Copy Editing
Is your manuscript almost ready but in need of a final sweep?
You wrote the words, rearranged them, and read them back.
Everything seemed right until a fresh pair of eyes caught something that you didn’t. A comma that changed the meaning of a sentence. A word used three times in a paragraph. A missing heading.
It’s infuriating, isn’t it?
How I can help
When you’ve lived inside a manuscript for months, your brain reads what it expects to find, not what is actually there. I bring precision and distance to your work, with specific focus on:
- Spelling, grammar, and punctuation throughout
- Consistency in terminology, capitalisation, and hyphenation
- Sentence-level clarity and flow
- Word choice, including overused or imprecise language
- Fact-checking names, dates, and titles against your supplied sources
- Headings and subheadings that accurately reflect the content beneath them
- Formatting consistency, including lists, numbers, and abbreviations
- Citation style and reference list accuracy
- Ambiguous, awkward, or contradictory phrasing
- Any remaining clichés or mixed metaphors not caught at an earlier stage
It will include:
- Tracked changes and inline comments within the manuscript
- A short summary covering key patterns and recurring issues
- A 30-minute phone or video call to walk through the changes and answer any questions
Why might you use this service?
This will suit you if:
- Your manuscript has been through a structural edit and is ready for a line-by-line review
- You are self-publishing and want a professional standard before going to print
- You are submitting to a publisher or agent and want to present the cleanest possible version
- You are a small or hybrid publisher looking for a reliable freelance copy editor on a project-by-project basis
Frequently Asked Questions
Does copy editing change my writing style?
No. Copy editing focuses on correctness and clarity, not voice. I will flag inconsistencies, errors, and ambiguities, but your sentence rhythms and word choices remain yours.
What is the difference between copy editing and proofreading?
Copy editing is at sentence level, addressing grammar, clarity, consistency, and conciseness. Proofreading is word level, and is the final check after layout, looking for any errors that crept in during formatting. If you are not sure which you need, please get in touch and I will advise.
Do I need a developmental edit first?
If your structure and argument are solid, you may not. But if there is any doubt about whether the content is working, a developmental edit will save you time and money. There is little value in copy editing a chapter that may need to be restructured or cut. You can find out more about my Developmental Edit service here.
Next Steps
Contact me to discuss your project