What Copy Editors Do for Writers

What exactly are copy editors, and what do they do for writers?

What copy editors are not

Copy editors are not writers (although I’m both a writer and an editor). They’re not rewriters. They’re not developmental editors, line editors, or proofreaders.

What copy editors do

Copy editors review an author’s text to do the following:

Correct spelling, grammar, syntax, and punctuation errorsEnsure that the writing adheres to the standards of their chosen (or assigned) stylebookClarify t...