What is "copy editing"

alt. The correction of the spelling, grammar, formatting, etc. of printed material and preparation of it for typesetting, printing, or online publishing. n. The correction of the spelling, grammar, formatting, etc. of printed material and preparation of it for typesetting, printing, or online publishing.

n. putting something into a form suitable for a printer

Copy editing (also copy-editing or copyediting, sometimes abbreviated ce) is the process of taking raw material to improve the formatting, style, and accuracy of text. The goal of copy editing is to ensure that content is accurate, easy to follow, fit for its purpose, and free of error, omission, inconsistency, and repetition. In the context of publication in print, copy editing is done before typesetting and again before proofreading, the final step in the editorial cycle.

In the context of the internet, online copy refers to the text content of web pages. Similar to print, online copy editing is the process of revising the raw or draft text of web pages and reworking it to perfection—making it ready for publishing.

Copy editing has three levels: light, medium, and heavy. Depending on the budget and scheduling of the publication, the publisher will let the copy editor know what level of editing to employ. The type of editing one chooses (light, medium, or heavy), will help the copy editor prioritize their efforts.

Within copy editing, there is mechanical editing and substantive editing: Mechanical editing is the process of making a text or manuscript follow editorial or house style. The role of this particular type of editing is to keep the preferred style of publication consistent across all content, as well as make sure that generally accepted grammar rules are followed throughout. It refers to editing in terms of spelling, punctuation, correct usage of grammatical symbols, along with reviewing special elements like tables, charts, formatting footnotes, and endnotes. Substantive editing, also known as content editing, is the editing of material, including its structure and organization. In this type of editing, internal inconsistencies and discrepancies are dealt with. Substantive editing oftentimes can require heavy editing or rewriting as compared to mechanical editing.