Editing vs. proofreading: which does your manuscript need?

Authors often use "editing" and "proofreading" interchangeably, but they happen at different stages and fix different problems. Hiring the wrong one is one of the most common ways to waste money on a manuscript.

Developmental editing

This is big-picture work: structure, pacing, character arcs, argument flow. It is best done early, while large changes are still easy.

Copyediting

A copyeditor corrects grammar, punctuation, word choice and consistency. They also check details such as timelines, spellings and names.

Proofreading

Proofreading comes last, after the pages are laid out. The goal is to catch the typos and formatting slips that earlier passes missed, not to rewrite.

A simple rule

If you might still move chapters around, you need developmental editing. If the structure is final but the prose needs polish, copyedit. If the book is laid out and nearly ready, proofread.

Sample article: draft pending editorial approval.