Content Editing vs. Copy Editing — A Comparative Guide

Content editing and copy editing are critical steps for content marketers. They are closely related and sometimes even overlap. 

However, each has a specific purpose and is its own step in your content review process. 

In this guide, we’ll take a closer look at the comparative differences between content and copy editing.

In This Article:

• What is content editing?
• What is copy editing?
• Should you conduct content or copy editing first?
• Why content marketers should incorporate both content and copy editing.
• Tips and best practices for self-editing content.

What Is Content Editing?

Content editing refers to the process of conducting a comprehensive review of content.

During this process, an editor examines the content to ensure that it is logical, adds value, and is understandable for readers to ensure it delivers the most impact.

It is primarily concerned with the substance of your content, digging into elements such as:

• Reader intent: Does it provide valuable and relevant information?
• Readability: Is it easy to read and understand? 
• Organization and logic: Is it easy to follow and make sense of?
• Brand voice: Is the content consistent with the brand voice?
• Flow: Is there a smoothness and rhythm to the writing?
• Clarity: Is it easy to tell what the main ideas are? 
• Comprehensiveness: Is it all the information a reader needs? 
• Strength: Is the writing up to your brand’s standards?
• AI checking tools: Has generative AI been used and if so is it allowed for the article?
• Style and format: Does it adhere to house style?
• Factual accuracy: Is the information true and correct?
• Source evaluation: Are sources credible and reputable?
• Strategy: Does it align with your strategies for content and SEO?

By identifying areas where messaging is unclear, weak, fluffy, inaccurate, difficult to follow, or poorly organized, a content editor provides a holistic review of the content's quality, substance and strength. 

What Is Copy Editing?

Whereas content editing is about substance and depth, copy editing is more about the surface-level correctness and mechanics of the writing. 

A good copy edit will review and correct issues with the following:

• Grammar and syntax
• Spelling
• Punctuation
• Typos
• Consistency
• Fluidity of language
• Adherence to the style guide
• Tone
• Word choice
• Clear call to action
• Formatting elements
• Check links

A good copy editor looks for anything incorrect, inconsistent, missing, or overlooked. In that way, a copy edit may overlap slightly with content editing. There are so many details to review in the copyediting phase that most content marketers use a checklist to ensure nothing is missed.

What Comes First: Content Editing or Copy Editing? 

Typically content editing happens before copy editing.

The big-picture edits, those that deal with the substance of the content, must be reviewed and corrected before the copy edit begins. 

All content revisions requested as a result of the content edit should be made before the copy edit. The content should be in its final form when it gets a copy edit.

Why Content Marketers Need Content and Copy Edits

There are two distinct phases of edits because there are so many aspects of content to review and polish before your work is shared with an audience. 

Each editing type addresses different facets and focuses on specific goals to ensure the overall piece is successful in all dimensions.

Trying to do content and copy edits simultaneously detracts from the focus each step needs. This can lead to overlooking big-picture or detail-level errors that are easier to catch when focusing solely on substance or surface-level edits. 

4 Tips for Self-Editing Content Marketers

If you are the content writer and the person performing both the content and copy edits, it is essential to consider these edit rounds as two separate steps in your content creation process. 

1. Use a checklist: Having a separate checklist for each type of edit is helpful in ensuring you check every box and bring out the best in your content. 
2. Take a break: Step away from your writing for a bit so you can return to it with a fresh perspective when it’s time to edit. 
3. Read aloud: Reading your content aloud helps you distance yourself from the act of writing and transition to a listener or reader. Your ear often catches things your eyes might miss when reading words you are familiar with.
4. Enlist a final proofreader: Ask someone else to do a final proofreading or quality check after you complete your content and copy edits. That final look, or quality check, through a fresh set of eyes, can sometimes catch errors or inconsistencies that were missed.

Final Thoughts

Whether you self-edit or have a content editor and copy editor, these final steps make your content shine. 

Presenting a polished, professional final piece reflects well upon your brand, ensures your content is more effective for your audience, and sets the stage for more engagement opportunities. 

Review your content with the best-in-class Originality.ai toolkit including an AI Grammar Checker, Readability Checker, and AI Detector.

Then, learn more about editing in our top guides:

• 7 Benefits of Using a Sentence Grammar Checker
• What Is Line Editing?
• What Are English Grammar Checkers?
• Content Editing: A Complete Guide for Content Marketers