Copy and Line Editing
Light Copy Edit
What is it?
Light copy edits are probably what people think of when they think of editors. It’s an edit that examines a text at the word and sentence level: punctuation, spelling, capitalization... that kind of thing. With a light copy edit, I’ll only make or suggest changes when something is incorrect or unclear.
In a light copy edit, I’ll be looking at the following:​
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mechanics (e.g., spelling, capitalization, punctuation)
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language (e.g., grammar, usage, and diction)
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basic content (e.g., flagging any obvious factual errors and checking that proper nouns are spelled correctly)
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Who is it for?
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A light copy edit is great when you’re an experienced writer with a high amount of confidence in your writing or if you’ve already been through at least one round of editing at the word and sentence level (such as a stylistic or line edit) and you’re just looking to polish things up.
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How much does it cost?
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Light copy edits are $0.02 per word.
Line Edit
What is it?
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A line edit combines all the features of a copy edit with a stylistic edit. On top of all the usual things you’d get in a light copy edit, such as spelling and grammar, I’ll also be looking at the following:
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paragraph and sentence structure
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effectiveness of language choices
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flow
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unnecessary wordiness
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mood, tone, and style
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minor structural issues
Who is it for?
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A line edit is for writers who want a more in-depth look at their writing. This is still a word and sentence level sort of edit, but it takes more into account and aims to give your writing that extra little bit of polish.
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This kind of edit works best after your manuscript has already undergone a developmental edit.
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How much does it cost?
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Line edits are $.035 per word.
