Neil Proofs : Proofreading = Copy-editing
On my website, I market myself in two areas: academic proofreading and academic tuition. However, within the former, I include the area of copy-editing too. So, when I undertake any proofreading projects, I would automatically combine proofreading and copy-editing.
Copy-Editing
Broadly speaking, copy-editing is concerned with areas such as style (if it is consistent and if it is appropriate to the genre e.g. dissertations); readability (does it come across well to the reader); and clarity (are the ideas and words used effective when detailing the various concepts in the document, or do they confuse).
Copy-editing is different to proofreading in that it approaches the process to encompass changes at text, sentence and word levels. At text level, this could include the way an assignment is structured and organised, and ensuring it is consistent throughout its different sections. It can also relate to how ideas are arranged in the different paragraphs, in terms of coherence and cohesion.
In relation to cohesion (which I refer to as the “language glue”), this leads onto sentence level changes), that also include grammar (e.g. correct tenses, singular and plural forms, accurate prepositions); punctuation; and vocabulary (e.g. use of synonyms and ensuring the vocabulary is used in a natural and modern way). Lastly, word level changes would focus on the common proofreading area of spelling (not just correct spelling, but the right spelling depending on audience e.g. British English).
Obviously, I would never be able to re-construct a text from scratch or be able to completely re-word a document, as then the line between copy editor/proofreader and assignment writer becomes way too blurred.
Proofreading
Usually, proofreading refers to the last stage(s) of when a document is quite near to submission. Therefore, proofreading would involve looking at some of the things copy-editing also does, but with more of a focus at sentence and word level i.e. nothing structural and nothing that would require extensive re-wording of areas. I don’t mean that academic proofreading would be a light touch – far from it – as it would still be a detailed and focussed. However, as students often require a fast turnaround in the time from sending the work to me, and me then returning it, this would necessitate that most of large elements of the academic text are already in place before I see it.
Students
When a student sends me their work, they may ask me to “look over it” or “check for [particular problems]” inside it, but they will rarely use the phrase “copy edit”. Indeed, they may not always use “proofread”! Therefore, I don’t think having the difference between copy-editing and proofreading is useful or necessary in the context of students looking to have chapters of their dissertation, thesis, journal article or academic assignment reviewed. That is why, even though I refer to “proofreading” and “academic proofreading” on this site (and not “copy-editing”), for me, in order to review and make and suggest changes to academic work, I automatically view the work as using both my proofreading and copy-editing skills.
P.S. No Need for Different Prices
Some proofreaders also charge different rates for proofreading and copy-editing. Again, for me, this is unnecessary and I would feel somewhat disingenuous doing this. So, I never charge different prices, and instead I listen to what a student would like me to do, consider if I am able to do it (which is usually, “yes I am”) and then do it, rather than going back and forth about things