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The main difference between copyediting and proofreading is about the extent and kind of edits made: copyediting focuses on sentence-level corrections while proofreading focuses on basic grammar, punctuation, and consistency issues. In this article, we’ll dive into each type of editing with tips on how to choose between copyediting and proofreading.
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Why should authors opt for copyediting?
Why should authors opt for proofreading?
Differences between copyediting and proofreading
What is copyediting?
Copyediting involves line-by-line checks of your research paper, where the editor focuses on
- Sentence construction
- Vocabulary
- Tone
- Readability
- Grammar and punctuation
A copyeditor improves clarity and readability, ensures a native tone, and fixes basic errors in grammar, punctuation, and consistency.
Examples
Original: Patients were given 5-aminolevulinic acid before surgery.
Edited: Patients were administered 5-aminolevulinic acid before surgery.
Original: Due to the fact that patients who are diagnosed with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis were observed to have a tendency toward demonstrating a significantly higher likelihood of experiencing adverse dermatological and psychological outcomes when treatment initiation was delayed for a prolonged period of time, it was considered important to evaluate the impact of early intervention strategies in this particular patient population.
Edited: Because delayed treatment increases dermatological and psychological complications in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis, this study evaluates the impact of early intervention strategies in this population.
Why should authors opt for copyediting?
Copyediting helps authors in the following ways:
- Makes your research clearer and easier to understand
- Polishes your writing and makes the contributions of your study more compelling
- Improves presentation and tone of your manuscript
- Prevents language issues from detracting from the quality of your research
What is proofreading?
Proofreading is the basic, final check of a research paper prior to journal submission or publication, where you check for minor slips in grammar, punctuation, spelling, and consistency that may have been overlooked in previous drafts.
Examples
Original: The patients showed significant improvement in knee flexion after surgery, the postoperative rehabilitation period was shorten than expected.
Proofread: The patients showed significant improvement in knee flexion after surgery; the postoperative rehabilitation period was shorter than expected.
Original: Serum creatinine levels in patients with chronic kidney disease was significantly higher after treatment.
Proofread: Serum creatinine levels in patients with chronic kidney disease were significantly higher after treatment.
Why should authors opt for proofreading?
Proofreading is an essential step in the manuscript publication process because it catches small errors that affect the overall presentation of the paper. Most manuscripts undergo multiple revisions during the peer review process, and tiny errors in consistency or grammar may creep in. Proofreading ensures a polished final draft of your paper.
Differences between copyediting and proofreading
The table below summarizes the main differences between copyediting and proofreading.
| Aspect | Copyediting | Proofreading |
| Main purpose | Improves the quality of writing before submission to a journal | Detects and corrects final surface-level errors before publication |
| Stage in writing process | Prior to journal submission or resubmission | Done after copyediting and usually after layout/typesetting |
| Focus area | Line-by-line editing of language, clarity, readability, and tone | Final check of grammar, spelling, punctuation, and consistency |
| Sentence structure | Rewrites awkward, unclear, or overly complex sentences for better readability | Does not usually rewrite sentences |
| Vocabulary | Replaces inappropriate, repetitive, vague, or weak word choices | Checks mainly for spelling consistency |
| Grammar and punctuation | Corrects grammar and punctuation while also improving tone and style | Corrects only critical grammar, punctuation, and typographical errors |
| Author involvement | Authors may be asked to explain ambiguous portions or to choose between multiple rewordings of the same sentence | Author queries minimal except for critical missing information |
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Should I opt for copyediting or proofreading?
You may need both copyediting and proofreading: opt for copyediting before submitting your paper to a journal to ensure clarity, readability, tone, and style, and opt for proofreading once your paper is accepted to ensure that the final version is error-free.
2. Is copyediting more expensive than proofreading?
Copyediting tends to be more expensive than proofreading because it involves a much more intensive check of the paper compared to proofreading.
3. Which is better, copyediting or proofreading?
Both types of editing are equally useful and important: copyediting makes your paper meet the standards of academic English expected by your target journal, and proofreading ensures that the final version of your paper is error-free prior to publication.
