Editing vs Proofreading: What’s the Difference?

Both happen before a book is published, and both are sometimes called “editing,” which is why authors often book the wrong one. This guide compares the two side by side, shows the same paragraph edited and proofread, and explains where proofreading fits when you self-publish. If you already know what you need, our proofreading services and editing are priced by genre and word count.

Editing vs proofreading at a glance

Editing is the deep work on your manuscript; proofreading is the last, light pass before publication. The table compares them on one example: a 70,000-word novel, at AuthorWings fiction rates.

Here is how those costs break down, level by level. Each edit is priced on its own, so you pay only for the levels your draft needs.

What each level costs on a 70,000-word novel

• Proofreading$1,120
• Copy editing$1,680
• Line editing$2,170
• Developmental editing$2,310
• All four levels$7,280

What editing covers

Editing is a set of up to three jobs, each working at a closer distance from the page. Each one is a separate pass, and they run in this order.

• Developmental editing looks at the whole book: structure, pacing, plot or argument, and characters. A developmental edit comes with an editorial letter and notes in the manuscript.
• Line editing works sentence by sentence on flow, rhythm, word choice and voice. Compare line editing vs copy editing.
• Copy editing fixes grammar, spelling, punctuation and consistency, such as a character’s eye color or how you spell a place name, and records each decision in a style sheet, the list of spellings and style choices for your book.

Our book editing page shows the four editing levels at work on a sample page, and our guide to what a book editor does shows what comes back from each. Copy editing and proofreading are the two closest jobs, since both catch errors, but copy editing comes first and goes much deeper. See copy editing vs proofreading for which errors each one catches.

What proofreading covers, and what it won’t fix

Proofreading catches the errors that survive editing, plus any new ones added during revisions and layout. The Editorial Freelancers Association describes proofreaders as checking for typographical and formatting mistakes, at one of the last stages before publication.

That’s why a proofread on an unedited manuscript leaves most of the problems in place.

The same paragraph, edited and then proofread

The quickest way to see the difference is one paragraph handled both ways. The draft below is invented for this guide.

Editing changed how the paragraph reads. Proofreading only made the original correct. Line edits also cover things like dialogue punctuation and tags.

Why editing comes before proofreading

Proofreading comes after editing because every round of changes can add new errors. A rewritten sentence can leave a doubled word, and a moved paragraph can break a page. If text is edited after the proofread, the changed pages need checking again.

1. 1Developmental editStructure
2. 2Line editSentences
3. 3Copy editCorrectness
4. 4LayoutTypeset pages
5. 5ProofreadFinal check

If you proofread first and edit afterward, the edit undoes the proofread, and you pay for a second one. The same goes for your own rewrites: finish every change you plan to make before the proofreader starts. Proofreading is a final check, not a first look. Doing it yourself? Use our free proofreading checklist.

Proofreading a self-published book: the Word file or the printed proof?

In traditional publishing, proofreading happens on the typeset pages, called proofs. When you self-publish, you have two choices, and many authors use both.

• Proofread the Word file before formatting. Fixing errors before layout is cheaper, because every later change means a new interior file to upload, and on KDP, changes to a live book go through review again. KDP asks for a new edition if the page count changes by more than 10%.
• Check the formatted proof before you publish. After interior formatting, read the PDF and order a printed proof. On KDP, a proof copy is a test print to review before you publish, marked “Not for Resale.”

The formatted proof catches errors the Word file can’t show: bad breaks, widows, a chapter starting on the wrong page. Our guide to what a manuscript is shows where each stage falls, from manuscript to typeset proofs.

Which one does your book need?

Most books need both: editing first, then a proofread. A proofread alone is enough only when the manuscript has already been edited and you’ve made no big changes since.

• First book, never edited: editing, starting with the level the draft needs, then a proofread.
• Already edited, now final: a proofread.
• Unsure: a $49 sample edit of up to 1,000 words comes back with a short note on which service your draft needs.

Our book editing page walks through six common author situations and the levels each one needs. The professional edit step in our book-writing guide shows where editing fits in the whole process.

When to get help

Book an edit when your draft is complete and you’ve revised it yourself at least once. Book the proofread when every change is in.

At AuthorWings, one lead editor handles the edit, with a fresh proofreader for the final check. Proofreading for fiction is $160 for the first 10,000 words, then $0.016 a word. Every edit comes back in tracked changes, done by a human editor.

Frequently asked questions

Can I skip editing and just get a proofread?

You can, but a proofread won’t fix structure, pacing or clumsy sentences, so those problems stay in the book. A proofread alone suits a manuscript that has already been edited, or a short piece you’ve revised carefully. If you’re unsure, a sample edit of a few pages shows which level your draft needs before you pay for the whole book.

Is proofreading cheaper than editing?

Yes, because it’s one light pass. At AuthorWings, proofreading a 70,000-word novel costs $1,120, while developmental, line and copy editing together cost $6,160. Nonfiction and memoir are priced a little higher. Editing costs more because each level is a separate, slower read with more changes on every page.

Can grammar software replace a proofreader?

Not fully. Spell checkers and grammar tools catch many slips, but they miss real words used in the wrong place, such as “form” for “from,” and they can’t see layout problems on typeset pages. They also suggest changes that don’t fit your style. Run the software yourself before you send the file, then let a person do the final check.

Does a proofreader check facts?

No, not in depth. A proofreader may query something that looks wrong, such as a date that contradicts an earlier chapter, but checking every claim against sources is a separate job. The Editorial Freelancers Association lists research and fact-checking as its own service. For non-fiction, check your facts before editing begins.

Related reading

• What is a manuscript? Meaning, parts and manuscript vs book
• How to write dialogue in a book
• How to write a book: 10 steps from idea to finished manuscript