Proofreading and editing are two different stages of the publishing workflow. Editing happens after the first draft of text has been written. It prepares the text for publication checking that it is clear, consistent, correct and complete. Proofreading, on the other hand, is the final check that happens after editing, just before publication.
Proofreading
Proofreading is a surface-level, final check performed on a document. This stage looks for text issues such as misspellings, incorrect or missed punctuation, inconsistencies (textual and numerical). It polishes the final document version ready for publication or use.
Editing
Editing helps the author to structure the manuscript content in a logical order so that it flows smoothly. The manuscript text is reviewed for grammar, spelling and punctuation; ensuring that the language and format are consistent and clear and that the text reads well throughout.
For more information or if you have any questions, please email me – click here.
Key differences between proofreading and editing.
| Proofreading | Editing |
| Performed on the final draft of the document | Performed on the first draft of the document and continues till the draft is finalized |
| Addresses surface-level issues | Addresses the core features of writing |
| Corrects spelling, grammatical and punctuation errors, inconsistencies and formatting errors | Improves the language and structure by making changes for clarity, consistency, completeness and readability |
| Does not include word count reduction | Includes word reduction, if required |