Copy editing

Introduction

We have now seen the way the parts of the publishing process fit together, from original authoring, through editing, typesetting and proofreading, and finishing with creating publications that appear on the shelves. Many people outside of publishing see no difference between copy editing and proofreading, but as has been demonstrated, there are as many differences as there are similarities.

A small section on copy editing has been included in this proofreading course for two reasons. First, the two disciplines overlap to a certain extent; second, copy editing is the natural progression, career-wise, after serving time as a proofreader.

Requirements

The skills required to be a copy editor are largely those required by the proofreader: discipline, concentration, knowledge and open-mindedness. However, there is no doubt that to be a copy editor one must have a knowledge of the language that goes far beyond that req