Difference Between Proofreading and Editing

Did you just finish writing your article or dissertation? Are you confused about what to do next? Then, you are in the right place.

Let me take you through the step-by-step process before you submit your final draft. The most common confusion is generally between editing and proofreading.

Many first-time clients of an editing firm or freelance editor are confused about the differences between editing and proofreading and which service they can select. Since multiple editing and proofreading services deliver different results for writers, prospective consumers should be mindful of what they do.

It’s important to double-check every piece of work to ensure that it has the highest chance of success. But, do you edit or proofread your essay or both? Many people get baffled by the terms proofreading and editing, but they don’t mean the same thing, and they won’t yield the same effects.

Proofreading is the final step of the editing process, and it focuses on minor errors including misspellings and grammatical and punctuation errors. Once you’ve completed all of the other editing revisions, you can proofread.

So, let see what does proofreading and editing mean and then we will talk about its difference. 

What is Proofreading? 

Proofreading is often regarded as a science. Proofreading is the process of identifying all mistakes in pronunciation, punctuation, and grammar in a piece of writing. It also detects inconsistencies in wording, formatting, and referencing.

Rather than massive changes, proofreading usually results in slight modifications to the text. Proper proofreading, on the other hand, also involves specialized skills and expertise and goes way beyond what your computer’s spell-checking program can do. This is because the human brain is very good at unconsciously correcting errors, so you do not see errors in a piece of writing when you look at it, particularly if it is your job.

Before submitting an article it should go through a proofreading stage to ensure it is error-free. Proofreading also allows you to begin recognizing errors that you make often so that you can prevent them in the future. To know more about proofreading and how to make it flawless, check out our article “A simple guide to proofreading”.

What is Editing? 

Editing is the method of enhancing the general quality of a piece of writing to make it the best it can be. It employs much more innovation and always considers the audience’s emotions.

Editing is all about ensuring that the context and ideas in a piece of work are communicated to the viewer in the most effective manner possible. Editing can also include a closer examination of the material itself, the use of knowledge to explain the text, and the verification of facts. It’s also another opportunity, similar to proofreading, to pay particular attention to spelling and grammar.

When editing your own content, it’s a good idea to set it aside for a day or two so you can revisit it with fresh eyes. Otherwise, you’ll be too emotionally invested in the content to make rational judgments about the terms on the paper and the structure you’ve employed.

Editing first and proofreading last, as a final move before handing in your job, is a common drafting technique. Also, both the editing and the proofreading will be completely flawless if the second set of eyes does the final check once you are done. You can also go for proofreading and editing service for the best results. 

Proofreading Versus Editing

PROOFREADINGEDITING
⦁ Misspellings, grammatical and punctuation mistakes, errors, coding errors, and other errors are eliminated.⦁ Clarity, readability, and seamless narration are improved by making modifications to the language.
⦁ Surface-level issues are addressed. ⦁ Addresses the most crucial and core elements of writing
⦁ Improves the quality of already good writing by making it error-free.⦁ The overall standard of writing is increased.
⦁ A description that is universally agreed upon and reliable.⦁ The scope of editing determines the definition.
⦁ Proofreading is done on the final document of the text⦁ Editing is done the first draft of the paper which will proceed until the final draft is completed
⦁ The word count reduction is not included.⦁ If necessary, word reduction is done.
⦁ It does not involve a lot of consultation with the writer.⦁ It’s collaborative because it involves consultation between the editor and the writer.
⦁ Less turnaround time⦁ Turnaround time is somewhat longer because more work is needed in editing than proofreading

When Should You Use a Proofreading Service?

You should choose a proofreading service when, you are secure in the vocabulary and composition of your text and just need a quick grammar search to catch misspellings, typos, and punctuation mistakes. And when your paper has been updated and now needs to be double-checked before being submitted.

When Should You Opt for an Editing Service?

 You should opt for an editing service for consistency, readability, and motion, of your writing. Also, if you want to work closely with your editor to polish and improve your content then go for an editing service. It is a smart idea to have a professional examine and edit your paper for any language-related mistakes and ensure that it is submission-ready.

There are several choices to choose from. If you want to know more about the best proofreading and editing services out there, then have a look at our article “The top 10 online proofreading services”

Conclusion

One of the most common causes of journal rejection is poor grammar. Correcting language errors in your paper would encourage reviewers to concentrate on the content of your writing rather than your language skills, increasing your chances of being published.

Although proofreading is a vital last step before submitting a paper that is otherwise ready for publication, it only addresses minor flaws. Meanwhile, editing examines the material of the article in greater depth and can assist in making it more understandable, well-organized, and appropriate for the intended audience.

You lose out on the kind of inputs that can make the difference between getting published and not getting published if you rely solely on proofreading. Both proofreading and editing are necessary steps in producing the best quality document.

-Isabell S.


 

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