Different Levels of Editing
Not every piece of writing needs the same level of support. Sometimes a document only requires a careful proofread. In other cases, the writing itself can benefit from editorial attention.
The examples below use the same short paragraph to illustrate how proofreading and editing achieve different results.
Original
The report was completed yesterday although there is still some sections that need checking before it can be send to the committee for there final approval.
After Proofreading
The report was completed yesterday, although there are still some sections that need checking before it can be sent to the committee for their final approval.
What Changed?
- Grammar corrected.
- Spelling corrected.
- Punctuation improved.
- No attempt was made to rewrite the paragraph.
After Editing
Although the report was completed yesterday, several sections still require checking before it is submitted to the committee for final approval.
Why It Changed
- The sentence now flows more naturally.
- Unnecessary words have been removed.
- The meaning is clearer without changing the information.
- The writing sounds more confident and professional.
Both versions are correct. The difference is that proofreading ensures accuracy, while editing also considers clarity, style and readability.