This is level of editing has moved passed the larger, overarching parts of a body of work and focuses in on the words themselves.

Copyediting can range from a light edit to a heavy edit. The heavier the edit the more I focus on. This line level of editing considers the basics of grammar, word choice, punctuation, and consistency in style. But it can also look at word order, clarity of the sentences, and style choices. Depending on the stage of the manuscript, the time constraints, and/or the budget, the level of edit will vary.

Typically a final stage of the editorial process, this type of editing is looking for the fine details that may have been missed. It is a fact that human brains can do a great deal to fill in information when we read, and it’s true that finding 100 percent of errors is incredibly unlikely on a first pass.

Proofreading leaves aside the nuance of writing and focuses on the mechanics to ensure consistent use of more prescriptive grammar rules and locating any lingering errors.