Introduction

If you’re an author whose book is still at the unpolished stage, this article is for you.

You may wish either to (1) self-publish or (2) have your book perfected by a professional copy editor or proofreader, so you can present your manuscript to a literary agent or publisher and make your book more marketable.

But whatever your aim, it’s important to know the difference between proofreading vs copyediting.

While the role of a copy editor and a proofreader has traditionally varied, nowadays some freelancers offer an editorial service that overlaps both processes.

What is copyediting?

The copy editor checks and, where needed, corrects text in a printed document or electronic file.

This stage comes before proofreading and involves far more than proofreading.

The three main types of copyediting are ‘light’, ‘medium’ and ‘heavy’. As their names suggest, each type involves greater or lesser spadework.

After the copy editor has gone carefully through the text, few errors should remain to snag the proofreader’s eyes.

However, should the proofreader notice many flaws after a copy editor has trawled through a book or other type of document, it means the editor failed to do his or her job properly.

Sadly, in my 27-year experience I’ve found it rare to proofread a work that has few errors. Usually, acres of weeds cover the pages, which shows the poor state of the copyediting profession.

Issues a copy editor has to check and documents to compile

(I’ve listed only some of these.)

• grammar errors
• spelling errors
• punctuation errors: UK punctuation differs from US punctuation in some cases – the copy editor edits accordingly
• cross-checking the table of contents with the chapter titles and subheads
• compiling a list of running heads
• factual inconsistencies: ‘55 years old’ vs ‘56 years old’
• making the use of bold, italics and capitals consistent throughout
• consistent and correct hyphenation; e.g. ‘copy-editing’ vs ‘copyediting’, or ‘postwar’ vs ‘post-war’?
• indenting, with a line space above and below, quoted text (say, quotations of 40-plus words)
• quotation references are present (including the page number of the book from which the quote comes, if from a printed source)
• consistent use of quote marks: double vs single quotes
• that the style matches a publisher’s ‘house style’ or follows the style laid out in one of the various style guides, such as the Oxford Guide to Style, the Chicago Manual of Style, The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (known as APA style). (Wikipedia has a detailed list of the various style guides.)
• correct use of ‘only’
• correct use of ‘which’ vs ‘that’
• correct use of the possessive ‘s’ (style guides vary)
• making the use of numbers as words or figures consistent, depending on the style guide or publisher’s house style the copy editor follows; e.g. Oxford Guide to Style: use words for numbers from zero to ninety-nine; from 100 onwards use figures; Chicago Manual of Style: spell out numbers zero to one hundred; from 101 onwards write as figures; spell out round numerals such as ‘ten thousand’; APA Style Manual: write out zero to nine; use figures for 10 and above
• simplifying and clarifying sentences
• writing out in parentheses after it the first time each acronym appears
• checking that a heading hierarchy is logical and helpful to the reader
• removing extra spaces between words
• ensuring tables don’t appear in footnotes, but only in running text (the copy editor must first query the author about this)
• ensuring there are no long quotations in footnotes – it’s better to move these into the running text (also known as ‘body text’) if possible
• ensuring there are no diagrams (figures) in footnotes – again, it’s better to move these into the running text if possible
• marking the structure of a page of copy or an electronic file with typesetter codes – elements such as headings, subheadings, indented quotations, lists, images, boxes and tables
• checking table style and that the table content matches what’s said in the running text
• checking and making consistent figure captions (and querying the author if any are missing or seem incorrect)
• checking the alphabetic order of author names in a bibliography
• checking that a bibliography matches a publisher’s house style
• checking that none of the elements in each bibliography entry is missing; e.g. place of publication, publisher, date, etc.
• checking that the details in bibliography entries match those in footnotes
• checking the footnote numbering
• drawing up a ‘style sheet’ – a document that shows the proofreader how certain words should be spelled, capitalized, etc. (see the example below)
• drawing up an ‘editorial notes’ document for an in-house desk editor to explain various unusual editorial decisions made during the copyediting
• adding queries to an electronic file for the author to reply to (most copyeditors now use a computer to edit ‘on-screen’ rather than editing a ‘hard-copy’, paper, document)
• inserting the author’s replies into the document or file

Example of a ‘style sheet’ Eldo compiled for one of his copyediting projects

Country-specific English copyediting

An expert copy editor knows how some words may have different English spellings in countries such as the UK, Canada, the USA and Australia. For example:

Australia/UK/Canada: colour, centre, metre
USA: color, center, meter

USA/Canada: analyze, fulfill
Australia/UK: analyse, fulfil

Also, some words are used differently in, say, the UK vs the USA. For example:

UK
pushchair
coffin
fairy cake
to make a drink
curtains

USA
buggy (for small children)
casket
cupcake
to fix a drink
drapes

Furthermore, UK punctuation sometimes differs from USA usage. For example:

UK: The proper spelling is ‘fulfil’.
USA: The proper spelling is “fulfill.”

UK: Mr White Jr said to Mrs Black, ‘In my defence . . .’
USA: Mr. White, Jr., said to Mrs. Black, “In my defense . . .”

What is proofreading?

Proofreading is the stage in the editorial process that comes after copyediting.

Once the copy editor has completed his or her task, the document or electronic file goes to a typesetter for typesetting.

The result is a set of page ‘proofs’ or, now more commonly, a PDF file, where each page appears in the form of a published book’s page.

Once he or she has the printed proofs or the PDF file, the proofreader begins to comb through each page.

Proofreading is a safety net that catches any copy editor or typesetter errors, but is much more than this.

The proofreader should make only minor changes to the text, as major changes will cause layout issues expensive to put right.

If the proofreader makes too many changes, the typesetter may have to reformat the wholefile and will charge extra for doing so.

See the helpful list of proofreading symbols at the Lancing Press website.

Issues the proofreader has to check

(I’ve listed only some of these.)

• the preliminary matter (the pages at the front of the book that come before the main text)
• grammar errors
• spelling errors
• punctuation errors
• extra spaces between words
• ‘rivers’: long gaps of vertical white space running down the text between words (bad typesetting)
• three or more of the same word that start or end three successive lines of text (known in the USA as a ‘stack’); e.g

the man went . . .
the horse also . . .
the field was . . .

. . . at the end
. . . before the end
. . . they saw the end

• that the page numbers are in the correct position on the page, in the correct order and none are missing
• that the page depth is correct (that each page has the correct number of lines)
• that each page margin is the correct width and height
• that sentences are indented correctly
• that quoted matter is laid out correctly
• that a chapter begins with a right-hand page (a ‘recto’) – usual in non-fiction books
• running heads (the headings at the top of most pages – chapter openings don’t have these)
• end-of-line line bad word breaks; e.g.

‘help-ful’ not ‘hel-pful
‘jar-gon’ not ‘jarg-on’
‘helped’ not ‘help-ed’ (words of one syllable must be left intact)

(The New Oxford Spelling Dictionary is a helpful resource for end-of-line word breaks.)

• three successive lines that end in a hyphen (known in the USA as a ‘ladder’)
• that a right-hand page doesn’t end in a hyphenated word, where the second part of the word carries over to the next page
• widows (the last word or line of a paragraph that appears as the first line on the next page)
• orphans (the first line of a paragraph that appears as the last line of text on a page)
• that there are at least five lines of text on the last page at the end of a chapter
• that there are at least two lines of text below a heading at the bottom of a page
• the end matter (the sections that come at the end of a book; e.g. an appendix, glossary, endnotes, a bibliography and an index)

35 differences between proofreading vs copyediting

Note: the three main stages of the publishing process, which follow one another, are (1) copyediting, (2) typesetting and (3) proofreading.

The publisher (or author) typically emails a Word file – as an attachment – to the copy editor.

The copy editor then works through the file making adjustments to the text. When these are complete, he or she returns the copyedited file to the publisher.

The publisher then emails the file – as an attachment – to a typesetter, who lays out the text, now known as ‘proofs’, in book format. The typesetter returns the document proofs to the publisher, who then emails it to a proofreader for proofreading.

As you will see in the list below, copyediting is a far more intensive process than proofreading.

1. In-Depth Editing: Copyediting involves in-depth analysis of the text for clarity, coherence and consistency, whereas proofreading focuses mainly on surface-level errors.

2. Content Analysis: Copyediting may include analysing the content for logical flow, organization and effectiveness of arguments, while proofreading does not involve such analysis.

3. Style and Tone Consistency: Copyediting ensures consistency in style, tone and voice throughout the document, while proofreading focuses mainly on correcting errors.

4. Language Enhancement: Copyediting may involve rewriting or rephrasing sentences to improve clarity and readability, while proofreading typically does not include such revisions.

5. Fact-Checking: Copyediting may require checking that information presented is accurate, which is not a main focus of proofreading.

6. Structural Changes: Copyediting may involve making structural changes such as rearranging paragraphs or sections for better coherence, while proofreading does not involve such modifications.

7. In-depth Grammar and Syntax Analysis: Copyediting delves deeper into analysing grammar, syntax and sentence structure to ensure clarity and coherence, while proofreading deals more with glaring errors.

8. Consistency in Terminology and Usage: Copyediting ensures consistent use of terminology and language throughout the document, while proofreading mainly checks that spellings and punctuation are consistent.

9. Dialogue and Character Consistency (for Fiction): In fiction copyediting, consistency in dialogue, character traits and narrative voice are checked, which goes beyond the scope of proofreading.

10. Checking for Redundancy and Wordiness: Copyediting involves identifying and cutting out redundant phrases or wordiness to improve conciseness and clarity, which is not a main concern in proofreading.

11. Formatting and Layout Adjustments: Copyediting may involve making formatting and layout adjustments for better visual presentation and readability, while proofreading focuses on textual errors.

12. Citation and Reference Verification: In academic or technical copyediting, checking citations and references for accuracy and consistency is part of the process, whereas proofreading focuses mainly on text errors.

13. Cross-referencing and Hyperlinks: Copyediting may involve checking cross-references and hyperlinks, while proofreading typically does not include such tasks.

14. Language Adaptation for Audience: Copyediting may require adapting language and terminology to suit the target audience or readership, which is not a main concern in proofreading.

15. Checking Compliance with Style Guides: Copyediting ensures adherence to specific style guides or editorial standards, whereas proofreading mainly focuses on text errors.

16. Consistency in Numerical Data: Copyediting ensures consistency and accuracy in numerical data, including figures, tables and statistics, which may go beyond the scope of proofreading.

17. Character and Word Count: Copyediting may involve adjusting character and word count to meet specified requirements, while proofreading focuses mainly on text errors.

18. Ensuring Legal Compliance: In legal copyediting, ensuring compliance with legal terminology and standards is crucial, which is not a primary focus in proofreading.

19. Localization and Cultural Sensitivity: Copyediting for global audiences may involve localization and ensuring cultural sensitivity, which may not be addressed in proofreading.

20. Accessibility Considerations: Copyediting may involve ensuring accessibility features such as alt text for images or proper formatting for screen readers, which may not be part of proofreading.

21. Checking for Plagiarism: In academic or professional settings, copyediting may include checking for plagiarism and ensuring proper attribution, which is not typically done in proofreading.

22. Consistency in Abbreviations and Acronyms: Copyediting ensures consistent use and formatting of abbreviations and acronyms throughout the document, which may not be thoroughly checked in proofreading.

23. Reviewing Front and Back Matter: In publishing, copyediting may involve reviewing front and back matter such as title pages, acknowledgments, and indices for accuracy and consistency, whereas proofreading may focus mainly on the main body of the text.

24. Ensuring Adherence to Copyright Laws: Copyediting may involve ensuring that the text complies with copyright laws, including permissions for quoted material, which is not typically addressed in proofreading.

25. Consistency in Capitalization: Copyediting ensures consistency in capitalization, including titles, headings, and proper nouns, which may not be thoroughly checked in proofreading.

26. Language Localization for Different Markets: In global markets, copyediting may involve language localization for different regions or countries, which may not be addressed in proofreading.

27. Reviewing Endnotes and Footnotes: Copyediting may involve reviewing endnotes and footnotes for accuracy, consistency and proper formatting, which may not be thoroughly checked in proofreading.

28. Ensuring Compliance with Publishing Standards: Copyediting ensures compliance with publishing standards, including formatting requirements for different platforms or media, which may not be thoroughly checked in proofreading.

29. Improving Readability: Copyediting focuses on enhancing readability through improvements in sentence structure, paragraph length and overall flow, which may not be the main focus in proofreading.

30. Checking Tables and Graphs: In technical or academic documents, copyediting may involve reviewing tables, graphs and charts for accuracy, consistency and clarity, which may not be thoroughly checked in proofreading.

31. Ensuring Consistency in Voice and Point of View (for Fiction): In fiction copyediting, ensuring consistency in narrative voice and point of view is crucial, which may not be thoroughly checked in proofreading.

32. Checking for Inclusive Language: Inclusive language considerations, such as gender-neutral terms or avoiding stereotypes, may be addressed in copyediting, which may not be thoroughly checked in proofreading.

33. Consistency in Spacing and Indentation: Copyediting ensures consistency in spacing, indentation and alignment throughout the document, which may not be thoroughly checked in proofreading.

34. Reviewing Appendices and Supplements: Copyediting may involve reviewing appendices, supplements or additional materials for accuracy and consistency, which may not be thoroughly checked in proofreading.

35. Maintaining Consistency in Voice and Brand Identity: Copyediting ensures consistency in voice and brand identity throughout the document, including marketing materials, which may not be thoroughly checked in proofreading.

Conclusion

In this article we’ve looked at the main differences between proofreading vs copyediting.

Having read the info above, you should by now have a far better idea of what you need to nudge your book towards the bestseller list: a copyedit or a proofread.

Which service you choose depends on at least three factors:

1. How much polishing your text needs (a) to be read by a literary agent, (b) to be accepted by a book publisher or (c) for readers to be able to read it easily and enjoy the experience – so they come back for more. 🙂

2. Your budget – copyediting costs more than proofreading.

3. Whether you can afford both a copy editor and a proofreader – it’s a good idea to use a different person to proofread your text once a copyeditor has worked through it.

Especially if your text appears in printed format.

A copy editor doesn’t deal with formatting issues that appear on proofs or in a PDF file (e.g. end-of-line word breaks, missing page numbers, incorrect running heads, etc.).

An expert proofreader will spot errors the copy editor missed.

However, if your budget’s tight, a well-trained, experienced copy editor will iron out most of your text’s creases – in which case choosing between proofreading and copyediting will not be an issue for you.

Get a free copyedit of a sample of your writing

If you’re an author, send me a 300-word sample (around one page) of your text to look at. 

I’ll analyse and copyedit (or proofread) it for free and – based on my editorial training and 27 years of experience on 681 books (as of December 2024) – send you a no-obligation short report on how to improve your writing.

Why do I offer you this for free? 

1. It will prove the quality of my work. 

2. It will help you decide whether or not you’d like to hire my copyediting (or proofreading) service – you’ll be taking less of a risk than if you’d handed your money over on spec to someone listed in a freelance directory. 

3. It will give me an idea of how much work I’d need to do to streamline your text so it appeals to a publisher or wider readership.

4. It will help me to cost your project fairly. 

5. You may recommend my service to other authors wanting to hire a copy editor or proofreader. 

> Get in touch today and let’s take it from there. 🙂