My services include copy editing and proofreading.
What’s the difference?
Copy editors correct for grammar, spelling, punctuation, style and more. They look for mistakes, repetition, and inconsistencies before a book or article goes to publication. As one writer at thebalancecareers.com puts it: “Copy editors are the grammatical gatekeepers of the media world. They read over stories—or, as the content is called in industry terms, ‘copy’—and check for everything from typos to nonsensical sentences to errant commas.”
Proofreading is all about, well, reading a proof. A proof is the typeset/layout of what is to be published. Just before sending a book or magazine to the printer (or pressing “publish” on a web post), the proof needs to be checked one last time for what you might call “quality control.” Proofreading is the last chance to catch a mistake before it’s published for all the world to see.
Copy editing generally takes place earlier in the process than proofreading. Besides correcting errors and inconsistencies in spelling, style, punctuation and grammar, a copy editor may also improve an author’s work by adjusting text for smoother transitions, better clarity, and appropriate tone for the work’s readership or “audience.” A good editor will consult with the author before embarking on that kind of more intensive revision, however.
Proofreading is usually less work than copy editing. If it’s more work, then the copy editing likely wasn’t done well. I could be your copy editor, or I could proofread the galley (i.e., the final proof) before your book goes to press, or I could do both. Or maybe your work needs substantive editing (also called structural or developmental editing). Drop me a line and we can discuss what services fit your needs.