Copy Editing vs Proofreading: What’s the Difference and Which Do You Need?

在专业出版中，复制编辑是改善作家作家的行为。Proofreading, on the other hand, is a safety net that ensures that the author and copy editor didn't miss anything. These are two different jobs with the same goal: making a piece of writing as readable and error-free as possible.

In this article, we’ll do a quick dive into the work that copy editors and proofreaders do and help you understand whichtype of editingyour manuscript needs at any given time. If you want to cut straight to the chase, you can find out yourself by taking our quiz.

什么是复制编辑？

从广义上讲，复制编辑确保了一篇文章是“正确的”。大多数人会理解这意味着解决拼写错误并纠正语法问题，但这通常在专业出版中会进一步发展。

Working to style guides

Atrained and experienced copy editorwill ensure that a piece of writing adheres to the publisher’s chosen style guide. Say, for example, you’re an author who’s written this sentence:

这个十四岁的男孩放下了他的《暮光之城》的副本。

如果这是针对小说的，副本编辑将确定它应该遵循Chicago Manual of Style。他们将通过将“十四岁的年轻人”（因为这是一个复合的形容词）和斜体化小说的标题编辑这条线。

The fourteen-year-old boy put down his copy of暮。

如果您是为遵循的报纸专栏写的AP Stylebook，复制编辑器将编辑为“ 14”为“ 14”（在AP中，数字以上的数字被写成数字），并在小说标题上使用引号。

The 14-year-old boy put down his copy of “Twilight”。

Some manuscripts won’t strictly adhere to any established guide (for example, if a novel is written in a screenplay format). If this is the case, the copy editor may create a bespoke stylesheet that lays out any unique spelling and formatting. This stylesheet will ensure consistency and help the proofreader understand what is a mistake and what is intentional.

确保可读性

Depending on the remit they receive, many copy editors will also suggest edits to improve the manuscript’s readability and accuracy. Let’s say that an author has written this:

凯文（Kevin）的五年级课程分心于背诵效忠的承诺，但凯文（Kevin）偷偷地将笔丢进了垃圾箱。

一个好的副本编辑将重复凯文的名字，使“五年级”删除，并提出使该句子读得更好的方法。他们可能还会注意到在美国环境中，英国术语“垃圾箱”的使用奇怪。

凯文（Kevin）的五年级课程分心于背诵效忠承诺。他把笔滑入垃圾桶里。

New writers often worry that an editor will take a hatchet to their writing, eradicating all traces of their ‘voice’. However, an experienced, professional copyeditor will be sensitive to the author’s unique style — tweaking the copy in ways that will help their voice truly sing.

What is proofreading?

In traditional publishing, the proofreading stage comes directly before the book goes to print. After the copy has been edited, a设计师要么typesetter将创建一个文件以发送到打印机。在他们承诺之前打印20,000份硬副本, they will create what’s called a ‘galley proof’— a test version of the book. A final digital version will also be evaluated forebooks about to be published。

不仅仅是打字

然后，校对器将精心梳理证明，以查看复制编辑器是否错过了任何东西要么如果设计师意外地将错误引入了最终文件。除了错别字外，这些错误可能包括：

• Incorrect numbering of pages;
• 不准确指数；
• 未对准文字；
• 单词之间的其他（或缺少）空间；
• Incorrect paragraphing.

A proofreader’s list of responsibilities is often broader than what we’ve laid out above. For example, with non-fiction or journalistic writing, they might also fact-check the manuscript.

Now that we’ve established the kinds of tasks involved in copy editing and proofreading, let’s look at where they might fit into an author’s publishing journey.

Which service do you need?

如果您是独立作家self-publish a book, one of the things you’ll need to manage is editing your manuscript. Through online marketplaces like Reedsy, you can find qualified and experienced copy editors and proofreaders in just a few minutes. The real challenge is knowingwhento hire them.

Copy editafteryour structure is finalized

作为一个文字编辑将专注于个性化l sentences and paragraphs of your manuscript, you’ll first want to make sure you’re satisfied with your book’s structure. If there’s a chance you’ll cut out chapters, add new ones in, or tinker with certain passages — don’t get a copy editor yet! You’ll either have to get another copy edit later or pay a professional to edit something that won’t make it into the final book.

复制编辑后获取单独的校对器

专业的校对者在那里捕捉作者并复制编辑的错误。一些复印员还提供校对服务，但最好是为这项任务而获得新鲜的眼睛。如果复印员第一次错过了一个错误（没有编辑器是100％无误的），那么在校对期间，他们有机会错过它。如果可以的话，请聘请单独的复制编辑器和校对器。

就是这样！完成书的校对阶段后，您就准备与世界分享。在这两个值得信赖的专业人员的帮助下，您可以完全充满信心地发表您的杰作，使其具有充分的潜力。