You might be wondering why I’m writing again about the definitions of services. The answer is that there are even more services (we didn’t even touch on grammar and punctuation in the last blog), and, as the old adage says, knowledge is power. In today’s blog, I discuss the differences between line editing, copy editing and proofreading. These differences may seem subtle, but they are important distinctions because some of these services are not available to students.
Line Editing
Line editing is the next step in the process. It sits between developmental editing and copy editing. It does not focus on structure, plot development or characterisation like developmental editing, but it also doesn’t deal with technical issues like grammar, punctuation or spelling errors. It sits in between the two. Line editing focuses on the way the author has used language to convey their message; their style. That’s why it’s sometimes called stylistic editing. Line editing deals with the writing’s flow, clarity and wordiness and ensures the tone matches the target audience. You might be concerned that a line editor will change too much of your work, but a line editor will know when to change the text and when to leave it alone. Unfortunately, this service is not available to students because having someone else change anything about the content, improving the quality of the writing, is considered plagiarism.
Copy Editing
Copy editing comes next in the process, although editors will often conduct copy editing at the same time as a line edit. Copy editing focuses on the technical aspects of English, such as grammar, spelling and punctuation. It will correct syntax; ensure consistency in spelling, hyphenation, numerals, fonts and capitalisation; research and verify facts; and follow style guides. While there is much less in the way of creative input in copy editing, a copy editor might sometimes need to rewrite a sentence to fix syntax, but they will only do this when it is absolutely necessary. Otherwise, a copy editor will stick to making technical changes. Students can sometimes employ copy editing services because they deal with technical rather than language/content issues, but students should check with their institutions before purchasing these services.
Proofreading
The last stage of the editing process is proofreading. This again focuses on technical aspects of language. It aims to correct all errors in grammar, punctuation, syntax and spelling. Proofreading should only be done on finished documents that do not need major editorial changes because, otherwise, you will end up having to redo this stage – and nobody wants to spend any more time on content production than they have to.
Summary
These three services focus more on language and correctness than on the big-picture issues of plot development, characterisation or structure. Line editing focuses on how the author uses language to convey their message, while copy editing and proofreading focus on correcting grammar, spelling and punctuation errors and ensuring consistency throughout the document and with style guides. Deciding what services you need can be difficult, so reach out if you need any assistance.
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I specialise in developmental editing and manuscript critiquing for historical fiction and non-fiction, crime fiction and true crime. I love helping authors make their writing the best it can be. If you think we'd be a good fit, please reach out to me.
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