Authors hear the term all the time, but what does it actually look like on the page? What kinds of changes should you expect? And why do different editors sometimes give very different feedback?
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I created this line editing case study to answer those questions clearly and transparently for authors.
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Six editors—working from the same brief and the same manuscript excerpt—each completed a line edit. And this PDF shows the results: six thoughtful, professional edits that are noticeably different in approach, tone, and focus.
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Line editing will never be a one-size-fits-all service. It’s a craft shaped by the editor’s training and instincts.
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My goal with this project was to pull back the curtain so authors can see what line editing actually looks like, understand why editors make different choices, feel more confident evaluating sample edits, and find the right editor–author fit for their book.