line editing
Prose-level manuscript revision
Line editing is a stage of manuscript revision focusing on sentence-level prose—clarity, flow, word choice, and style rather than plot or structure.
A line editor polishes how ideas are expressed without changing what they say: The manuscript needs line editing before it goes to the copyeditor.
Distinguished from developmental editing (big-picture concerns) and copyediting (grammar, punctuation, consistency).
- punctuationWritten clarity symbols
- blue pencilEditorial deletion tool
- textWritten or printed words
- grammarLanguage's structural rules
- dictionChoice of words
awkward phrasing · clarity · consistency · flow · structure · syntax · readability · accuracy · tone · conciseness · polishing · fresh eyes · voice · track changes · style guide · red pen · manuscript · error correction
line editingproofreading
Checking text for mistakes
copyediting · rewriting · correction · ghostwriting · markup
line, edit, lines, edits, lined, lining, liner, liners, lineage