Services : Editing : Copyediting and Proofreading

What are the differences between copyediting and proofreading?

Most people think the terms "copyediting" and "proofreading" are synonymous. However, copyediting and proofreading differ in many important ways.

Copyediting is the process of reviewing a draft of a document to reveal and correct content and style errors. Copyeditors ensure that the document is clearly written, uses the correct style, and is grammatically accurate. To do this, a copyeditor must read every word of the document.

Proofreading is the final stage of the editing process and typically follows copyediting. Proofreaders compare a current document to a previous version to identify differences and errors. Proofreading is focused on spotting formatting and text errors. Proofreaders quickly scan the document to find these errors. They do not read it word-for-word.

Copyediting and proofreading aren't what they used to be. Twenty years ago, copyeditors would edit an author's handwritten or typed drafts. Then, they gave the marked-up drafts back to the author to make the changes. Proofreaders would scan a typeset version of the finished product (called a "galley"), and would compare it to the previous draft. Making changes were time-consuming and expensive.

Today, copyeditors and proofreaders review documents online. They make their changes directly in the word processing files and then send edited documents back to the authors to review and accept the changes. This makes the process fast and easy.

ProEdit's copyeditors and proofreaders use editing checklists to drive a consistent editing process. We continually improve our checklists based on feedback from our team and customers. Our editing process has helped us to achieve and maintain our position as a leader in the editing services industry.

Confused? Don't worry. Just give us a call at (888) PROEDIT or contact us. We'll be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Are you interested in joining ProEdit's editing services team? Learn more about our employment opportunities.

(888) PROEDIT • © Copyright 2007, ProEdit, Inc. • Sitemap