Line Editing
& Copy Editing

Line editing and copy editing represent the micro-level of the editing process. While often seen as synonymous, line editing is a step before copy editing (and often more closely aligned with stylistic editing) and focuses on the creative content, writing style, and language use. The purpose of a line edit is not to comb your manuscript for the nitty-gritty spelling and grammar errors. Instead, it is looking at the language and how you are communicating your story to your readers. Is your language clear? Does it flow well? Is it conveying the intended atmosphere, tone, and emotion? These are the sort of questions I will ask at the line-editing stage. 

 

On the other hand, copy editing involves reading the manuscript thoroughly from beginning to end, correcting errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation; checking for internal consistency of presentation and facts; removing repetitive content; standardizing Canadian and American usage; appraising number style; and generally ensuring that every T is crossed.  It is very much the technical word-by-word step of the editing process to ensure your story is grammatically flawless.