MEDIUM COPY EDITING

Tasks often include the following:

• Performing all tasks for light copyediting

• Changing text and headings to achieve parallel structure

• Flagging inappropriate figures of speech

• Ensuring that key terms are handled consistently and that vocabulary lists and the index contain all the terms that meet criteria specified by the publisher

• Ensuring that previews, summaries, and end-of-chapter questions reflect content

• Tracking the continuity of plot, setting, and character traits, and querying the discrepancies, in fiction manuscripts

• Enforcing consistent style and tone in a multi-author manuscript

• Changing passive voice to active voice, if requested

• Flagging ambiguous or incorrect statements

• Type marking the manuscript

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HEAVY COPYEDITING

The key differences between heavy and medium copyedits are the levels of judgment and rewriting involved. In a heavy copyedit, we will improve the flow of text rather than simply ensuring correct usage and grammar; and may establish a uniform level, tone, and focus if necessary. Tasks often include the following:

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• Performing all tasks for medium copyediting

• Eliminating wordiness, triteness, and inappropriate jargon

• Smoothing transitions and moving sentences to improve readability

• Assigning new levels to heads to achieve logical structure

• Suggesting—and sometimes implementing—additions and deletions, noting them at the sentence and paragraph level

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The key differences between heavy and medium copyedits are the levels of judgment and rewriting involved. In a heavy copyedit, the editor improves the flow of text rather than simply ensuring correct usage and grammar; may suggest recasts rather than simply flagging problems; and may enforce a uniform level, tone, and focus as specified by the publisher or developmental editor.