Why editing cannot be just proofreading

Many people think that proofreading is just another word for editing. Some believe that it can be classified as another type of editing. They will argue that both essentially mean the same. It is unfortunate to see people from the publishing as well as the media industry holding the same opinion about the topic.

The only answer to the controversy is to put the facts straight.

The word “proof” in printing means a kind of a test sheet or draft that is checked for text and graphics and colors before going to the press or publishing. This proof is created after all the editing has been completed. The proof created is also checked for grammar, punctuation, and corrections are marked with standard proofreading marks. This “proof reading” can be termed as the last stage of the editing process. It is never a part of the actual editing process or copy editing.

Editing, on the other hand, starts the moment you receive the first draft or manuscript. If it is a document, it is checked for the content, organization, structure, unity, development of ideas, paragraph structure, etc. The document is checked to see whether it is complete in all its respects and whether it has clarity. It is also checked for the style, correct grammar, word usage, punctuation, citation, copyright issues, and impact.

To conclude, editing is a more in-depth process that looks at the completeness of the entire document. Proofreading is more of a mechanical process that checks the spelling, grammar, and punctuation.