PublishingFoundational
Copyedit
An editorial pass for correctness, consistency, clarity, and house style.
Principle
A copyedit protects the reader from avoidable friction.
Takeaways
- Copyediting addresses grammar, usage, continuity, factual queries, and style consistency.
- It does not usually solve large structural problems.
- Author responses to queries are part of the edit, not an interruption of it.
Overview
A copyedit is the editorial stage that checks the manuscript's surface and consistency after the major shape is settled. It may catch grammar, spelling, punctuation, timeline slips, repeated words, unclear antecedents, factual issues, style-guide conflicts, and internal contradictions.
Examples
- A copyeditor queries whether a character's age conflicts with an earlier date.
- A copyedit standardises spelling, capitalization, and treatment of invented terms.
- A sentence is edited for clarity without changing the scene's intent.