by Jennie Stevens
When I first started my career, I encountered an issue many new editors face: there are no clear-cut definitions for the different types of editing. It seems every publishing house, editing firm, and freelancer has their own vocabulary and definitions for the same work. Even the term editor is an umbrella term that can encompass every job from acquiring a manuscript to fixing errant commas.
So what are the different categories of editing and how do they fit together? Once I understood the terms and structure myself, I found it relatively easy to explain to others using a simple image: the editing funnel. The editing funnel represents the order of editing, moving from big problems to small problems.
It is important to remember that each editor has their own understanding of these terms and how to apply them. If you are an author, make sure you and your editor are on the same page about the level of editing your manuscript requires, but it should generally follow the same path from draft to final product.
Developmental Editing
(also called content or substantive editing)
Developmental editing looks at large-scale problems or inconsistencies within the manuscript. These range from plot holes, continuity errors, contradictory character arcs—even recommending reordering chapters or rewriting large swathes of text. This is not the time to worry about commas or spelling, but rather focus on telling the right story in the right order with the right pacing.
Line Editing
Line editing has similarities with both developmental editing and copyediting, but I prefer to differentiate between the three. Developmental editing focuses on bigger parts of the manuscript—chapters and scenes—while line editing goes even more in depth, parsing out line by line, as the name suggests. Each sentence is assessed for its grammar, syntax, and word choice. Line editors may suggest changes to reflect character or author voice, tighten language, or clarify meaning.
Copyediting
Copyediting is the second-to-last step in the editing funnel, but it’s the last step before the book is formatted and typeset in a layout, so it’s the last chance to make any substantive changes to the manuscript. Generally, copyeditors focus on smaller changes—grammar, punctuation, usage, continuity, fact-checking. A copyeditor is most concerned with applying a consistent style throughout, often based on a professional or in-house style guide such as The Chicago Manual of Style or the AP Stylebook.
Proofreading
Proofreading is done after typesetting and is the final step before a book is printed. This is not the time for any large-scale edits or rewrites, as those can affect the layout of the book, costing the author and publisher a lot of time and money. Rather, proofreading focuses on small, clear errors such as spelling or punctuation mistakes that slipped through previous edits or typographical errors.
Many editors combine or separate these steps based on their own experience and understanding—and occasionally repeat steps after back-and-forth with the author—but the process should follow along these lines. This is a simple overview of a complex field, but the editing funnel can be a useful representation of how editing a manuscript moves from large-scale issues to small tweaks and from a first draft to a published book that you can proudly display on your shelves.
Jennie Stevens is a wife, mother, copyeditor, and connoisseur of all things nerdy. She edits fiction—primarily science fiction, fantasy, and Regency romance—and works with several local editing companies. Check out her website (www.jennietheeditor.com) and follow her on Instagram and Twitter (@jennietheeditor) for book recommendations and grammar tips.