Copyediting (also called line editing)

The purpose of copyediting is to standardize and correct copy—thus its name. At this level, I correct mechanical errors (spelling, punctuation, and grammar*), as well as syntactical, grammatical, and stylistic errors. I also correct ambiguous references, awkward sentence structure, and inconsistencies. If your meaning is unclear or an assertion is not adequately supported, I ask clarifying questions and offer suggestions.

Substantive editing (also called structural editing)

While copyediting focuses on details, substantive editing looks at a manuscript’s overall structure, purpose, and tone. Do the ideas flow logically? Is your purpose clear? Is each point adequately developed? At this level, rather than polishing language, I help writers refine their ideas. Ideally, a substantive edit is followed by a copyedit.

Developmental Editing

At this level of editing, I am usually involved at the early stages of a project—helping to define the initial concept as well as to write the first outline and draft. I make suggestions about the content, organization, and presentation of the manuscript. Once there is completed draft, I then move into copyediting mode.

(If you ask for one type of editing but a different type would actually be more suitable, I will not proceed until you and I come to an agreement about what to do.)

Manuscript Evaluation:

If you are more interested in receiving general feedback than detailed editing, request a manuscript evaluation. You can determine the focus of my analysis. Left to my own devices, I comment on your piece’s strengths as well as ways in which your organization, tone, and style could be improved.

* Editing for grammar includes correcting errors in the following categories:

• Dangling modifiers
• Illogical comparisons and mixed comparisons
• Incorrect subordination
• Misplaced modifiers
• Parallelism
• Pronoun case
• Pronoun reference
• Run-ons
• Sentence fragments
• Shifts in verb tense and mood
• Subject verb agreement

 

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