Copy Editing

Copy Editing

Copy editing is basically the process of checking for mistakes, inconsistencies, and repetition. It’s a process in which the manuscript is polished for publication.

A copyeditor checks for errors in grammar, spelling, syntax, and punctuation.

They also have to look for technical consistency in spelling, capitalization, font usage, numerals, hyphenation. For example, whether it’s e-mail on page 26 and email on page 143?

Copyeditors must make sure that there are no factually incorrect statements. This is a necessary part of the copy editing process for non-fiction manuscripts, such as historical pieces and memoirs. They also need to check that your manuscript does not libel others.

Copy editing is basically proof reading a manuscript and fixing content errors such as misspelled words, missing punctuation or the wrong punctuation being used, making sure proper nouns are capitalized or not at the right time. Sometimes, it's also having to make sure sentences and/or paragraphs make sense. The copy editor is the last pair of eyes to see the finished manuscript before the author accepts the corrections and has the book published..

The three primary types of editors are copy, line, and developmental editor, in order of both typical price and degree of artistic liberties taken with the prose.

Of the three, the copy editor is perhaps the most technically focused. They edit to improve word choice, correct mistakes in word usage, passive voice checks, and a wide range of writing no-nos, combined with fact checking, grammar improvements, and ensuring consistent formatting for actual publication.

The line editor focuses on language flow and polishing the prose for impact and readability (suggesting sentence structure changes, clarifying ambiguities, fixing mistakes in event sequences, etc.). Basically, making the language shine while being aware of and maintaining the author’s “voice.”

Where copy and line editing is reserved for near the very end of the writing process, developmental editors usually come in long before the novel is done to consult on story structure, pacing, character depth, genre conventions, and that sort of thing.

Copy editing is the work that an editor does to improve the formatting style and accuracy of text.
Unlike general editing copy editing might not involve changing the content of the text.
Copy editing is done before both typesetting and proofreading.
Copy editor corrects errors in a text and makes it conform to an editorial style.
The copyeditor may also do or suggest some reorganizing,recommend changes to chapter titles and subheadings and call out lapses in logic.

Copy editor’s checklist (I)

• Is the story complete, accurate and balanced?
• Is the headline accurate & balanced?
• Is the background and context complete enough to give readers a sense of why the story is relevant?
• Is the lead sufficiently supported by the rest of the story?
• Have all phone numbers and web addresses been checked?

Copy editor’s checklist (II)

• If there are numbers or percentages in a story, have they been checked?
• Has spelling been checked?
• Grammar?
• Punctuation?
• Have checked photo captions and graphics information to make sure they coincide with the story?
• Have proofread the display type?

A copy editor is most likely to work with a publisher. Their job is to make worthy the content just before it goes into publishing.

• They proof read.
• They check for libel (avoid defamatory untruths that may lead the publisher to be dragged into legal lawsuits).
• At times in some cases they can rewrite, if the write up is horribly bad.
• Writing catchy headlines is an art, and that comes under the writing part of a copy writers job.
• Rest each copy editors responsibilities could vary a little based on the job description and agreement with their client/employer