Editing Definitions

Below are some definitions of the different types of editing and editors whose services you can hire or with whom you might interact if you are dealing with an agent or publisher. These terms are not applied consistently throughout the publishing world, however, so it is important that you clarify what a publishing professional will be doing.

Developmental editing is meant top address the text organization, structure, and content; for example, should there be more citations or content added for clarity? This can involve substantial rewriting and so should be done before copyediting.

Substantive editing addresses organization and structure of existing content but does not include rewriting.

Structural editing is a component of either developmental editing or substantive editing.

Line editing focuses on style, word choice, and phrasing (CMS).Some editors identify stylistic editing as a separate stage.

Mechanical editing (sometimes called technical editing) is carried out so that the writing is consistent in grammar, spelling, and punctuation and conforms to the author’s or publisher’s style. This can be a third-party style such as Chicago Manual of Style (CMS) or might be one developed by the author and/or publisher.

Copyediting prepares the document for publication and includes mechanical editing.

• Freelance copyeditors usually use the term to describe primarily mechanical editing. The copyeditor might also make changes or suggestions on style, word choice, and phrasing (line editing) or on minor reorganization (structural editing).
• Publishers might also include substantive editing at this stage of their editorial process. For example, a journal article might be restructured for clarity or to conform to the journal’s style.

Proofreaders identify all types of errors and marking them, usually on a PDF, for correction. This is a term used, both inside and outside of the publishing world, in a number of ways.

• By the definition above, proofreading takes place at every step of the manuscript’s journey from concept to publication. For example, the author will read last the version of a text before handing it to an editor.
• As an editing stage it refers to the final reading after copyediting and typesetting. At this point the proofreader will mark errors, usually on a PDF, for correction but will not make changes. The proofreader also checks for layout/typesetting errors, for example missing text, gaps in text, text covered by images, header and footer errors, or page discontinuities.
• Proofreading can also include comparing the final document to an earlier version to make sure that nothing has been added, lost, or moved.
• Sometimes the term is used to mean a light copyedit. This is the last look at the text.

Related skills:

• Fact checking
• Manuscript evaluation
• Sensitivity and authenticity readings
• Permission negotiation and procurement

• Indexing