A developmental editor helps the author in developing and writing the content, determining how to present it, and identifying what kinds of documentation and/or permissions may be necessary for publication. The developmental editor also advises the author regarding rewriting specific sections or reorganizing the text.
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The substantive editor reviews the manuscript’s organizational structure and presentation. In-house editors, the author’s colleagues and/or peers may also handle this type of editing and review process. Sometimes, the same person may provide both developmental and substantive editing.
 

The copy editor’s job (sometimes called the line editor) begins after the manuscript is finished and has been through the reviewing process. A copy editor handles the mechanics of editing: grammar, spelling, punctuation, and the use of a consistent style. The copy editor checks that all proper nouns are spelled consistently throughout the document, identifies and queries biased language, determines whether the author needs to define any unusual terms or acronyms, ensures that all dashes and hyphens are used correctly and that all figures and tables are included and formatted consistently. Depending on the project, the copy editor may also perform other services such as formatting, verifying references and URLs, and/or fact checking.