People often ask what the difference is between proofreading and copyediting. While different editors have different definitions of each level of editing, this is how I usually explain things to my clients.
Developmental editing should be done first. This examines the big picture and structure of a book. Then comes line editing, which deals with the style and refining of each line of text.
Copyediting comes next. In addition to making minor revisions to text for clarity, a copyeditor checks for things such as grammar, punctuation, word usage, and consistency in things such as point of view, tense, and narrative details.
Proofreading is done last and is the final check for anything that managed to slip through the cracks during previous rounds of editing while confirming that appropriate style guides have been followed. A proofreader checks for typos, incorrect spelling, formatting irregularities, missing or duplicated words, and any glaring errors that may inhibit a reader’s enjoyment of the text.
Proofreading costs less because by the time a proofread is needed, the manuscript should have already been through multiple edits and should have far fewer errors.
I hope this quick breakdown has been helpful. If you’re looking for a copyeditor or proofreader, I’d love to help.
Timothy