Conscious Language Toolkit for Editors

Part of our role as professional editors is to provide writers with feedback on content that may be biased, exclusive, or disrespectful. This sounds straightforward in theory, but in practice, it can be a challenging, daunting, and time-consuming task. How do we talk about this with writers? What types of language issues should we be aware of? How can we frame comments and queries?

That’s where this toolkit comes in—to serve as a guide for professional editors who want to edit with conscious language in mind.

Format: PDF | Pages: 112

Individual version price: $49.95

Organization version price: $149.95 (for editorial teams of up to 10 people)

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A preview of what’s inside the Conscious Language Toolkit for Editors

FAQ

  • Here’s just some of what’s inside: What conscious language is, tips for writing about various topics (see table of contents), over 300 words and phrases to be aware of, resources to share with writers, the editor’s role in evaluating bias, and writing comments and queries (including 30 sample sentences and comments)

  • All editors!

    If you’re new to this approach, the information will give you the confidence and the practical tools to help you include this type of feedback in your editorial process. If you’re well-versed in this, it’ll save you time and energy by supplying you with wording you can paste into comments and editorial reports.

  • The toolkit contains language related to the following topics: age, appearance, body size, criminal justice, death, disability, eating disorders, education, ethnicity, food, gender, gender identity, immigration, race, religion, sex trafficking, sex work, sexual orientation, sexual violence, socioeconomic status, and substance use.

  • I recommend getting the toolkit for editors because it contains all the information included in the Conscious Language Toolkit for Writers, plus content that’s specific to editing.

  • Yes! Since the toolkit was released in spring of 2021, I’ve updated it multiple times with new terms and resources. I also send out the new version to all past purchasers for free.

  • If you’re unhappy with the product, I’ll offer a full refund within 14 days of purchase. Just contact me.

Testimonials

“The Conscious Language Toolkit is a must-have for every editor. Whether you edit fiction or nonfiction, books, journals, articles, or internal publications, communicating in a way that is the clearest, most accurate, and most appropriate for your audience is every editor’s top priority, especially when there are major, real-world consequences for getting it wrong. This is one of the many reasons this toolkit is an invaluable resource for the modern editor and stays open on my desktop every day.”

Erin Servais, Dot and Dash

“The Conscious Language Toolkit is an invaluable resource for editors. Crystal’s expertise in conscious language and representation shows in the quality and quantity of examples she has provided here. The Toolkit makes it much easier for editors to educate and interact with clients on subjects related to conscious language. I have already used it with every project I’ve worked on since I got it!”

Brenna Bailey-Davies, Bookmarten Editorial

“This is a fantastic resource! It’s a must-have for copy editors, but it has valuable information for anyone who wants to use accurate and kind words about other people and doesn’t want to unintentionally offend someone.”

David Yontz, Senior Science Editor, Synergy Enterprises, Inc.

“The Conscious Language Toolkit for Editors is a true gift. I’m a trade book copyeditor working on both fiction and nonfiction, and I’ve already referenced the toolkit on two projects after having it for just a few days. I especially love that it includes the reasons for flagging questionable language, as well as links to primary sources. This gives me more confidence when crafting my author queries. I also teach aspiring book editors, and this toolkit will be required reading for all my students. It’s that important. Thank you, Crystal Shelley, for this addition to the editing style canon.”

Susannah Noel, Editorial Arts Academy

“This toolkit is a great aid for addressing conscious language concerns while editing. Especially helpful are the writing tips, additional resources, lists of terms to be aware of, and adaptable language for editorial comments. Highly recommended!”

James Gallagher, Castle Walls Editing

“This is an exceptional resource for anyone working with words (editors, writers, marketers, educators, HR, PR, bloggers, social media influencers, and many more). I love how Crystal breaks down the topics, offers tips and explanations, and includes links to additional information. The information is presented in a user-friendly manner, with explanations going far beyond the “do this, don’t do that” approach that seems common these days. By helping people understand the “why” behind usage, Crystal is ensuring that we are able to evaluate and address new terms/phrases that may crop up (after all, language is constantly changing).”

Nanette Day, Inkwell International