When revising a draft, a writer should revise in stages. These stages, in the correct order, are ________.
A) substantive editing (content and sequence), copy editing (tone and style), proofreading (grammar and mechanics)
B) copy editing (tone and style), substantive editing (content and sequence), proofreading (grammar and mechanics)
C) proofreading (grammar and mechanics), substantive editing (content and sequence), copy editing (tone and style)
D) The editing stages-substantive editing, copy editing, and proofreading-are discrete; however, their order does not matter.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Substantive editing, which focuses on content and organization, should come first in order to ensure that the overall structure and message of the writing is sound. Copy editing should come next to refine the tone and style of the writing. Finally, proofreading should be done to catch any grammar and mechanical errors that may have been missed in the previous stages. This is the most effective order for revising a draft.

When Revising a Draft, a Writer Should Revise in Stages