<strong>What are you trying to accomplish?</strong>

Recently, I saw a query on a listserv looking for a copy editor. The author said she needed a “basic proof” done for spelling, grammar and  for the “missed half sentence in the middle of a paragraph.” In fact, she didn’t need a copy editor—what she needed was a proofreader. Proofreading is a different skill than copy editing. While copy editors can be proofreaders, that is not their main function.

<a href="https://deborahbrody.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/pexels-rodnae-productions-76480341.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-large wp-image-4272" src="https://deborahbrody.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/pexels-rodnae-productions-76480341-1024x683.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="683" /></a>

<strong>How to get your writing from draft to finished product</strong>

When you are creating any type of written work, you should follow these steps:
<ol>
 	<li>Write a rough draft</li>
 	<li>Review and rewrite</li>
 	<li>Copy edit</li>
 	<li>Incorporate edits</li>
 	<li>Produce final document</li>
 	<li>Proofread</li>
 	<li>Publish</li>
</ol>
<strong> What is copy editing?</strong>

Copy editing reviews your work for clarity, consistency, style, and accuracy. This can include everything from fact checking to rearranging copy for flow to flagging duplicate content.  Copy editing allows your thoughts to be expressed in the clearest way possible. A thorough copy editing job will shore up your thesis by making sure your main points are clear and supported.

<strong>What is proofreading?</strong>

Proofreading checks your copy for errors, such as typos, misspellings, and missing punctuation.The best proofreaders will  fact check to make sure dates and numbers are accurate, and names are spelled correctly. Proofreading does not rearrange your copy unless it is a spacing issue. More importantly, proofreading is not designed to make your writing clearer but to ensure your copy is error-free.

Keep in mind that using your word processor’s spell check is not the same as proofreading. Spell check checks the spelling of a word, not its usage. You might have written fair instead of fare and it is spelled correctly, but it is not used correctly.

<strong>So many (preventable) mistakes</strong>

Too many folks skip the copy editing and think proofreading will solve their issues. It does not. Proofreading does prevent typos and other embarrassing mistakes. Here's a sampling from the past few days of errors that a proofreader would've prevented:
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">The word isles instead of aisles in today’s <em>Washington Post</em>.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">A email subject line that says “Stay on top of the governor’s rack” (instead of race).</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Or an email that tells me to “Pre oreder your set today.”</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Or a survey (from a professional editing association, no less) answer option that says “Professional Devlopment”</p>
And so many more. It’s as if most organizations have given up on proofreading. Perhaps they don’t think it’s worth the time, effort, or cost.

<hr />

Bottom line: If you take your work seriously and want to give it credibility spend the time and the money to get your work both copy edited and proofread before you publish.