Editor Series: What is a Copy Editor?

As an self publisher, you REALLY VERY MUCH OUGHT TO have your work professionally edited in order to put out the best product you can. As the creator of the content, you can get your work as polished as possible, and it still takes new eyes to see where things need editing.

Not every reader will not know the difference between a well-edited book and not, but they’ll know the better experience in reading a book with good editing even if they don’t know why.

The Copy Editor

A copy editor’s job is to ensure clarity, accuracy, and consistency in the writing. Their primary focus is on correcting errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and syntax, as well as verifying factual information and improving overall readability. Copy editors also work to maintain a consistent style throughout a document, adhering to specific style guides as required. They may suggest minor rewrites to enhance flow and coherence, eliminate redundancies, and ensure that the tone and language are appropriate for the intended audience. While they don’t typically make major content changes, copy editors play a crucial role in polishing and perfecting written work before it’s published or distributed, whether it’s a book, article, website content, or any other form of written communication.

• Primarily concerned with technical accuracy and correctness
• Fixes errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation, and syntax
• Ensures consistency in style, formatting, and terminology
• Verifies factual information and cross-references
• Makes minor adjustments for clarity and conciseness
• Focuses on preparing the text for publication

People often confuse copy editing with line editing. In essence, a line editor improves the quality of the writing itself, while a copy editor ensures the technical accuracy and consistency of the text. Line editing typically occurs earlier in the editing process, followed by copy editing as a final polish before publication.