Copy Editing vs Proofreading: Which One Does Your Manuscript Need?

This article discusses the choice of copy editing vs proofreading. In a general sense, editing is the final step a manuscript goes through before being published. But editing at this step includes multiple types of service. All these services finally refine your manuscript into a readable and error-free version.

Copy editing and proofreading are two different types of editing. But the terms are usually used interchangeably, especially by authors and researchers in academic context; the mistake publication companies rarely make. Both of these services, of course, tidy up your writing, but not necessarily in the same way.

What is copy editing?

Technically, copy editing is done after substantive editing but before proofreading. This editing service polishes the manuscript to make it clear and mistake free while protecting the author’s voice and meaning.

To cut a long story short, a copy editor identifies and corrects the following:

Grammar errors

Spelling errors

Wordiness

Problematic or misused words

Tone and style deviations

Confusing syntax

Inconsistencies

Uneven flow

Clunky transitions

What is proofreading?

Proofreading, on the other hand, is done after copy editing and publication.

A proofreader is a specialized editor who is responsible for reviewing the mechanical components of your manuscript. They search for any error that has slipped through the copy editing process. These errors may include:

Spelling

Grammar

Punctuation

Capitalization

Formatting

On-page layout

Proofreaders fix on-page elements such as inconsistent headers and subheads, visual assets like a table or chart, and page numbers and breaks.

It’s, therefore, important to decide on one of these services and reach an agreement with your editor. After all, you, as the author, can define limits on the extent to which the editor can modify your manuscript. And the editor, on the other hand, could give their advice considering the level of the text and depending on the step your manuscript is going through before the publication.