If you have ever written anything, you have probably needed an editor. If you have ever hired an editing service, then you know that editing is actually a complex process, and there are different types of editing. Copy editing, line editing, substantive editing, mechanical editing, and developmental editing are all different methods of editing a written document. Academic editing and journal editing are also services available for hire. What is the difference between them? How do you know what type of editing your writing needs? Let’s look at what each type of editing entails and discuss the differences between them so that you’ll always know what type of editing service to ask for.
What are the five main types of editing? While there may be some variation in what is called, in general, there are five main types of editing that are done in writing. in no particular order, they are:
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- development, substantive, or content editing
- structural editing
- copy editing
- line editing
- mechanical editing
What are the differences between these types of edits and when do you need each? Each of these editing types is a critical part of the review process and typically marks a document’s progression from draft to final version. Depending on the type of document you’re editing, there may be some overlap in what these editing stages are looking for, but for the most part, they’re clear and distinct editing stages.
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Major Edits: Structural and Developmental EditingDevelopmental editing, also known as substantive or content editing, is typically the first editing step a manuscript will go through. These types of editing can be applied to books, academic papers, research papers, or articles. the development edition deeply analyzes the content of an article. substantive editing will consider the big picture and ask questions like, does the article or book make sense? does it flow well? Are the ideas clearly developed and articulated? Are there big logic holes or flaws? If you hire substantive editing services to do this type of editing for you, the editor will usually leave notes for you to consider and recommend major changes. the editor may remove sections or suggest adding more information.
Structural editing can occur along with development editing or as a separate process. substantive editing services often provide them together as a service. Structural editors look at the general way a story, research paper, or article is structured. they focus on the logical flow, style, tone, and overall quality of the writing. Like the developmental or substantive edition, the structural edition looks at the big picture of your writing. These types of editing are important steps on your way to developing a well-written and organized manuscript.
Next Steps: Line Editing and Copy Once your editor (or you) are happy with the structure, content, and logical flow of your writing, it’s time for the next editing step. : line and copy edition. copy editing may include making corrections to spelling and punctuation. however, the editor usually focuses more on grammar, word choice, and improving the overall quality of the writing. For example, if you hire copy editing services, they will make sure that your work uses active voice instead of passive voice and avoids overly long or awkward sentences. If you hire copyediting services for the scholarly edition, they will also review your article to ensure proper citation style and completeness of references. a copyeditor ensures that the tone and style of a piece is consistent and appropriate for the target audience.
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line editing is a close cousin of copyediting, but there are a few key differences, and therefore it is a separate editing step. Line editing gets its name because the editor checks your writing “line by line.” They closely examine your word choice, the impact of your writing, and provide polish to ensure your writing is clear and eloquent. line editors will point out cliché-sounding phrases and suggest corrections for run-on sentences. they focus on clarity and will simplify your writing so that the meaning is clear and not overly complicated.
Both line editing and copy editing are important types of editing that will refine and polish your writing. these types of editing are important steps, regardless of the type of article you have written.
Finishing: Mechanical EditingNow that your document has been reviewed for structure, content, consistency, style, fluency, grammar, and word choice, it’s time for the final step edition: mechanical edition . the mechanical editor takes over the task of ensuring spelling, grammar, punctuation, and formatting. If you’re looking for a scholarly edition, mechanical editing is the step to make sure your article fits perfectly into the style guide it’s written in (MLA, APA, or Chicago). mechanical editors carefully read your article to ensure that capitalization, abbreviations, and punctuation are consistent. copy editing services sometimes offer mechanical editing along with copy editing. however, these types of editing are different, so be sure to specify whether you need only one or both if you hire an external editing service.
Once your work has gone through all the different kinds of editing, you’ll end up with beautiful writing that is structurally logical, has no holes in information or flow, and is written clearly and concisely. although sometimes the different types of editing overlap a bit, they are distinct from each other. It’s important to know the difference so you can clearly communicate your needs when hiring a scholarly editing service or another type of editor to review your work. this way you can make sure your item gets the care it needs.
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