Authors often ask whether they can skip one of these two stages. In most cases the answer is no, because they catch different problems at different points in the process.
Copy-editing
A copy-edit happens once the structure and content of the manuscript are settled. The copy-editor reads line by line, in your manuscript file, and corrects and queries:
- grammar, spelling and punctuation
- inconsistencies in names, dates, facts and spelling
- clumsy or repetitive phrasing
- usage and style
They also create a style sheet: a record of the decisions made about the book, such as UK or US spelling, how numbers are written, hyphenated words and character names. The style sheet keeps everyone consistent through the rest of the process, including the proofreader.
A good copy-edit respects your voice. The aim is to make the book clearer and more consistent, not to make it sound like someone else.
Proofreading
A proofread happens after the book has been laid out in its final form: the typeset pages for print, or the eBook file. The proofreader reads the pages as a reader will see them, and checks for:
- typos and small errors that survived earlier stages
- layout problems such as odd line breaks, missing or repeated lines, or inconsistent headings
- problems with page numbers, contents lists and running heads
It is the last safety net. A proofread is not a chance to rewrite, and changes at this stage should be small, because each change in a laid-out book can affect the pages around it.
Why you need both
| Aspect | Copy-edit | Proofread |
|---|---|---|
| When | Before layout | After layout |
| What it checks | The text: language, consistency, clarity | The pages: typos, layout, final details |
| Works from | Your manuscript file | The typeset proofs |
| Changes | Many, tracked for your approval | Few and small |
A copy-edit cannot catch problems that appear only when the text is set on the page. A proofread cannot do the thorough language work a copy-edit does. And if the same person does both, fresh eyes are lost.
What a style sheet records
A style sheet is a short list of decisions, for example:
- UK spelling throughout, with "-ise" endings
- how numbers are written: words up to ten, figures after
- how you write dates, titles and abbreviations
- hyphenated words and compound terms
- the spellings of character names, places and technical terms
Ask your copy-editor to share the style sheet with you. Keep it for your next book, and pass it to your proofreader, your designer and anyone else who touches the text. If you are not sure which stage you need first, read which kind of edit does my book need? And prepare your manuscript before it goes to anyone.
Practical advice
- Finish your own revisions first. Every round of rewriting after a copy-edit risks introducing new errors.
- Answer queries promptly and clearly, so your editor is not left guessing.
- Approve changes deliberately. Accept the tracked changes you agree with and think about the rest.
- Read the final proofs yourself, even after a professional proofread. It is your name on the cover.
At Fable Studio, we copy-edit and proofread the final content before it is published, so that each stage has its own careful pass. See our book editing service.
Want to know where your book stands?
Submit your manuscript for a free book review: the whole book, or at least the first three chapters. We'll read it and send you our feedback. There's no obligation.