Editorial Services:
Copyediting and Proofreading
I provide two forms of editing: copyediting and proofreading. Both have a focus on language and the mechanics of writing, and because of that you may sometimes hear people use these terms somewhat interchangeably. While they have overlap, copyediting and proofreading are distinct stages of editing, and ideally your manuscript will go through both before publishing.
Copyediting
Copyediting is all about perfecting the language of the manuscript. It is also one of the middle phases of editing, typically taking place after content and line editing but before layout and proofreading.
Copyediting begins with correcting any mechanical errors—spelling mistakes; missing, duplicated, or misused words; missing or incorrect punctuation; and incorrect grammar. Copyediting also involves tweaking the phrasing and word choice to enhance clarity. It is also the copyeditor’s job to ensure that ensure that the manuscript is adhering to a consistent writing style—whether one that comes from an established style guide like the Chicago Manual of Style or the Associated Press Stylebook, or simply ensuring the manuscript maintains internal consistency with itself. Finally, copyeditors will also keep an eye out for any lingering continuity mistakes or potential factual errors.
Proofreading
Proofreading is typically the final phase of the editorial process.
The proofreader is there to provide a final set of eyes to catch any lingering errors that may have slipped through the previous editing steps. The proofreader performs a final pass through the manuscript to check for any remaining typos or grammatical mistakes, but unlike the copyeditor, the proofreader doesn’t perform more extensive changes to phrasing or word choice beyond what’s needed to correct objective mistakes. Proofreading typically takes place after layout/formatting, and so it’s also the proofreader’s responsibility to check for any formatting or design errors that may have made it through that process.
When the proofreader is done, most manuscripts will be ready for publishing.
For more information on where these forms of editing fit into the wider editing process, see the Editorial Process page. If you’re ready to move forward with your own editing, feel free to Request a Quote.