Basic Copy Editing / Proofreading: This level of editing entails a review of your work for typos and for correct capitalization, grammar, punctuation, and spelling. Essentially, if you feel that your writing is quite polished and simply needs a review for glaring errors, this is the level of editing for you.
Please note that with this level of editing, no changes will be made to adjust awkwardly worded sentences, to reorder text for better reading, or to correct discrepancies between passages of information. For fictional works, no suggestions regarding plot, character development, pacing, or point of view will be offered. Additionally, no changes will be made to ensure that your work adheres to a particular style (e.g., Chicago style, APA style, or a publishing-house style). In other words, this level of editing involves a simple read of your text to ensure that there are no glaring errors.
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Heavy Copy Editing: In addition to a review of your work for typos and for correct capitalization, grammar, punctuation, and spelling, heavy copy editing entails an edit of your work for general clarity of expression, consistency of facts and statements, and conciseness of your material (i.e., an elimination of unnecessary repetition). For fictional works, suggestions regarding plot, character development and consistency, pacing, tense, and point of view will be made as necessary. Heavy copy editing also involves ensuring that your work adheres to a particular style, as well as cross-checking in-text citations or endnotes with references.
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Content Editing: Content editing entails all of the above in addition to one or more of the following: (a) a significant reworking of your individual sentences to improve the effectiveness and flow of your text or story; (b) a reorganization of sentences, paragraphs, or chapters for better clarity; and (c) suggestions for the inclusion of additional information to improve your work.