Copyediting vs. Proofreading

What’s the difference between copyediting and proofreading?

Copyediting and proofreading are the final levels of editing needed before your book manuscript, thesis, report, or writing project are ready for submission or publication. Before this point, you will have completed a structural edit to address any big picture issues relating to the overall structure and style of your writing. Now, your work is ready for the final polish.

While copyediting and proofreading services can sometimes be combined, there is a difference between them. Understanding this when employing an editor will ensure you are getting the service you need.

Copyediting

With copyediting, the editor checks the mechanics of your writing, such as grammar, spelling, and punctuation. They will highlight any issues and provide corrections or suggestions in a detailed mark-up of the manuscript, draft, or document. Copyediting services can also include line-editing, which looks at style, tone, and flow on a sentence level. For example, a copyedit from Rafaela Novelli Editing Services will focus on:

• Grammar

• Spelling

• Punctuation

• Sentence structure

• Syntax and style

• Tone

• Overused words

• Wordiness

• Consistency

A copyeditor will often work with a house guide or style guide to ensure consistency across the whole manuscript or text. Copyeditors may also fact-check your work and advise on formatting, but it is important to ask if these services are included when getting a quote. Copyediting requires minor changes and rewriting, so is completed before proofreading. Overall, a copyedit will ensure that your story or message comes across clearly and effectively to your readers.

Proofreading

Proofreading is the final stage of editing that is completed on the proof of your document. The proof is the fully-formatted manuscript (how the book or document will look when published). The purpose of proofreading is to pick up any last surface-level issues, typos, or errors. For example, a proof-reader will focus on finding and correcting:

• Any final spelling or grammatical errors

• Typos

• Formatting, aesthetic, and typesetting issues (such as misplaced word breaks, extra spacing, orphans and widows)

Proofreading is the final step that ensures your manuscript or document is mistake-free and ready for publication or submission.

When to hire a copyeditor or proofreader?

Copyediting and proofreading are the last stages of editing before submission or publication, so should be completed on the final draft and proof. You don’t want to pay for copyediting or proofreading on writing that needs substantial rewrites. You should hire a copyeditor or proofreader when you won’t be making any more changes to the content of your manuscript or project.

Why hire an editor when there is software that can check your work?

Software and programs such as Grammarly, ProWritingAid, and PerfectIt are fantastic resources for writers; however, they must be used with care and should not replace a professional edit.

Software and programs will not pick up all the errors and can make mistakes in their suggested corrections. These programs can’t think as deeply about your writing as a human editor can. They don’t know when grammatical rules can be broken for the sake of style. They don’t know the context and the nuances of your writing, and they don’t know what is acceptable in different genres. Running your work through these programs can help save time on the professional edit, allowing your editor to focus on the errors that the machine cannot find; but, they cannot replicate what a human editor can do (at least not yet). A professional copyeditor looks at much more than just spelling and grammar; they understand the style of your writing and can offer corrections and suggestions that maintain your own voice and message.

If you have a novel manuscript, report, thesis, or writing project ready for copyediting or proofreading, contact Rafaela Novelli Editing Services for a quote.