Copy, Line, Developmental & AI Language Editing Services

Not sure which of our editing services is appropriate for your manuscript, project, or business needs? In general, copyediting focuses on correcting obvious errors and adhering to language conventions, whereas line editing involves more substantial changes that are made to improve the structure, style, and overall effectiveness of the writing at the level of the sentence. In contrast to these services, developmental editing focuses on the big picture, on the overarching structure of the work and its logical flow.

Copyediting is well suited to finished and fairly polished drafts, to get them in tip-top shape for submission or print publication. (For a truly polished, publication-ready piece, we recommend copyediting plus proofreading. These services can be contracted individually or combined at a discounted rate.) Line editing is best for completed first drafts as well as second, third … fourth drafts, and so on. Developmental editing, however, is best reserved for early rough drafts or partial manuscripts in need of developmental guidance.

The extent of editing that any one project will require depends on the specific needs of the project, including its purpose, intended audience, the preferences of the author/client, and the style guidelines and formatting requirements of the publisher, where applicable.

In addition to the editing services outlined above, we provide copy and line editing services for AI-generated content and for AI expert-generated training data. (Please refer to the table below for additional details.) If after reviewing this page you are still uncertain about which editing service is suitable to the needs of your project, please contact us. We are more than happy to answer your questions and determine how we may best serve you.

Please note that a single page is defined as 250 words, per the industry standard for a double-spaced manuscript page. Unless stated otherwise, rates are by the hour. Rates and service outputs are estimations only and may vary by or not apply to each project.

Editing Services & Rates

Service	Rates
COPYEDITING Copyediting services are appropriate for documents and other types of text that are in a finished, pre-publication or pre-submission state. Basic copyediting focuses on correcting obvious errors in punctuation and spelling and making sure that the style and formatting are consistent and accurate. Copyediting is the equivalent of "light editing." It aims to make the text more readable and polished and closer to publication ready. Does your manuscript or project need one of the following? Significant reformatting (for example, reformatting references, citations, headers and outline structure to adhere to a particular style guide or submission requirements)? Please see our formatting services. Substantive editing at the level of the individual line to improve the structure, coherence, clarity, tone, and flow of the piece? See our line editing services. Considerable restructuring or reorganization of the text in order to preserve the logical ordering and clear presentation of ideas, arguments, and/or supporting examples? See our developmental editing services. A close, line-by-line reading to correct any remaining typos or punctuation and spelling errors? See our proofreading services.	Nonfiction: $40–$45 Business/sales: $45–$50 Medical/STEM: $50–$70 Legal: $55–$75 Approximately 4–6 pages per hour.
LINE EDITING Line editing entails substantive, stylistic editing. This service is most appropriate for rough drafts as well as many final drafts. Line editing delves deeper into the content and structure of the writing at the level of the individual line. It focuses on the author's voice, the grammatical structure of each line, and the clarity of paragraph transitions. Line editing aims to improve the overall flow and coherence of the text. It attends to word selection and grammatical usage (not just correct spelling), the rephrasing of sentences to improve syntax and readability, and may also require some content (re)organization in order to ensure the logical flow of ideas. Does your manuscript or project need one of the following? Significant reformatting (for example, reformatting references, citations, headers and outline structure to adhere to a particular style guide or submission requirements)? Please see our formatting services. Considerable restructuring or reorganization of the text in order to preserve the logical ordering and clear presentation of ideas, arguments, and/or supporting examples? See our developmental editing services. A close, line-by-line reading to correct any remaining typos or punctuation and spelling errors? See our proofreading services.	Nonfiction: $45–$50 Business/sales: $45–$60 Medical/STEM: $55–$70 Approximately 3–6 pages per hour.
DEVELOPMENTAL EDITING Developmental editing focuses on the big picture. It contends with the shaping, structuring, and development of content. This service is most appropriate for completed rough drafts as well as writing that is in its early stages and therefore may require significant changes, additions and deletions, or even the rewriting of entire sections. With developmental editing, I provide feedback and suggestions for major revisions and restructuring. Does your manuscript or project need one of the following? Manuscript development and doctoring to facilitate the completion of a first draft? If so, or if you need assistance with preparing a book proposal, please see our manuscript development and doctoring services. Editorial review with narrative feedback and inline comments/suggestions? See our editorial evaluation services.	Nonfiction: $50–$60 Business/sales: $50–$60 Medical/STEM: $60–$80 Approximately 1–3 or 2–5 pages per hour depending on the area of specialization.
MANUSCRIPT DEVELOPMENT & DOCTORING Similar to developmental editing, manuscript development and doctoring focuses on the big picture and the early stages of writing. In contrast to developmental editing, this service may include transforming a loose set of notes or instructions into a working rough draft, or it may involve working with an incomplete first draft. If you need help with a book proposal, please refer to our book proposal consulting/editing rates listed in the next column.	Manuscript development & doctoring: $60–$80 Approximately 2–5 pages per hour. Book proposal consulting & editing: $40–$60
AI LANGUAGE EDITING Specific to AI language editing, we offer two primary services: AI language model development. This can include either copyediting or line editing of expert-generated AI training data and textual outputs, with special attention to improving AI grammar, syntax, and sentence structure. Copyediting or line editing of AI-generated content. If you depend on AI-generated content or have AI expert-generated training data that you would like to have checked for grammatical accuracy, then this service is for you.	Copyediting AI-generated text: $35–$40 Line editing AI-generated text: $40–$45 Approximately 4–6 pages per hour. Rates based on well-structured, coherent AI-level writing.

Service

Rates

COPYEDITING

Copyediting services are appropriate for documents and other types of text that are in a finished, pre-publication or pre-submission state. Basic copyediting focuses on correcting obvious errors in punctuation and spelling and making sure that the style and formatting are consistent and accurate. Copyediting is the equivalent of "light editing." It aims to make the text more readable and polished and closer to publication ready.

Does your manuscript or project need one of the following?

Significant reformatting (for example, reformatting references, citations, headers and outline structure to adhere to a particular style guide or submission requirements)? Please see our formatting services.
Substantive editing at the level of the individual line to improve the structure, coherence, clarity, tone, and flow of the piece? See our line editing services.
Considerable restructuring or reorganization of the text in order to preserve the logical ordering and clear presentation of ideas, arguments, and/or supporting examples? See our developmental editing services.
A close, line-by-line reading to correct any remaining typos or punctuation and spelling errors? See our proofreading services.

Nonfiction: $40–$45

Business/sales: $45–$50

Medical/STEM: $50–$70

Legal: $55–$75

Approximately 4–6 pages per hour.

LINE EDITING

Line editing entails substantive, stylistic editing. This service is most appropriate for rough drafts as well as many final drafts. Line editing delves deeper into the content and structure of the writing at the level of the individual line. It focuses on the author's voice, the grammatical structure of each line, and the clarity of paragraph transitions. Line editing aims to improve the overall flow and coherence of the text. It attends to word selection and grammatical usage (not just correct spelling), the rephrasing of sentences to improve syntax and readability, and may also require some content (re)organization in order to ensure the logical flow of ideas.

Does your manuscript or project need one of the following?

Significant reformatting (for example, reformatting references, citations, headers and outline structure to adhere to a particular style guide or submission requirements)? Please see our formatting services.
Considerable restructuring or reorganization of the text in order to preserve the logical ordering and clear presentation of ideas, arguments, and/or supporting examples? See our developmental editing services.
A close, line-by-line reading to correct any remaining typos or punctuation and spelling errors? See our proofreading services.

Nonfiction: $45–$50

Business/sales: $45–$60

Medical/STEM: $55–$70

Approximately 3–6 pages per hour.

DEVELOPMENTAL EDITING

Developmental editing focuses on the big picture. It contends with the shaping, structuring, and development of content. This service is most appropriate for completed rough drafts as well as writing that is in its early stages and therefore may require significant changes, additions and deletions, or even the rewriting of entire sections. With developmental editing, I provide feedback and suggestions for major revisions and restructuring.

Does your manuscript or project need one of the following?

Manuscript development and doctoring to facilitate the completion of a first draft? If so, or if you need assistance with preparing a book proposal, please see our manuscript development and doctoring services.
Editorial review with narrative feedback and inline comments/suggestions? See our editorial evaluation services.

Nonfiction: $50–$60

Business/sales: $50–$60

Medical/STEM: $60–$80

Approximately 1–3 or 2–5 pages per hour depending on the area of specialization.

MANUSCRIPT DEVELOPMENT & DOCTORING

Similar to developmental editing, manuscript development and doctoring focuses on the big picture and the early stages of writing. In contrast to developmental editing, this service may include transforming a loose set of notes or instructions into a working rough draft, or it may involve working with an incomplete first draft.

If you need help with a book proposal, please refer to our book proposal consulting/editing rates listed in the next column.

Manuscript development & doctoring: $60–$80

Approximately 2–5 pages per hour.

Book proposal consulting & editing: $40–$60

AI LANGUAGE EDITING

Specific to AI language editing, we offer two primary services:

AI language model development. This can include either copyediting or line editing of expert-generated AI training data and textual outputs, with special attention to improving AI grammar, syntax, and sentence structure.
Copyediting or line editing of AI-generated content.

If you depend on AI-generated content or have AI expert-generated training data that you would like to have checked for grammatical accuracy, then this service is for you.

Copyediting AI-generated text: $35–$40

Line editing AI-generated text: $40–$45

Approximately 4–6 pages per hour.

Rates based on well-structured, coherent AI-level writing.