Copyediting

What is Copyediting?

In its simplest form, “copyediting” or “copy editing” refers to making your copy easy to read and understand.  As a copyeditor, it becomes his or her job to ensure that your content smoothly flows from the beginning to the end. Of course, copyediting must also consider any proofreading and editorial style guides that are part of the project requirements.

Copyediting is an important process for writers.

Copy editing could involve one or more of the following actions, depending on what your document needs:

• When layout restrictions or redundancies exist, the copyeditor might shorten the text.
• As a proofreader, the copyeditor should correct any grammatical errors, spelling, punctuation, and terminology.  Jargon and semantics should be examined as well.
• Good copyediting ensures that the text follows the publisher’s chosen style guide, whether that is a personal set of rules or one of the more commonly used style guides, such as AP or CMOS.
• The copyeditor could add headers and sub-headers to help certain topics stand out.
• For website content, the copyeditor would be wise to put lists into bullet format.

The copy editing process incorporates proofreading, which includes the most important elements of writing:

• Understanding your topic’s terminology
• Examining the document for:
  

  • Grammar
  • Punctuation
  • Spelling
  • Verb Agreement
  • All items covered in the proofreading process

Copyediting Summary

In short, the copy editing process serves to ensure that the text is accurate, flows nicely, is sensible and fair, and is free from any legal issues.  The writer should expect the copyeditor to have questions about unclear material, including references that don’t make sense from one page to the next.

Your document should be:

• Correct
• Consistent
• Clear
• Concise
• Comprehensible

The copyeditor might be the only person apart from the writer who will read the entire document, advertisement, brochure, website page, book, or other text before it goes to publication. For this reason, it is important to think about having a second set of eyes after the copywriter has completed his or her job.

Contact Us

The Proofreaders offers copyediting services as well as a second set of eyes.  For more information about copy editing, proofreading, and editing services, please contact us for a custom quote.