what is the different between edit & copyedit?

"copy" is written material to be reproduced in print eg books, newspapers, ads. Copyediting is correcting the text to make it suitable for publication - grammar, spelling, structure.

Editing or substantive editing is the more "severe" chopping, deleting, rewriting. Proofreading is the final stage of the editing process to check all the above corrections have been made.

An editor would read the manuscript, say for a book, critically. Editors focus on large issues such as the plot, characterisation, conception, tone. Editors also acquire manuscripts for publishing houses.


The copyeditor's basic job is to make:

- style the manuscript

- rewrite, where and if necessary

- reorder content for clarity

- verify data and cross-references (if non-fiction)

- ensure consistency of style

- ensure correct grammar, spellings


Copywriters will often have more specialist knowledge in the subject matter than the editor. Often the writer's agent will have done some copyediting of a manuscript before submission to an editor.


BTW, if you're still not sure about the difference... Jackie Kennedy was an editor at Doubleday - which job do you think she did?

aspect> Have worked in media and publishing, although I don't have any experience in self-publishing.


As your manuscript is technical, you need to find a copywriter ideally with some knowledge in your subject area. You can send the copyeditor a few pages of your manuscript and ask them to do a sample edit. Also ask for their track records, e.g. book titles and satisfied clients, with names and contact information.


Costs which I vaguely recall in US$, some charge by the word (very approx. rate 0.5c per word) or page (approx. $3-5). Some charge by the hour (very approx. US$15-50+). And some charge by the project. Highly technical/scientific materials are usually on the high end of the rates scale.


You will also need to have it proofread after it's being copyedited. This is a bit cheaper than copyediting and you should be able to find someone in HK to do this.

Yes, absolutely. A must. She cannot make an evaluation/estimate without that. And along with the sample chapter, you should send her the following:


- Word count of complete manuscript


- Brief synopsis (say 100 words)


- The genre and topic of your book. Obviously it’s non-fiction. Think where it would be on a bookshop/library shelf.


- Deadline date for completion. You may not have a magazine-type deadline but you don’t want an indefinite one. Also perhaps a provisional start date - you don’t want to agree to everything and then find she is too busy for that period.


- What is level of editing expected? Copyediting will cover grammar, typos, sentence structure. But do you need help with style or structure?


- What pictures, illustrations, etc. will be used and how many?


- Do you want it written in a particular style. This is for academic manuscripts, e.g. Chicago, APA, etc.


- The number of footnotes


- The budget you have in mind


Also let the copyeditor know that you will be self-publishing the book.

Also forgot the kind of English, British or American (assuming the manuscript is in English). There must be consistency so let the copyeditor know which you require.

Good luck.