Proofreading

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• Correct any obvious errors in grammar, spelling or punctuation.

• Check end-of-line word divisions for bad breaks; check page ends for widows and orphans, etc.

• Check accuracy of elements such as headings, table of contents, cross-references, captions, etc.

• Check accuracy of numbers, tables, figures, etc.

 

Copy Editing

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• Correct all errors or infelicities of grammar, spelling, punctuation, and other mechanics of style, including similar-sounding or commonly confused words, and wrongly used idioms or phrases.

• Query any inconsistencies in logic or facts, or in spelling of proper names.

• Query any missing text elements, such as captions, headings, URLs, sources, etc.

• Check for consistency in terms of abbreviations, measurements, Canadian/American spelling, etc.

• Check for consistency in treatment of numbers, statistics, percentages, imperial/metric conversions, totals in tables, etc.

 

Stylistic Editing

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• Eliminate all redundancies, empty phrases and unnecessary modifiers.

• Replace the passive voice with the active voice.

• “Activate” language by replacing nouns with verbs.

• Break up long or complicated sentences into shorter, simpler ones.

• Translate jargon into understandable terms.

• Rewrite to resolve any ambiguities, ensure logical connections, and clarify meaning.

• Ensure that transitions between sentences and paragraphs are smooth and logical.

• Reorder sentences to ensure that paragraphs have a clear focus.

• Make sure that the language is appropriate for the intended audience.

• Check that tone, style, and authorial voice are consistent.

• Make un-parallel constructions parallel (especially in lists).

 

Structural Editing

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• Reorganize material to give a coherent structure and sequence, a logical progression of ideas, and a narrative or expository flow.

• Cut repetitive or superfluous material, and expand other material to fill gaps in content or strengthen transitions.

• Recast material that would be better presented in another form, such as number-laden text as a table, descriptive material as a diagram, a long series of points as a list, a lengthy digression as a footnote or an appendix, etc.

• Create a list of acronyms used in the document.

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Layout & Formatting

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• Check for typographical and formatting errors.

• Check that design is consistent in terms of items such as font size and style, line length and spacing, alignment of page elements, hyperlinks, etc.

• Ensure that all tables, photos, and other visual elements effectively convey the intended meaning.

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Charts & Tables

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• Make sure that layout, formatting, styles, fonts and spacing are consistent in all tables.

• Increase the padding of table cells, if necessary, to make them easier to read.

• If tables contain numbers, check them for accuracy.

 

References

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• Make sure that your preferred style – APA, MLA, Chicago, Oxford, Harvard, ASA, etc. – is
  followed consistently in all your citations, footnotes, references, and bibliography.

• Flag any discrepancies in spelling, names, dates, places, factual accuracy, etc.

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