copy editing
Prepublication prose correction
Copy editing is the process of reviewing written material to correct errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style before publication.
A copy editor ensures consistency and clarity without substantially rewriting: The manuscript went through three rounds of copy editing.
Distinguished from developmental editing, which addresses structure and content, copy editing focuses on surface-level polish.
Also spelled copyediting.
Checking text for mistakes
- markupAdded percentage for profit
- track changesEdit visibility feature
- queryRequest for information
- stetEditorial "never mind"
redline · revision · galley · first pass · cold read · style sheet · copyeditor · deadline
Reliable adherence to standards
- house styleConsistent editorial conventions
- style guidePublication formatting rules
- AP styleJournalistic writing conventions
- toneQuality of sound
voice · formatting · standardization · word choice · terminology · abbreviations · serial comma · spelling conventions
Rules for arranging words
- punctuationWritten clarity symbols
- subject-verb agreementMatching noun and predicate
- tensesTime markers for verbs
- modifiersTerms that adjust others
prepositions · articles · pronouns · adjectives · adverbs · dangling modifier · comma splice · run-on sentence
Confirming accuracy of claims
- verificationProving something accurate
- spellingCorrect letter sequence
- correctnessState of being accurate
- cross-referencingVerifying by consulting elsewhere
dates · names · statistics · quotations · sources · URLs · captions · attributions
Ease of understanding text
- concisionVerbal economy, pared down
- simplificationMaking something less complex
- rewritingComposing text anew
- coherenceLogical internal consistency
flow · wordiness · redundancy · jargon · ambiguity · sentence structure · transitions · plain language
Original text before publication
- publicationIssued written material
- typesettingArranging text for print
- layoutSpatial arrangement of elements
- digital publishingDistributing content electronically
author · proofs · page proofs · blueline · prepress · production · newspaper · magazine
proofreading
Checking text for mistakes
- markupAdded percentage for profit
- track changesEdit visibility feature
- queryRequest for information
stet · redline · revision · galley · first pass · cold read · style sheet · copyeditor · deadline · turnaround
consistency
Reliable adherence to standards
- house styleConsistent editorial conventions
- style guidePublication formatting rules
- AP styleJournalistic writing conventions
tone · voice · formatting · standardization · word choice · terminology · abbreviations · serial comma · spelling conventions · numerals
syntax
Rules for arranging words
- punctuationWritten clarity symbols
- subject-verb agreementMatching noun and predicate
- tensesTime markers for verbs
modifiers · prepositions · articles · pronouns · adjectives · adverbs · dangling modifier · comma splice · run-on sentence · split infinitive
fact-checking
Confirming accuracy of claims
- verificationProving something accurate
- spellingCorrect letter sequence
- correctnessState of being accurate
cross-referencing · dates · names · statistics · quotations · sources · URLs · captions · attributions · figures
readability
Ease of understanding text
- concisionVerbal economy, pared down
- simplificationMaking something less complex
- rewritingComposing text anew
coherence · flow · wordiness · redundancy · jargon · ambiguity · sentence structure · transitions · plain language · tightening
manuscript
Original text before publication
- publicationIssued written material
- typesettingArranging text for print
- layoutSpatial arrangement of elements
digital publishing · author · proofs · page proofs · blueline · prepress · production · newspaper · magazine · book publishing
- journalismreporters, interview, school paper, news, journalists
- publishingpublishers, publishing house, books, publications, booksellers
- editing termscorrections, revision, markup, proofreading, track changes
- Editorial Processproofreading, revision, corrections, final edit, fact-checking
- text examinationproofreading, close reading, annotation, skimming, scanning
- Writing Critiquebook review, plot analysis, character study, prose style, narrative voice
copy editingoriginal composition
Freshly created artistic piece
writing · drafting · creative writing · authorship · content creation
copy editingrough draft
Unpolished first attempt
first draft · brainstorming · outlining · freewriting · ideation
copy, editor, editing, edited, editors, editorial, edits, unedited, editable