➢ Because editors are unbiased readers of your work.

➢ Because you know what you meant to say, therefore — being human — can't see certain kinds of errors.

➢ Because your spell-checking and grammar-checking software cannot understand context.

➢ Because editors are trained and experienced in nuances of writing, punctuation, and mechanics that writers aren’t.

➢ Because editors know what publishing companies and book buyers are looking for.

➢ Because editors are skilled at making you sound more like you — or, if need be, less like you.

➢ Because editors can read not only what you wrote but what you could have written.