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LEVELS OF EDITING
Substantive editing is the “big picture” editing. It’s where issues such as structure, content and organization are addressed, making sure all the pieces of the puzzle are there, and where they should be.
Stylistic editing gets into more detail, considering how well paragraphs and sentences flow together. It’s what makes the text clear, accessible and enjoyable to read.
Copy editing addresses such mechanics as spelling, grammar, punctuation and consistency — the sorts of surface issues that readers are most likely to notice.
Proofreading is your last chance. Here’s where you catch formatting glitches and anything else that’s been missed. Although many eyes have already reviewed a document, there’s always something that has slipped through the cracks.
For a more detailed look at the standards for each level, see Professional Editorial Standards (PDF), published by the Editors’ Association of Canada.