PUBLISHING GUIDE
Line editing, copy editing and proofreading
A practical guide to what each editorial stage changes, the order they belong in and which one your manuscript needs.
They are not three names for the same job
Editorial work moves from larger decisions to smaller ones. Line editing improves the force and flow of sentences, copy editing protects correctness and consistency, and proofreading catches final errors after design and typesetting. Treating one stage as a substitute for another puts both budget and quality at risk.
Line editing: voice and sentence craft
Line editing addresses sentence-level issues such as repetition, rhythm, ambiguity, over-explanation, tonal drift and weak verbs. The editor should not overwrite the author’s voice; the goal is to reveal patterns and offer controlled alternatives.
- Sentence flow and pacing
- Narrative voice and tone
- Repetition and unnecessary padding
- Dialogue and scene impact
Copy editing: correctness and consistency
Copy editing checks grammar, punctuation, spelling, terminology, dates and naming consistency. A book-specific style sheet is created or updated at this stage and can support later editions and translations.
Proofreading: the final defence before release
Proofreading belongs after the text and page design are substantially fixed. It is not a new editing round; it catches typesetting errors, poor line breaks, missing words, broken headings and last-minute inconsistencies.
- Structural problems: developmental edit first
- Heavy or uneven prose: line edit
- Language and consistency issues: copy edit
- Typesetting complete: proofreading