Copyediting is where professionalism becomes invisible. Readers should never notice the work—only that the prose is clean, consistent, and trustworthy.
What copyediting covers
- Grammar, usage, punctuation, and syntax
- Clarity and concision without flattening voice
- Continuity: names, timelines, eye color, world rules
- Style sheet: hyphenation, capitalization, spelling variants
- Light fact flags when something smells off (not full fact-checking unless scoped)
What it does not cover
Plot overhauls, chapter reordering, or “make this more commercial.” That is developmental editing. Doing copyedit too early means paying twice when scenes move.
Deliverables
- Tracked-changes manuscript (Word) or equivalent markup
- Project style sheet you can reuse for sequels
- Query comments where authorial choice is required
FAQ
Copyedit vs proofread?
Copyediting improves language and consistency while the text can still flex. Proofreading is the last error hunt after everything—including often layout—is frozen.
Next step: Prefer a lighter start? A manuscript critique or sample pages often clarify whether you need developmental work or can move straight to copyediting.