Academic editors decide: whose style matters?

As “global” English overtakes local languages in academia and public life, what is our role as editors? When and how (if ever) do we edit our authors’ style? We asked you what you think, and your opinions varied.

Editors love their style guides, but some questions of style are too controversial for a manual to rule on, as this answer to one question in our survey shows:

ring chart showing that respondents to one survey question were split evenly on whether to make one style change, ranging from "always" to "rarely"

Can you guess which question split the respondents? Want to steer the debate in one direction? You still have until 7 September to respond to the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NEaTstyle

NEaT members and revisors at the University of Helsinki will discuss the survey results on Thursday 23 September at 17:30–18:30 EET, on Zoom. Looking forward to debating with you about whose style matters!

If you want to join the debate, email info@nordicedit.fi and we will send you the Zoom link nearer the time. If you aren’t a NEaT member yet, ask to join so you can attend.

Kate Sotejeff-Wilson & Alice Lehtinen

Nordic Editors and Translators