Proofreading, copyediting, and rewriting—what’s the difference?

Proofreading, copyediting, or rewriting. Which one do I need?

Proofreading, copyediting, rewriting—they all mean the same thing, don’t they? Well, actually, they’re all slightly different and require different skills.

If you’re confused about what kind of help you need, we’ve unpacked it all in this blog post—with helpful explanations and what’s included in each of our packages.

It can be daunting to send your copywriting out into the world for everyone to see, so it’s a good idea to appoint an expert eye to give it a once over, and that’s where Kind Word can help.

Depending on the level of service you need, we can provide a range of support to get your copy shipshape. 

So, without further ado, let’s get started.

What is proofreading?

Remember getting ready for your first date and your mom doing the final checks to make sure you didn’t have spinach in your teeth or mustard down your shirt?

That’s what proofreaders do with your copy. They give it a once over to ensure any pesky typos and mistakes that may have crept in during the writing process are picked up on. It’s the last line of defense and is usually the final task to complete before you hit publish on your piece of writing.

It’s always good to get someone else to review your copy because when you’ve worked hard on writing a piece of content, you can become too familiar with it. So when you read it back, you tend to read what you want it to say, rather than what’s actually on the page.

Getting a fresh pair of eyes to catch those annoying errors in your document means you can have confidence that your copy is word perfect before it’s published.

The Kind Word Proofreader Package – $1,000 per month

If you opt for our Proofreader Package, we’ll check for things like inconsistencies, spelling and grammar mistakes, capitalization, duplicate or missing words, and punctuation. We’ll also format your documents, based on your personal needs.  

It’s perfect for competent writers who don’t have the time to proofread their copy and want to have confidence that their work is error free before hitting send.

We’ll get each piece of copy back to you within 2 business days, and you can submit up to 30,000 words per month for review.

What is copyediting?

While proofreading looks at surface-level mistakes, copyediting focuses on the bigger picture to improve the quality of writing.

It’s not about changing the story; it’s about giving it a spa day. Think of copyediting as a manicure – trimming those unruly sentences, buffing out inconsistencies, and applying a glossy finish to make your words sparkle.

Editing ensures the meaning is clear and cohesive, and that it connects with your intended audience. Editors might restructure a sentence or paragraph so the overall flow of the copy makes sense, and is as smooth as a perfectly manicured nail.

We also look for repetition and redundancy, while checking that the style and tone of voice is consistent throughout.

The Kind Word Editor Package – $2,000 per month

With our Editor Package, you get everything that’s included in our Proofreader Package, plus a detailed analysis of your content and suggestions on how you can improve it.

We’ll give you constructive notes on how you can better connect with your readers, include more compelling calls to action, as well as tips on how to improve the overall tone and flow of your copy.

It’s ideal for people who are looking for feedback to help improve their copywriting and want to make sure their copy is top quality.

The Editor Package is also a great option for small business owners who don’t have a team of professional writers on hand.

We can review up to 30,000 words per month and you’ll get your edited copy back within 2 business days.

What is rewriting? 

Imagine your first draft is like a pancake recipe that got a bit scrambled. Rewriting is your chance to transform your initial, chaotic attempt into a culinary masterpiece. It’s about tweaking ingredients, adjusting flavors, and perfecting the technique.

Kind Word can come to your rescue and be your Masterchef! We’ll refine your copy, using your first attempt as the basis, adding in all the right ingredients to ensure it hits the mark.

The Kind Word Rewrite Package – $3,000 per month

Ideal for people who aren’t confident writers and just want to get their thoughts down in writing, our Rewrite Package is an in-depth overhaul of your piece, which ensures it’s clear, readable and will connect with your target audience.

By opting for the Rewrite Package, you’ll get all the features of the Proofreader and Editor packages, plus heavy editing and rewriting of your original content, so it’s ready for the world to see.

It’s perfect for anyone who uses AI-generated content but wants to humanize it with some added personality, as well as businesses looking for a quick turnaround on some heavy editing.

With the Rewrite Package, we’ll get each piece of copy back to you within 2-3 business days, depending on the length and complexity of the rewrite. And we’ll review up to 30,000 words for you each month.

So now you’re clear on the difference between proofreading, copyediting and rewriting, and which service is best for you, get in touch and let us help.