Copyediting vs. Proofreading: Which Does Your Book Need?
Two different jobs at two different stages, and most books need both.
By Pasque & Prayrie
Authors often ask us for “a proofread” when what their manuscript really needs is a copyedit, and sometimes the other way around. The two words get used interchangeably, but they’re different jobs done at different stages, and mixing them up can cost you money or leave errors in your finished book.
What copyediting does
A copyedit is a line-by-line pass over your finished draft. Your copyeditor reads every sentence and fixes or flags:
- grammar, spelling, punctuation and usage
- unclear or clunky sentences, repeated words and tangled syntax
- consistency: names, timelines, capitalization, numbers and hyphenation
- facts that look wrong, like a Tuesday that should be a Wednesday or a character whose eyes change color
A good copyeditor also builds a style sheet for your book, a running list of spellings and choices, so the same word is treated the same way on page 12 and page 312. Copyediting improves your sentences without changing your voice. Every change should be a suggestion you can accept or reject.
What proofreading does
Proofreading is the final check, done after the book has been formatted. A proofreader looks for what slipped through and what the layout introduced:
- typos and missed words
- bad line and page breaks, widows and orphans
- wrong running heads, page numbers and table-of-contents entries
- spacing, font and formatting glitches
A proofreader shouldn’t be rewriting sentences. If they find themselves doing that, the book needed a copyedit.
Side by side
| Copyedit | Proofread | |
|---|---|---|
| When | After revisions, before formatting | After formatting, before publishing |
| Focus | Sentences, clarity, consistency | Last errors and layout problems |
| Changes | Many, line by line | Few, small and targeted |
| Our rate (fiction) | 1.5¢ a word | 0.8¢ a word |
| 80,000-word novel | $1,200 | $640 |
Which one does your book need?
Read a few random pages aloud. If you stumble over sentences, notice the same word three times in a paragraph, or can’t remember whether you spelled a character’s name “Kathryn” or “Katherine,” you need a copyedit.
If your manuscript has already been professionally edited and you’re about to publish, you need a proofread.
And if you’re still not sure whether the story or argument works as a whole, you may need a step before both: a developmental edit or a manuscript assessment. It makes sense to fix structure before anyone polishes sentences that might be cut.
Can I skip one?
You can, but most self-published books benefit from both. A copyedit catches the big sentence-level problems; a proofread catches the errors that creep in during formatting and the handful the copyeditor missed. Skipping the copyedit and asking a proofreader to “catch everything” usually means paying for a proofread that can’t fix what the book actually needs.
If budget is tight, our Publish-Ready package bundles the copyedit and proofread with formatting, covers and setup for books up to 80,000 words. See all our editing rates.
See the difference on your own pages
The fastest way to know is to see it. Send us your first 1,000 words and Tere will edit them free, with notes explaining each change and a written quote for the full manuscript. Get your free sample edit.
Quick answers
What is the difference between copyediting and proofreading?
Copyediting is a line-by-line edit of the finished draft for grammar, clarity, consistency and style. Proofreading is a final check of the formatted book for typos and layout errors. Copyediting comes first; proofreading comes last.
Do I need both a copyedit and a proofread?
Most self-published books benefit from both. The copyedit improves the sentences; the proofread catches errors introduced during formatting and anything missed earlier.
How much does copyediting cost?
Pasque & Prayrie charges 1.5 cents a word for fiction and 2 cents for nonfiction, so an 80,000-word novel costs $1,200. The EFA reports median copyediting rates of about 2 to 5 cents a word.
Writing a book?
Send your first 1,000 words. Tere will edit them free and send back notes and a written quote for the whole manuscript.
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