Definitions

Copyediting

Copyediting involves editing a manuscript for items such as:

• Spelling
• Grammar
• Syntax
• Punctuation
• Clarity
• Consistency
• Flow
• Voice
• Tone

This is done early on in the publishing process, after a book or article has been accepted for publication but prior to the text being put into a layout.

Proofreading

Proofreading occurs at a later stage, when the text is already in layout. Proofreaders primarily read the text to correct issues that may have been introduced in the typesetting process. For example, proofreaders check for items such as:

• Correct verbiage and page numbers in the table of contents
• Headers, including capitalization and level
• Paragraph breaks
• Line breaks
• Formatting
• Typographical errors
• Photo and image placement
• Caption text and placement
• Dropped (missing) text

Substantive Editing

Substantive editing occurs prior to typesetting, copyediting, and proofreading and involves making structural changes to an article. This includes:

• Restructuring
• Rearranging information
• Refining content
• Rewriting sentences and paragraphs to refine the language, logic, etc.
• Rewriting a title