Copyediting (also called line editing or mechanical editing) is the process of revising written material to improve readability. A good copyeditor will improve a work’s clarity, consistency, and sentence structure while preserving the author’s unique writing voice. Copyediting also includes mechanical corrections such as grammar, punctuation, usage, and spelling.
A good copyedit will include items such as:
- Grammar, syntax, and usage
- Punctuation, spelling, and capitalization
- Revising areas that are confusing or overly wordy
- Consistency in style and format
- Consistency in correlating parts (for example, checking the chapter titles in the manuscript against those in the table of contents)
- Format of references and quotations
- Use of italics and bold type
- Treatment of numbers, acronyms, and abbreviations
- Flagging any facts that seem incorrect
- Flagging areas that may require copyright permissions
- In fiction, consistency in details such as character descriptions, setting, and timeline
Unlike a substantive (or content) edit, a copyedit does not address issues like:
- Overall structure and organization
- Errors in logic
- Tone
- Transitions between chapters
- Over- or under-writing
- Problems with point of view, plot holes, and pacing (in fiction)
Different editors may define copyediting slightly differently, so before hiring an editor, make sure you have a clear understanding of what their work will (and will not) entail. If you’d like to learn more about how I can help you publish with confidence, let’s chat!
