microediting

Microediting is a stage of textual editing that concentrates on small-scale enhancements to language, style, and presentation, without altering content or structure. It typically follows substantive or macro editing and proofreading, and aims to improve precision, clarity, and consistency at the sentence and word level.

Microediting focuses on surface features such as punctuation, capitalization, spelling, hyphenation, typography, and consistency of terminology. It also addresses word choice, sentence rhythm, redundancy, and transitions, ensuring the text reads smoothly while preserving the author's voice.

Distinction: Macro editing addresses larger issues such as organization, argument, audience, tone, and overall flow; micro editing handles the finer details that influence readability. In practice, editors may perform micro edits within a single pass or as a final polish after other edits.

Process and tools: Use style guides (Chicago, APA, MLA) or house style; apply track changes, glossaries, and style sheets; rely on spelling and grammar tools, then manually review for consistency. Reading aloud and checking consistency across the document helps catch issues. Regional variations in spelling and punctuation are common concerns.

Context and impact: Microediting is common in book publishing, journalism, academic writing, and online content. While it improves readability and professional presentation, editors must avoid over-editing or eroding author voice. The outcome is a text that adheres to stylistic standards while maintaining clarity and intent.