Proofreading
Proofreading is the correction of errors. Once the writing is complete and the document is (almost) ready for printing/emailing/publishing, the final stage in the process is to send it to your proofreader.
A proofreader weeds out errors in spelling, grammar, syntax and punctuation but will not make non-essential changes to the writing.
My proofreading service is charged at £0.01 per word. I work mainly on academic papers, but I’m happy to take texts of all kinds.
Copy Editing
Copy editing is a far more extensive practice that consists of both correcting errors and creative rewording.
Copy editing is done after writing and before proofreading. The content of the paper is set, but the ‘wording’ could be improved. Perhaps the structure is unclear, there are problems with repetition or redundancy, or English is not the writer’s first language and some of the phrasing is awkward.
It can also include adjustments to the formatting of the paper (i.e., the headings, margins, table layout, etc.).
My copyediting service is charged at £0.02 per word. I work mainly on academic papers, but I’m happy to take texts of all kinds.
Read more
Copy Editing vs. Proofreading: What’s the Difference? – a post on the Grammarly blog
Copy Editing vs. Proofreading: What You Need to Know – a detailed explanation from Knowadays
What is the Difference Between Copyediting and Proofreading? – from the CIEP