Initially, she told editor to retain text as written (4)
I believe the answer is:
stet
'retain text as written' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'initially she told editor to' is the wordplay.
'initially' says to take the initial letters.
The first letters of 'she told editor to' is 'STET'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for stet that I've seen before include "Printing instruction: "Let it stand"" , "Restorative direction needed" , "It may stand" , "Editorial instruction meaning "let it stand"" , "Instruction to keep" .)