Assessing and shaping draft material to improve its organization and content. Changes may be suggested to or drafted for the writer. Also known as substantive editing, manuscript editing, content editing, or developmental editing.

Editing to clarify meaning, ensure coherence and flow, and refine the language, such as adjusting the length and structure of sentences and paragraphs or establishing or maintaining tone, mood, style, and authorial voice or level of formality. Also known as line editing (which may also include copy editing).

Editing to ensure correctness, accuracy, consistency, and completeness, such as editing for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and usage or editing tables, figures, and lists.

Examining material after layout or in its final format to correct errors in textual and visual elements. The material may be read in isolation or against a previous version. Note that proofreading is checking a work after editing; it is not a substitute for editing.