Copy-editing versus proofreading: the question comes up often, and from the outside it’s understandable why the two are so often confused. A copy editor takes a deeper look into the text and is more focused on fixing the issue, while the proofreader is focusing on anything glaring that might have slipped through.
I saw it described once like this: when you’re copy-editing, you’re in the blacksmithy hammering out the blade, sharpening it and honing the story to a fine tip. When you’re proofreading, you’re examining the hilt for imperfections and checking the blade’s edge.
If you didn’t know the difference between copy-editing and proofreading, your understanding might be incomplete. In which case, this is the post for you.
Another common thought is: should I hire a copy editor for my book? On the surface, it’s common for clients to look at what a copy editor does and believe they can save a few bucks by using a free tool like Grammarly, or by hiring someone cheap on Fiverr. I can’t stress this point enough: it’s far too common that new authors take this route and don’t even realize all the mistakes that have gone untouched.
The short version
- Copy editing makes your manuscript correct: grammar, punctuation, spelling, and the continuity that holds a book together.
- It runs deeper than proofreading, catching verb-tense slips, pronoun errors, and continuity gaps a final glance would miss.
- Free tools and bargain gigs tend to flag the obvious and miss the context around it.
- It comes after the story-level work, once the prose is close to final.
What an average copy editor looks for
- Grammar and spelling errors.
- Correct punctuation usage.
- Common mistakes like double words, double spacing, and erroneous capitalization.
What a good copy editor looks for
- Verb tense errors, ensuring that if your story is first-person present, your verbs match accordingly.
- Incorrect pronoun usage.
- Numbers, dates, and other easy-to-identify consistency issues.
- Continuity errors related to plot details, character descriptions, world-building elements, and more.
What a bad copy editor might do
- Only highlight the most basic issues.
- Ignore language-based context (Canadian English versus United States English).
- Ignore or misinterpret comma-splice issues.
Now that you have a good grasp on copy-editing, consider checking out our editing types post, where we go over the steps of editing under a simplified framework.
Common questions
Is copy editing the same as proofreading?
No. Copy editing digs into the text, fixing errors and enforcing continuity across the whole book, from tenses to character details. Proofreading is the final glance that comes afterward, catching the few things that slipped through. One is hands-on correction; the other is a last check.
How much does copy editing cost?
Our copy editing starts in the Basic tier at $11 per 1,000 words, and is also included in our Premium tier at no additional cost. The full breakdown, and how Basic compares to our other tiers, is on our editing services page.
Do I still need copy editing after a developmental edit?
Yes. A developmental edit reshapes the story, but it often leaves rewritten passages behind, and those still need correcting. The two work at different levels: one fixes what the book is doing, the other fixes how it is written. Skipping the copy edit is how strong stories still reach readers full of small errors.
What does a copy editor actually change?
Beyond the obvious grammar and spelling, a good copy editor catches verb-tense drift, pronoun mix-ups, and the continuity details that are easy to lose over eighty thousand words: names, dates, timelines, and whether your world’s own rules stay constant. They also hold the manuscript to one standard, such as Canadian versus American spelling, rather than a mix.
Copy editing vs line editing?
Copy editing is about correctness; line editing is about quality. A copy editor makes sure a sentence is right. A line editor makes sure it reads well, smoothing awkward phrasing and clumsy flow at the sentence and paragraph level. Most manuscripts benefit from both, which is why our Basic tier includes them together.