A Helpful Copyediting Definition
By rhiannon richardson
editor, published author, and writing teacher.
Searching for the copyediting definition in publishing? Look no further. Writers want to submit their most polished work to agents and editors, or to showcase their strongest work directly to readers if they self-publish. But learning all about the book publishing process can be tough, especially when it comes to all of the terms and workflows. Writers find themselves lost in the lingo, or lacking a clear copyediting definition.
A Clear Copyediting Definition
Worry no more if you’re seeking a clear copyediting definition. Copyediting is the process of involving a third party to give you feedback on your writing in terms of clarity and correctness. Copyediting makes sure that a piece of writing follows industry standards, meets guidelines, and reads as smoothly as possible. Copyediting looks at things like grammar, punctuation, spelling, syntax, word choice, flow of ideas, the text’s readability level, the accuracy of the manuscript’s facts, and consistency in style and formatting.
An additional layer to this copyediting definition is that the process seeks to understand the writer’s tone and intent and maintain it without interruption or alteration.
There are several types of editing and copyediting comes into play later in the process, when a manuscript is ready for submission or publication. (And it doesn’t help that the copyediting definition can change from provider to provider, as everyone has different service offerings and editorial philosophies.)
Now here’s part of the copyediting definition that leaves even professional writers flummoxed sometimes. Can writers do their own copyediting? Sure, self-editing is always an option. But when it comes to getting the best out of your writing, professional copyediting can be a game-changer.
Having a seasoned second set of eyes on your writing can be an invaluable investment in your professional image. Once you have had your manuscript corrected and reviewed, you can rest easy that readers will understand and appreciate your writing … instead of tripping over factual inaccuracies, grammatical issues, typos, and wordy syntax. If we unpack our copyediting definition, we’ll see that writers don’t have to do this complicated task alone.
The Benefits of Professional Copyediting
Professional copyediting providers are highly-skilled professionals who have worked with many writers. Some are generalists and work in many areas of the market, others specialize by subject matter or target audience or genre. A copyeditor will have intimate knowledge of different industry requirements and their editorial feedback can help writers hone their work toward specific goals, while maintaining a manuscript’s integrity.
A copyediting definition we can all agree on is that a copyeditor provides another set of eyes on a project. Writers stand to get objective feedback on their work, which prevents them from becoming too attached to certain elements of the project. Writers are historically unable to be fully objective, so an editing pass from a third party is always a sound investment.
However, not everyone might be ready for professional copyediting. Some writers are just starting out and can’t glean the full value of copyediting. They will not learn as much as possible because they are not able to do so yet on an emotional level. Other writers might seem ready for copyediting, but their projects are too early. It’s possible to request copyediting too early, while the manuscript is still changing too much.
Per the copyediting definition above, it’s clear that copyediting deals with individual sentences, structure, grammar, etc. It’s a very granular editing pass. If a writer is still making large structural changes, they aren’t yet ready to polish their words and sentences.
Copyediting is an important part of any writer's journey towards book publication or self-publishing success. It helps refine written content so that it adheres to industry standards while still maintaining its unique voice and style. And while not everyone is ready for professional copyediting right away (especially if they’re new to writing), experienced writers should definitely consider investing in copyediting services before submission to literary agents or self-publishing.
A basic copyediting definition means having an expert second set of eyes working on a manuscript—and this careful attention pays off.
craft your best story
Do you want to tell a compelling story that resonates with readers? Let author and editor Rhiannon Richardson help you take your writing to the next level. With her expertise in middle grade, young adult, picture book, and memoir, she can guide you to your best story.
