What is the difference between copyediting and proofreading?

People have often asked me, what is the difference between copyediting and proofreading? Aren't they the same thing?

Well, as it turns out, they certainly aren't.

I'm here to explain to you how they are different, and how they can be used either on their own or together.

Copyediting

So, what exactly does a copyeditor do?

They are responsible for checking grammar, spelling and punctuation (or proofreading), making sure everything is consistent - anything from dates, names, times, etc, ensuring the formatting is correct, including checking any images or graphs that may be included. Copyeditors also check sentence structure and the overall clarity and readability of the text, and will either change or make suggestions to the text to improve it.

They also make sure the language is consistent, as well as sometimes fact-checking and checking that any hyperlinks included in the text work correctly (for online content only).

Depending on the type of project that is being edited, copyeditors will also check references (for academic purposes) and if they are working on a non-fiction project, they will make sure the notes and the index at the rear of the book are clear and in the correct order.

Copyeditors don't just work on books either - anything that includes words can be edited. This includes online content. Copyeditors generally work with authors, publishers and typesetters.

Proofreading

Now for the proofreaders.

Proofreading generally comes after the copyedit, especially in traditional publishing. It is very often the final check before the project becomes published. Proofreading can be used to describe almost any correction that applies to a text.

As proofreaders are usually the final eyes before publication, they have quite an important job. It is up to them to make sure the overall quality of the text is free of errors that may have been missed during the editing process.

Proofreaders won't check formatting or fact-check unless they have been briefed to do so, as this is usually down to the copyeditor. They can raise queries or ask questions about anything that seems out of place.

Copyeditors and proofreaders both work to specific style guides; this ensures the text is consistent. Sometimes copyediting and proofreading are used together, and sometimes they are used separately, depending on the type of text or project that is being completed.

So, there it is. The difference between copyediting and proofreading.

If you didn't know before, now you do.