Types of Editing

Hey there! Let's clear up some issues. Depending on who you ask, some say there are five editing styles, while others will say six. Some types of editing are combined (developmental, substantive, or content), giving you an additional type, while some exclude a category —proofreading— altogether. So, here’s the breakdown:

• Developmental, substantive, or content editing.

• Structural editing.

• Copy editing.

• Line editing.

• Mechanical editing.

• Proofreading.

Developmental, substantive, or content editing is the first stage of editing anyone considering writing should do. This type of editing is generally used for books, academic and research papers, and articles. This is where you would gather information about your characters, ensuring your plot, timelines, and characters’ personalities are well-thought and arranged. Here, you will see if the content flows or makes sense.

Structural editing focuses on the overall body of work, gauging whether the completed project is good and whether anything should be added or removed from the document. This type of editing can be done separately or with content editing.

Your next phase of editing should be copy and line editing. Line editing is very thoroughly done. The editor goes line by line, checking each sentence's fluidity, structure, cadence, and pace. Copy editing includes reviewing grammar, syntax, spelling, punctuation, and other style mechanics. These two types of editing can also be done together or separately.

Mechanical editing is generally the last form of editing. It also looks at grammar, spelling, and punctuation. It also includes formatting to ensure consistent capitalization, abbreviation, and punctuation throughout the documents. The formatting will ensure that paragraphs and fonts are consistently used.

Finally, once all that has been completed, your work should be proofread. Proofreading solely examines the mechanics of a person's work, looking at grammar, spelling, and punctuation. It is the final glance at the documents before they are submitted or ready for print to guarantee that they are error-free.

Now that you are aware of the types of editing, you can make an informed decision about the needs your writing requires. Some editors offer packages that include a variety of these services at once.

Good luck, and happy writing!