professional proofreader, you ensure that forms like «می‌رود», «نمی‌دانم», «کتاب‌ها», and «دانشجویانِ ممتاز» follow a consistent, modern pattern compatible with the chosen style guide.

Correct spelling of Arabic loan plurals and broken plurals must also be checked. Many advanced users confuse similar singular and plural patterns or mix colloquial and formal forms. When an Arabic plural looks pretentious or is rare in actual educated usage, an editor may recommend replacing it with a transparent Persian plural with «ها» or «ان», unless the register explicitly demands the Arabic form.

Finally, orthography involves transliteration and the treatment of proper names from foreign languages. Proofreading requires consistent transcription of foreign terms into Persian script. You must decide on one form, such as «شکسپیر» instead of alternations like «شِکسپیر» or «شکسپیرر», and maintain it across the text.

Punctuation Conventions in Persian

Punctuation norms in Persian partly follow European patterns, but there are crucial differences that a proofreader must respect. You must be familiar with the set of punctuation marks used in Persian typography and apply them with discipline.

The comma «،» in Persian is shaped differently from the English comma and has specific uses. It separates items in a list, marks brief pauses within a sentence, and sets off some subordinate clauses. However, its overuse to mimic spoken pauses can create very long and heavy sentences. Proofreading often involves removing unnecessary commas and adding full stops to create clearer sentence boundaries.

The full stop «.» functions similarly to English and is generally used after complete statements. In some older or bureaucratic texts, you may find sentence fragments connected only with commas. As an editor, you usually standardize to full sentences with proper full stops where logical.

Quotation marks typically appear as «» in Persian typography. They enclose direct speech, titles, and sometimes technical terms at first mention. A proofreader ensures that opening and closing marks match, and that nested quotations use a differentiating pattern, sometimes with single quotation marks.

Question and exclamation marks, «؟» and «!» respectively, are written after the relevant phrase without extra spaces, and you must check that each interrogative sentence ends with the appropriate sign. Parentheses, colons, semicolons, and ellipses have roles similar to European languages, but their spacing around words follows Persian conventions. Proofreading involves normalizing these elements, removing triple ellipses of mixed half‑width and full‑width dots, and ensuring that each colon or semicolon contributes to clarity rather than noise.

Style, Register, and Tone in Professional Texts

Editing for style in Persian requires a fine sense of register. At C2 level you must be able to smooth a text into a consistent tone that matches its purpose, whether it is an academic article, a government report, or corporate communication.

Formal written Persian tends to prefer neutral vocabulary, syntactically complete sentences, and avoidance of slang. Yet excessive formality through heavy Arabic compounds or overly long sentences can hinder comprehension. Your task is to keep a professional tone while preserving readability. This often means choosing simple but precise words, limiting rhetorical flourishes, and reducing needless repetition.

Register management frequently involves the treatment of personal pronouns and address forms. In academic writing, authors often use plural first person «ما» for self‑reference, instead of singular «من», as a modest and institutional voice. Proofreading includes checking that this choice is consistent throughout, and that switches between singular and plural do not confuse the reader. In reports or letters, the choice between addressing the reader as «شما» or using impersonal constructions must fit institutional practice.

Another key aspect of tone is the balance between directness and politeness in critique or disagreement. Persian academic style often prefers mitigated formulations rather than blunt statements. An editor can help rephrase sentences that sound aggressive into formulations that signal respect and objectivity while still conveying clear evaluation. This is achieved through modal verbs, hedging expressions, and careful ordering of information.

Finally, intertextual markers such as references to classical poetry or Quranic phrases require particular care. In a professional context, you must judge whether such allusions contribute to the goal of the text or introduce cultural presuppositions that may not be suitable for an international or technical audience. Editing may involve either explaining such references briefly or omitting them in favor of more transparent wording.

Academic vs Non‑Academic Editing Norms

Professional editing in Persian varies significantly across genres. Academic texts, policy documents, journalistic writing, and corporate materials each have their own expectations. At C2 level you should be able to recognize and respect these differences while applying general principles of clarity and correctness.

Academic Persian, particularly in journals and theses, typically follows explicit style guides. These specify referencing styles, section headings, list formatting, and sometimes detailed language norms. When editing such texts, you must check the conformity of citations, the uniformity of terms for key concepts, and the correct use of technical vocabulary. Proofreading in this context includes verifying numerical formatting, scientific symbols, and the consistent transliteration of foreign terms alongside their Persian equivalents.

Non‑academic professional writing, such as corporate reports or public information brochures, usually demands more accessible language. Here, editing focuses on shortening sentences, eliminating jargon, and improving the flow for readers who may not have specialized knowledge. You also adjust the level of formality if the original sounds either too casual or too bureaucratic for its intended audience.

Media and journalistic Persian tend to favor concise, direct sentences and active constructions. Proofreading such texts requires particular attention to the factual accuracy of names, dates, and numbers, as well as legal sensitivities. Editorial choices in this domain can affect interpretation, so you must be aware of the implications of word choice in describing sensitive topics.

In all these domains, a professional editor must respect the author’s voice while ensuring clarity and correctness. That means avoiding unnecessary rewriting when the original is acceptable, and intervening decisively only where errors, ambiguity, or mismatched register would harm the text’s function.

Typical Revision Strategies for Advanced Learners

Advanced learners often need explicit strategies to self‑edit their Persian writing before submitting to journals, supervisors, or employers. At C2 level, editing and proofreading should become integral stages of your writing process.

One effective strategy is to separate macro‑editing from micro‑editing. First you review your Persian text for structure, argument flow, and paragraph cohesion, without worrying about commas or diacritics. You check whether each paragraph has a clear thematic sentence, whether transitions between sections are logical, and whether the overall structure matches the expectations of the genre. Only after this stage do you move to line‑by‑line proofreading for grammar and typography.

Another useful method is to read your text aloud in a neutral but clear voice. Persian rhythm and intonation will reveal overly long sentences, unnatural collocations, and abrupt shifts in tone. When you stumble while reading a sentence, that sentence likely needs simplification or rephrasing. This technique is especially valuable for detecting interference from your first language.

You can also create a personal error checklist based on your own tendencies. For instance, if you know that you often confuse prepositions, or you forget to use the appropriate half‑space, you can make a dedicated pass through your text to search only for those issues. Over time, this focused self‑monitoring helps you reduce recurrent errors and bring your writing closer to native standards.

Finally, at C2 level you should compare your writing with high‑quality Persian models in the same genre. By aligning your sentence length, vocabulary choice, and paragraph structure with those of published texts, you gradually internalize advanced norms and reduce the amount of explicit editing you need.

Collaborative Editing and Professional Norms

In many professional and academic contexts you will both give and receive editorial feedback in Persian. Understanding the norms of collaborative editing helps you interpret comments correctly and respond appropriately.

Editors in Persian often use indirect formulations when pointing out problems. Comments may appear as questions, such as «آیا می‌توان این جمله را ساده‌تر کرد؟», or suggestions like «پیشنهاد می‌شود این بخش کوتاه‌تر شود». You should learn to recognize these as firm editorial guidance, not merely optional ideas, particularly when they come from journal reviewers or senior colleagues.

When you edit the work of others, you must be transparent about the type of changes you are making. Distinguish between corrections of clear errors, such as misspellings or agreement issues, and stylistic suggestions where the original is acceptable but improvable. Labeling your interventions accordingly helps maintain trust and makes it easier for the author to accept necessary changes.

In professional environments, track changes tools are often used to show edits. Even when working on paper, you should mark deletions, insertions, and comments clearly and legibly in Persian script. A disciplined approach to marking ensures that no correction introduces new errors, and that the author can review and approve changes efficiently.

Finally, remember that in Persian academic culture, the line between content and language editing can be sensitive. If you substantially reorganize or rewrite sections, you may need to discuss authorship credit or at least formal acknowledgment. Understanding these ethical dimensions of editing is part of true mastery of Persian in professional settings.

Vocabulary for This Chapter