The difference between proofreading and copy-editing
What is the difference between proofreading
and copy-editing?
Copy-editing is the process of preparing text
(a document, report, book etc) for publication, especially by
making corrections or alterations.
Proofreading is the process of reading and
marking text (a document, report, book etc) for correction.
We've set out some text below to show some of the differences
(or download the PDF version).
EXAMPLE 1
Here is the unedited text of the details of our Welcome to
Proofreading course on 4 March 2015
Welcome to Proofreading Wednesday 4/3/2015. 9.30am to 4.30pm.
Scott House, Edinburgh
No previous knowledge is required for this one-day introduction to
proofreading. Through practical exercises using a variety of
accesible texts, the course aims to teach students the basic
proofreading skills and to help them feel comfortable with the
methods of ensuring that a document is correct in both content and
layout.
Discussion will include: The art of proofreading; Proofreading and
reading - what's the difference?; The British Standard proofreading
symbols - how to mark them, and the importance of doing so neatly!;
Colour coding; Style sheets; A methodical approach to checking for
consistency; Carrying over information or queries; What can go
wrong
Practical exercises on the day will cover: Accuracy - developing
error-spotting techniques; Marking errors and omissions; Changing
the appearance of the text; Correcting problems with spacing and
alignment; Ensuring consistency in layout and sequencing; Checking
that the content makes sense!
Who should attend? People who write material and/or check written
documents and want to improve their proofreading skills. The course
is suitable for those with no previous formal experience or who
have responsbility for the presentation of documents and wish to
develop their skills in a more formal way.
The copy-editor's job is to look at it and decide whether
it needs to be changed in any way: eg to make it easier to
understand, to correct errors and inconsistencies, or to comply
with the company's house style.
-------------------
EXAMPLE 2
Here is the edited version. The copy-editor has looked at the text
(or copy as it is sometimes called) and rearranged it to make the
information clearer by adding headings of different levels and
setting out information in bullet points. There were two spelling
mistakes in the original too (the copy-editor corrected one of
them: 'accessible').
Welcome to Proofreading
Date: Wednesday 4/3/2015.
Time: 9.30am to 4.30pm.
Venue: Scott House, Edinburgh
About this course
No previous knowledge is required for this one-day introduction to
proofreading. Through practical exercises using a variety of
accessible texts, the course aims to teach students the basic
proofreading skills and to help them feel comfortable with the
methods of ensuring that a document is correct in both content and
layout.
Discussion will include:
- The art of proofreading
- Proofreading and reading - what's the difference?
- The British Standard proofreading symbols - how to mark them,
and the importance of doing so neatly!
- Colour coding
- Style sheets
- A methodical approach to checking for consistency
- Carrying over information or queries
- What can go wrong
Practical exercises on the day will cover
- Accuracy - developing error-spotting techniques
- Marking errors and omissions
- Changing the appearance of the text
- Correcting problems with spacing and alignment
- Ensuring consistency in layout and sequencing
- Checking that the content makes sense!
Who should attend?
People who write material and/or check written documents and want
to improve their proofreading skills. The course is suitable for
those with no previous formal experience or who have responsbility
for the presentation of documents and wish to develop their skills
in a more formal way.
-------------------
EXAMPLE 3
Here is the proofread version. The proofreader has read it and
marked some errors. Sometimes proofreaders mark or write up queries
rather than marking changes as there may be inconsistencies etc
that the copy-editor will need to make decisions on.
The proofreader noticed:
- that there was an extra space between 'and' and 'the'
- that one of the headings was italic instead of bold AND should
have been followed by a colon
- that 'responsibility' was spelt incorrectly
-------------------
EXAMPLE 4
Another version of the proofread version showing what the
proofreader noticed.
