Prose is hard. Revising prose is even harder. There are over 470,000 words in the Webster Dictionary, and arranging them in the right order can be a monumental task. Sentences too flowery? People have been mocking purple prose for ages. Sentences too succinct? Now you aren’t descriptive enough. There is a fine line between stylistic choices and just plain bad grammar.

Line editing is the process of revising a manuscript at the sentence and paragraph level to improve style, tone, clarity, and flow. It’s not about correcting grammar or fixing typos (that’s copyediting), nor is it about restructuring the plot or developing characters (that’s developmental editing). Instead, a line editor focuses on how things are said rather than what is being said.

Some people may think this term is interchangeable with copyediting and proofreading, but these are distinct categories. Think of it like a stair step system. In writing, edits happen from biggest to smallest. An author may start with a developmental edit, which looks at the manuscript as a whole and on a page-by-page level.

Next, a line editor will work on a paragraph and sentence level. They are focused on the flow of concepts and ideas. A good line editor will help you nail descriptions and clarify meaning. They’ll help you tighten your sentences so you make the same point in ten words instead of twenty.

After a line editor, authors may employ a copyeditor. These editors focus on the words themselves. They check grammar, punctuation, spelling, and consistency. Some writers and inexperienced editors may confuse line editing and copyediting, but these are distinct categories. Line editing emphasizes subjective goals like style and voice, while copyeditors base their edits on technical rules.

There is a right way and a wrong way to copy edit, but seven line editors will annotate the same project in completely different ways. As an author, it’s important you choose a line editor that understands your unique voice.

Proofreaders are the final step. They are the last line of defense against inconsistent spelling, poor formatting, and printing issues. Proofreaders are especially helpful for nonfiction authors, who will need to ensure their tables, bibliography, and other assorted details are correct.

In fiction, a line editor will sometimes also do the job of a copyeditor and proofreader. This is not guaranteed, so always check which services your line editor includes. When working with any editor, communication is your best friend. A good line editor will be clear in every aspect of the process. A good client will remember editors aren’t mind-readers.

The purpose of line editing is to elevate the quality of writing by focusing on language use. Line editors focus on:

• Enhancing clarity and precision by removing ambiguity and improving the logic of sentence construction
• Improving flow and rhythm by varying sentence length and structure
• Eliminating redundancy by cutting unnecessary words or repetitive ideas
• Refining voice and tone by ensuring the language is consistent with the intended audience and genre
• Tightening language by removing filler words and streamlining prose for impact
• Reducing wordiness such as changing ‘Due to the fact that’ into ‘because’
• Replacing clichés and tired metaphors with fresh, original language
• Keeping verb tenses consistent
• Maintaining unique character voices
• Breaking repetitive patterns to create a variety of sentence structures

Line editing goes beyond mechanics to refine the author’s message. A good line editor can make prose more vivid, direct, and emotionally resonant. Think of line editing as smoothing out the language to enhance the reader’s experience. The editor works line by line (hence the name), refining awkward phrasing, eliminating redundancies, adjusting sentence rhythm, and clarifying meaning—all while preserving the author’s voice.

A thorough line edit typically involves several passes through a complete draft. First, the line editor will read the manuscript to get a sense of the voice, tone, structure, and pacing. This helps them identify recurring issues, stylistic patterns, and overall flow.

Next, the editor will work line by line. They’ll look for opportunities to adjust awkward or unclear sentences, strengthen weak verbs, remove extraneous words, and improve transitions on a sentence and paragraph level. They will also attempt to enhance the narrative voice and tone. For example:

Original: The sky was a dull gray and it looked like it might rain later on in the afternoon. It made the city look even more depressed.

Edited: A dull gray sky loomed over the moping city, hinting at afternoon rain.

Original: She walked slowly across the room, and then she sat down on the old, wooden chair with a tired sigh that seemed to express how long and exhausting her day had been.

Edited: She trudged across the room and collapsed into the worn wooden chair with a sigh that told of a long, exhausting day.

Notice how the edit tightens the prose, removes redundancy, and improves flow without changing the original meaning.

If the manuscript shifts from one tone to another, the line editor will work to smooth out those transitions. If the tone is overly formal in one chapter and hilariously informal in the next, the line editor will attempt to maintain consistency. For fiction, this might involve aligning character voice or narrative style. For nonfiction, it might require aligning tone with the target audience.

A line editor also works to clarify meaning. Sometimes sentences are vague or confusing. A line editor steps in to clarify the message without altering the author’s intent. They may also flag overcomplicated passages for simplification.

Throughout the process, the line editor keeps the reader in mind: Does the sentence flow naturally? Will the reader understand this reference? Is the emotional tone appropriate for the moment?

Almost every writer can benefit from working with a line editor, particularly those preparing to publish or submit a manuscript professionally. Whether you’re self-publishing or refining a book sample for the querying process, a line editor can dramatically improve readability and impact.

Authors who are confident in their story structure but need help polishing their prose are ideal candidates. In traditional publishing, line editors often work in-house, but self-published authors typically need to hire a freelance line editor. Freelance marketplaces like Reedsy or the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA) are great places to start.

Line editing is the unsung hero of the writing process. While it may not be as glamorous as writing a first draft or as nitpicky as copy editing, it’s arguably the most transformative phase. A skilled line editor can elevate a manuscript from competent to compelling. They help authors say exactly what they mean in clear, artistic fashion.

Whether you’re a debut novelist, a leading voice in your field, or a seasoned author, line editing ensures that every sentence earns its place. It’s where writing becomes readable, and good prose becomes great.

Writing may begin with inspiration, but polishing a manuscript to perfection is where the craft truly lies. Among the essential stages of editing, a line editor stands out as the bridge between raw creativity and polished prose. They delves deep into the structure, rhythm, and clarity of each sentence to ensure the voice, tone, and message resonate clearly with the reader.