Difference between Editing and Proofreading

Editing or copyediting checks for errors in spelling, grammar, punctuation and word usage in text that has not been formatted yet. Copy editors get involved in the text production process at an earlier stage than proofreaders. Typically, once a copy has been commissioned, an editor will work with the author to bring it up to a publishable standard. Editing also ensures proper and consistent use of voice, style, sentence and paragraph construction. Editors may suggest changes to clarify the writer’s intended message or to improve the fluency of the written text; and they may query the author about content or wording that does not seem to be accurate or logical. Editing should always precede proofreading.

Proofreading brings one final look at documents that have already been edited and formatted, whether by one or several individuals. A proofreader checks for any remaining errors and inconsistencies in use of grammar, language and format. Unlike the copy editor, the proofreader is not concerned with improving the text, and it is not his role to make stylistic changes. His job is simply to look for clear mistakes (typos, misspellings, etc.)

What do copyeditors and proofreaders check?