I have never thought about the differences between line editing, copyediting, and proofreading until this week’s reading. In my opinion, I think copyediting is the most important one. According to the NY book editors, the copyeditor’s job is not only to check the technical consistency, such as grammar and spelling but also to make sure if every element of the story is cohesive and complete. Copyediting helps the story be readable and consistent.
Earlier this year, I worked as a part-time copyeditor for a Chinese writing study group, and I found this job is challenging but rewarding. I copyedited for writers who were at different stages and required different attention to their needs. Some are beginners that I found I need to spend more time focus on pointing out the grammar errors and giving my recommendations on rewriting; some are more mature in writing, and I spent more time on the consistent of the elements of the story. This was the learning process for me as well. When I need to make a judgment on their writings, I need to use as many resources I can find to judge my judgment. Yet the process had helped me to become a better writer; also the writers of articles that I copyedited for made improvements on their writings. Some of them have sent me thank you notes to show me their gains and appreciation. This experience helped me to find the meaning of being a copyeditor.
