What Editing Is
Editing focuses on the content of your manuscript.
Depending on the service, editing may include:
- Improving clarity, flow, and readability
- Correcting grammar, spelling, and punctuation
- Strengthening sentence structure and word choice
- Ensuring consistency in voice, tense, and point of view
- Checking dialogue formatting and paragraph breaks
- Addressing plot holes, pacing issues, or structural concerns (for developmental edits)
Editing answers questions like:
- Does this sentence work?
- Is this scene clear and effective?
- Does the story flow logically?
- Are there grammatical or mechanical errors?
Editing is an interactive process that often includes comments, suggestions, and tracked changes. It happens while your manuscript is still flexible and open to revision.
What Editing Is Not
Editing does not:
- Design your book interior
- Choose fonts or trim sizes
- Prepare files for upload to retailers
- Lock text into its final layout
What Formatting Is
Formatting focuses on how your finished text looks on the page or screen.
Formatting includes:
- Page size and trim setup
- Margins, line spacing, and paragraph indents
- Font selection and hierarchy
- Chapter title styling
- Scene break symbols
- Headers, footers, and page numbers
- Ensuring files meet platform requirements (Amazon, IngramSpark, etc.)
Formatting answers questions like:
- Does this look professional?
- Does this meet publishing standards?
- Will this display correctly in print or ebook form?
Formatting is a technical and visual process, not a content-based one.
What Formatting Is Not
Formatting does not:
- Fix grammar or typos
- Rewrite sentences or scenes
- Provide story or content feedback
- Catch developmental issues
Formatting should always happen after editing is complete.
During editing, text constantly moves around. Paragraphs are added, removed, rewritten, or rearranged. Formatting a manuscript too early means those changes will break spacing, styles, and layout, often requiring the formatter to redo large portions of the work.
Why This Distinction Matters
Confusing editing and formatting can lead to:
- Extra costs
- Delays in your publishing timeline
- Misaligned expectations
- Rework that could have been avoided
Each service requires a different skill set and both are necessary for a polished, professional book.
If you’re ever unsure which service you need, our team is happy to guide you to the right next step based on where your manuscript is in the process.
