What Does It All Mean?

Amanda Evans
June 12, 2018

Everyone knows what an editor does.
But if you look around the Internet, you'll find a host of confusing terms, like --

Here's the Skinny
on the Most Common Contemporary Editing Buzzwords

By and large, the majority of editors offer varying levels of editing to their clients. Here's a quick rundown to help you choose what's right for you.

Proofreading

Proofreading is the most basic edit, which involves correcting all of the flat-out mistakes.  This includes grammar, spelling, punctuation, and capitalization.

 

Copyediting

Copyediting corrects mistakes, as does proofreading, but in addition, a copyedit corrects problems such as inconsistencies, redundancies, and omissions.  Copyeditors also fact-check, to be sure all the details are accurate.

Line Editing

Line editing is a big-picture edit.  The structure of the piece, clarity of language, and tone are considered by a line editor, who provides the author with suggested improvements.  Line editing does not include proofreading for typos and other text mistakes.

Developmental Editing

Developmental editing is more like writers’ coaching. Its super-big-picture perspective includes vision, outline, writing plan, style, structure, and efficacy.  Developmental editors often come on board during the conceptual phase of a writing project.

Technical Editing

Technical editing is for nonfiction and non-journalistic writing.  A tech editor evaluates language, content, understandability, factual accuracy, structure, and completeness.

Critiquing

A critique involves the analysis of a piece, with suggestions made regarding plot, characters, pacing, structure, and marketability.

My Take on It

As an editor, I like to offer my clients two choices:

• Proofreading, or
• Full Edit - a combination of line editing, copyediting, and a final proofreading.

Editing Isn’t Just for Words Anymore

I would venture to say that there are far more photo or image editors operating professionally, than text editors these days.  When you search the Internet or a social media platform for “editors,” you’ll find mostly references to photo editors.

And when a text editor is asked what they do for a living, “I’m an editor,” is no longer an adequate answer. I like to say,

A text editor is the writer’s best friend.

Amanda Evans has been editing and writing in a wide variety of fields for over thirty years. During that time, she authored numerous technical manuals and articles, as well as a children's fantasy novel. In addition, she served as editor-in-chief at a publishing house in Austin, Texas.
http://amandaevansediting.blogspot.com/