Resources
On Writing: An Annotated Bibliography
Quiz: Which type of editing is right for you?
Editing can be understood as a series of processes leading to publication, starting from big-picture concerns and getting more detailed as the writer and editor work together to refine the text.
- Developmental editing helps writers structure, organize, and clarify their ideas from the concept to the page.
- Line editing encourages writers to polish their prose at the sentence level.
- Copyediting supports writers by flagging technical issues, such as grammar, spelling, or factual errors.
Proofreading is the final process, eliminating errors in a manuscript that has been formatted for publication.
In practice, editing looks different for different writers. Not all writers will engage with each kind of editing. Some editors combine services and some writers find people to do editorial work informally through writer’s workshops or collaborative partnerships.
Depending on where and how you expect to publish your work, some services may also be provided for you by a publisher. For example, academic presses may arrange for a book manuscript’s copyediting and proofreading.
