What is a line edit?

A line edit focuses on how the book reads, line by line. The editor looks at each sentence and paragraph for clarity, flow, tone and voice: tightening wordy passages, varying sentence rhythm, cutting repetition and clichés, sharpening dialogue, and flagging places where meaning is unclear or the voice slips.

It sits between the developmental edit and the copyedit. The developmental edit settles what happens and in what order; the line edit makes the prose do its job; the copyedit then fixes correctness and consistency. In practice the boundaries blur, and many editors offer a combined line and copy edit. Be clear about what you are paying for.

A good line editor preserves your voice rather than replacing it with theirs. Their changes usually come as tracked changes and comments, which you accept, reject or rework. If a sample edit makes your writing sound like someone else, keep looking.

Line editing is detailed work, so it is usually priced per word or per hour and takes longer than a copyedit. To get the most out of it, finish your own revision first — self-edit for obvious repetition and overwriting — so the editor's time goes on things you cannot see yourself.