Different Types of Editors

By Mary Kole

Mary Kole is a former literary agent, freelance editor, writing teacher, author of Writing Irresistible Kidlit, and IP developer for major publishers, with over a decade in the publishing industry.

When you’re thinking of hiring a freelance editor and doing your research, you may realize that there are different types of editing. What are the differences between them and what do all the terms mean? Read on to find out.

Types of Editing To Fit Your Needs

If you’re looking into different types of editing, you may be coming across some terms that are confusing, seem to overlap, or are used incorrectly. In my own research, I’ve noticed that sometimes editorial terms are used interchangeably, which doesn’t help.

There are two broad types of manuscript editing to be aware of when you’re looking to hire an editor: services that deal with correctness (proofreading and copy editing), and services that deal with content (line editing and developmental editing). Be careful about what you request and understand the services offered so that you get the most out of your time and financial investment.

Below, you will find the terms for specific types of editing that you might encounter in your search. You will also notice that while some editors provide all of these services, some provide only one or two. For example, I do everything that a traditional editor offers. While my specialty is developmental editing, I can copy edit your project as well. If you’re confused about the types of services that an editor offers, it’s always best to ask. A good and reputable editor should be willing to explain their work to you.

The types of editing, below, are listed in order of comprehensiveness and creative feedback on the manuscript, from least to most intensive, including proofreading, copy editing, line editing, and developmental editing.

Types of Editing: Proofreading

Proofreading is a term that’s often confused with copy editing and line editing. But a proofreader is simply an editor who does one final comb through a manuscript before it goes to print. They are looking for typos, grammatical mistakes, formatting issues, and other minutiae. Writers looking to self-publish will often hire a manuscript proofreader to give their project a final once-over, but don’t expect creative feedback with this type of service.

Manuscript formatters and fact checkers also fall into this “light touch” category. They exist to format your manuscript correctly to publishing standards, and to check the factual accuracy of your project, respectively.

Editors who provide ebook formatting and layout and design services could be slotted here as well, though layout, design, and formatting have little to do with the actual text. The professionals mentioned here are just some of the people you can hire if you want to assemble your editorial team piecemeal according to your goals. (Self-publishing requires more areas of expertise, so you will probably be looking for freelancers in different areas.)

Types of Editing: Copy Editing

Copy editing looks at the overall grammar and mechanics of your manuscript, while checking the project at the sentence and paragraph level for spelling, style, punctuation, etc. Comments on the overall quality of the writing and writing voice are usually included, but not always. Copy editing is one step up from proofreading in terms of comprehensiveness and creative feedback. If you’re still just looking for someone to focus on the basics of your writing, without messing around with your story too much, a copy editor would be a good choice. It’s also good to have your manuscript copyedited and/or proofread before submitting it to agents or self-publishing.

Ask any copy editor you’re thinking of hiring what, exactly, is included in their services and the level of detail to expect, as a copy editor hovers between a proofreader and a line editor and some editors define their specialties in different ways.

Types of Editing: Line Editing

A line editor works with grammar and mechanics, sure, but they are now entering more creative territory if they are line editing. Their questions and corrections usually deal with bigger issues of voice, writing style, readability, characterization, plotting, and storytelling. Issues of the writing craft enter the conversation here. If you want feedback on your writing basics, but are also looking for comments on what you’ve written and how to improve it, you will want to hire a line editor at minimum, rather than a proofreader or copy editor.

Types of Editing: Developmental Editing

The most comprehensive and full-service type of editor that you can hire will provide developmental editing. Hiring a good developmental editor means you will get story and writing craft feedback at the highest order. Developmental editors tend to think small and big at the same time, commenting on all areas of your manuscript, from voice at the sentence level to the overall arcs of your character and plot. They ask bigger questions about your story, thinking about character arc, theme, your use of imagery, and more. They also think about a picture even bigger than that, asking questions about how you’re developing as a writer, and where your manuscript fits in the publishing landscape. Developmental editing happens either in a summary report of the editor’s findings, or line editing, or both. Make sure you know exactly what kind of feedback to expect when you are seeking different types of editing.

Some developmental editors—especially those with publishing industry experience—will even comment on your book’s market potential, how to strengthen the project with an eye toward getting a literary agent, and how to pitch the work when you’re ready to go on submission. Developmental editors are truly the full-service manuscript gurus, but their services come at a higher price than other types of editing.

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