Man versus machine: the role AI plays in editing
Artificial intelligence has made its way into every creative industry and editing is no exception. With AI-powered grammar checkers and content refiners readily available at our fingertips, it’s easy to wonder: do we still need human editors?
The short answer? Absolutely (and we aren’t just saying that because we are biased!).
The reason? Well, although AI is a useful tool, it cannot replace the expertise, intuition and refinement that a professional human editor can bring.
The human touch
We’ve said it before and we will say it again, editing isn’t just about fixing grammar. A good book editor understands the heart of a manuscript – its voice, tone and emotional depth. We understand your characters or storyline and can feel what you are hoping to achieve. AI might be able to correct misplaced commas or suggest alternative phrasing, but it doesn’t feel a story. It doesn’t recognise the subtle shifts in tone that make writing sing or the intentional rule-breaking that gives a book its unique rhythm (every good book has plenty of rule-breaking!). And depending on the type of edit you invest in, a human editor doesn’t just edit words; they edit
ideas. They ask questions like: Does this scene have enough tension? Is this dialogue natural? Is the pacing dragging in the middle chapters? These are things AI, for all its power, can’t do like we can.
How to use AI
That said, AI has its place. It can be an excellent writer’s toolbox addition, helping to catch those small human errors that sometimes the human eye just can’t see. The key is knowing how to use it and understanding its small role in the overall process.
Think of AI like a GPS. It can guide you, but it won’t replace your instincts as a driver. A professional line edit requires emotional insight and character and narrative understanding, while a copy edit
needs a human eye to refine sentence flow, check for consistency and ensure clarity while preserving the writer’s voice.
Editing requires experience
There’s a reason people spend years honing their editing skills. Whether it’s understanding different style guides, adapting to an author’s tone, or knowing when to tighten or expand a section, professional editors bring expertise that AI can’t replicate. And while AI is attempting to harness natural-sounding language, ultimately, it still follows a distinct
set of rules – it has to. Unfortunately, accepting an AI grammar checker’s suggestion can result in an unnatural and formal writing style. Sure, it might be by the book, but it doesn’t make for a good reader experience. For those wondering how to become a book editor, the reality is that it’s not just about learning grammar rules. It’s about developing an instinct for storytelling, an appreciation for structure and the ability to work closely with authors to refine their work. Connection – it’s our favourite word. These are skills built through years of experience.
The best of both
The most effective editing process isn’t about choosing between AI and human expertise – it’s about knowing when to use each. AI can be a helpful assistant, but the final polish, the deep structural insight and the emotional connection to a story? That still belongs to the human editor. So, if you’re serious about publishing a well-structured and high-quality book, trust a book editor who understands storytelling, not just sentence structure. AI might be evolving, but when it comes to editing, nothing replaces that human touch.