Line Editing vs. Copyediting: Their Differences and Similarities

Table of Contents

1. What is line editing?

2. What is copyediting?

   • The different levels of copyediting

3. Line editing vs. copyediting: key differences

4. How are line editing and copyediting similar?

5. Do you need both types of editing?

6. Should you hire editors for both?

7. Conclusion: two distinct edits, one shared goal

You’ve revised your manuscript for months, and now your editor says they’ll line edit it. But what exactly does that mean?

Line editing and copyediting are two key stages that help shape your book into its final form. Yet their names often blur together, leaving many writers unsure of which they actually need and when.

When I started as a writer, I wasn’t entirely clear on what line editing actually was. Let alone what the difference between line editing and copyediting actually is. I’m sure that’s true for you as well.

I’ve had this conversation dozens of times with authors, and it always starts the same way: “I think I just need a quick proofread” when they mean a light copyedit.

Or “I’d like a copyedit, but maybe a bit more” when they want a line edit with a copyedit.

So if you’re not always sure of the right terminology, know that you’re not alone. And it’s definitely nothing to feel ashamed of!

But knowing these terms and their distinction is important when you self-edit, and even more so when you’re hiring an editor.

Say you hire a copyeditor. And you think this means they’ll also look at things like word choice and exposition.

You get the manuscript back, and it’s perfectly correct in terms of grammar and consistency... but nothing about your voice has been improved.

You can’t actually blame the editor; they did their job. You simply weren’t entirely clear on what line editing was compared to copyediting.

You need to know what you expect from a certain type of edit and how your editor interprets these terms. Only then will you get what you want.

Now, as an editor with training in both copyediting and line editing, I’m aware of how these two editorial services are different, but also of how they overlap.

After editing dozens of manuscripts, I’ve come to see how they complement each other and are actually often not all that different.

In this post, we’ll break down line editing vs copyediting: what each one includes, where they overlap, and how to decide which your manuscript needs next.

Spoiler: line and copyediting actually become more similar when you factor in a heavier level of copyediting.

What Is Line Editing?

For the most comprehensive definition of line editing, I looked at how it’s described by the EFA, CIEP, and the Chicago Manual of Style (2.53).

According to all three, a line edit focuses on improving the language and style of the text at the sentence and paragraph level. It considers voice, sense, mood, viewpoint, pace, and flow.

In plain English: line editing focuses on how your story reads—its rhythm, tone, and emotional impact.

This kind of editing happens after big-picture issues (like plot or structure) are fixed but before grammar corrections and formatting checks.

Line editing can be done on its own or alongside copyediting.

Example of a line edit

What Is Copyediting?

As with line editing, I looked at the copyediting definitions given by the EFA, CIEP, and CMoS (2.53, 2.55, 2.56).

Copyediting ensures your manuscript is consistent, accurate, and polished according to a specific style guide or style sheet.

That means fixing grammar, punctuation, spelling, formatting errors, and checking for internal consistency (like character names or timeline details).

Want to learn more? Take a closer look at what copyediting is here.

In short: if line editing refines the music of your writing, copyediting makes sure the sheet music is correct.

It’s also the copyeditor’s job to prepare the manuscript for typesetting.

The Different Levels of Copyediting

Not all copyedits are created equal. Many editors distinguish between light, medium, and heavy copyedits, depending on how deeply they revise.

You can also find this definition in The Copyeditor’s Handbook by Amy Einsohn and Marilyn Schwartz.

Light copyediting

• Corrects mechanical issues (spelling, capitalization, punctuation, etc.), following the style guide or sheet).

• Checks cross-references, numbering, and citations.

• Fixes indisputable grammar or usage errors.

• Queries inconsistencies, potential factual errors, and overly wordy or unclear sections.

Medium copyediting

Includes everything above, and:

• Suggests improvements to awkward phrasing or wordiness.

• Queries or lightly revises unclear structure or logic.

• Conducts light fact-checking.

As you can see, this is where things become less clear-cut for the editor, and they have to rely more on their expertise to make decisions. It becomes more subjective. Here’s what that might look like:

Heavy copyediting

Includes everything from a light and medium copyedit, and:

• Heavier revisions for clarity and concision.

• Reorganizing paragraphs for better logic flow.

• More extensive fact-checking and verification.

Here’s the paragraph with a heavy copyedit.

As the edit becomes heavier, copyediting starts to resemble line editing, especially for nonfiction writers.

Line Editing vs. Copyediting: Key Differences

While these two types of edits overlap, their core focus differs.

Aspect	Line Editing	Copyediting
Main Focus	Style, voice, and flow	Grammar, punctuation, and consistency
Goal	Improve clarity, pacing, and emotional impact	Ensure correctness and uniformity
Fact-Checking	Rarely included	Often included, especially for nonfiction
Voice & Tone	Enhances and preserves author voice	Maintains consistency and house style
Revisions	Suggests rewrites for rhythm and flow	Queries or corrects for accuracy
Reader Experience	Immersive, emotional, stylistic	Clean, clear, and technically sound

In other words, line editing shapes your story’s voice; copyediting corrects its mechanics.

How Are Line Editing and Copyediting Similar?

Here’s where things get interesting. A heavy copyedit often overlaps with a line edit, especially in nonfiction, where style and accuracy intertwine.

When I perform a heavy copyedit for a self-help manuscript, for example, I’ll often suggest smoother phrasing, repair logic gaps, and adjust sentence flow—all while correcting grammar and style.

Aspect	Line Editing	Heavy Copyediting
Objective	Refine wordiness and ambiguity	Refine wordiness and ambiguity
Scope	Sentence level	Sentence level
Word Choice	Focuses on artistry and emotion	Focuses on precision and readability
Consistency	Ensures tone and POV consistency	Ensures grammar and formatting consistency

In fiction, though, line editing plays a unique role. It dives into the subtleties of voice, sensory detail, and narrative perspective—areas most copyeditors aren’t trained to address deeply.

Do You Need Both Types of Editing?

Yes. Ideally, you’ll want both.

A line edit helps your prose sound like a finished book.

A copyedit makes sure it reads like one.

If you’re self-editing, start with line editing to refine your style and voice. Then follow with a copyedit to fix any remaining mechanical issues.

Doing these separately lets your brain focus on one kind of decision at a time—first the artistic, then the technical.

And if you’re hiring an editor, knowing what each service covers will help you choose wisely.

It’s already stressful to send off your book for feedback and editing. Not quite knowing what you’ll receive will make the wait even more nerve-wracking.

Find out what a line editor does here.

Should You Hire Editors for Both?

In an ideal world, I would hire both kinds of editors for my book, and I’m sure you would too.

But editing budgets can be tight, especially for indie authors.

Many editors (myself included) offer combined line and copyediting services, which balance style and accuracy in one pass.

If you’re confident in your grammar, you might prioritize a line edit (and check if it fits your budget).

If you’re comfortable with your prose but need a final polish, a copyedit might be enough (and find out what it costs).

Whichever you choose, the most important thing is clarity: make sure you and your editor define these terms the same way.

That shared understanding ensures you’ll get the kind of feedback—and results—you expect.

Conclusion: Two Distinct Edits, One Shared Goal

So, are line editing and copyediting the same thing? Not exactly.

There’s no complete agreement among editors, so I can only give you my perspective. And after revising dozens of self-published books, my perspective shifted.

At first, I viewed them as completely separate. And I still do think they touch on two different areas of writing, especially in fiction.

They each serve a unique purpose. Line editing strengthens your storytelling voice; copyediting ensures your words are clean and consistent.

Yet the line can blur, especially in nonfiction. A heavy copyedit can cover much of what a line edit does.

So now I package the two together: they complement each other beautifully.

The real key is understanding what your manuscript needs right now and communicating that clearly with your editor. Whether you’re revising your first novel or preparing your tenth, this will get you closer to the book you imagined.

To dive deeper, read more about what a line edit includes or find out if your manuscript is ready for one here.

Related Posts

• What Is Line Editing? A Guide for Indie Authors

• Can ChatGPT Do Line Editing? I Put It to the Test

• When Is Your Manuscript Ready for Line Editing?

• How to Line Edit a Manuscript: A Step-by-Step Guide for Fiction Writers

• How to Get Rid of Filter Words in Your Writing (and When to Leave Them Alone)

• How to Fix the Exposition Dump in Your Story

• What Is Psychic Distance? Hidden Key to Stronger Storytelling

• What Does a Line Editor Do? (With Real Examples)

• How to Find a Good Line Editor (Without Losing Your Mind)

• How Much Does Line Editing Cost for Books?