Editing vs Proofreading: What Are the Differences?

Did you know that the average book that is published in the United States sells less than two hundred copies?

If you’ve put your heart or soul into writing a book, essay or document, it can be stressful to know how hard it can be to find readers.

This is why it is so important to make your masterpiece as good as it can possibly be by hiring a skilled editor and proofreader. We’ve created a guide that breaks down the basics of editing vs proofreading.

Keep reading if you want to find out more.

What Is Editing?

Editors make changes and suggestions to documents and books that will help people to improve the quality of their writing.

Editors focus on how people use language. After your work has been edited, your language will be clear and consistent. Your document will also be more readable and engaging.

A skilled editor will work to make sure that you’ve chosen the right words and that you have clearly articulated your ideas. An editor will notice if you overused your thesaurus when you wrote your document.

Editors will also identify instances where you’re overusing the passive voice. They will also help you to make sure that you’ve used an appropriate tone and that you’ve appropriately used gendered language.

What Is Proofreading?

It is usually less expensive to hire a proofreader than to hire an editor. Proofreaders know how to correct surface errors in writing. They have an in-depth understanding of how grammar and punctuation.

They will also point out instances where words are misspelled.

When a proofreader assesses your document, they will look for commas, colons, and semicolons that you’ve used incorrectly.

They will also make sure that you’ve used correctly used quotation marks and apostrophes.

Proofreading Guide: When to Choose a Proofreader Instead of An Editor

Proofreading and editing are very different jobs. When you are in the earlier stages of your writing process, it is a good idea to hire an editor.

If you have recently finished an early draft of your dissertation, you should consider getting editing help from professional dissertation editing services.

It is a good idea to hire a proofreader once you are getting ready to publish your dissertation.

Unfortunately, not all writers are able to afford both of these services. This is why it is important to know what your needs are.

If you feel like the book or document that you’ve written is nearly complete, you should hire a proofreader. On the other hand, consider hiring an editor if you need help to improve your voice and tone.

Editing vs Proofreading: Know the Differences

If you are confused about how editing vs proofreading are related, it is important to understand that it is the job of an editor to help improve the overall quality of a piece of writing.

On the other hand, proofreaders help writers to use proper punctuation, grammar, and spelling.

Are you interested in finding out more about how to succeed in school? If so, don’t forget to check out the Education section of our website.