Line editing is typically the first edit a draft undergoes. It is a substantial editing phase, where each and every line is subject to scrutiny and being rewritten in order to fit the overall text better. At this stage, the copy is expected to be in the first draft—it is essentially complete in terms of content (or plot, for fiction writing), but has not had the time to be reviewed for style, clarity, and ease of reading. Line edit marks the transition from the manuscript being authored to it being edited.

Note: There is no consistent terminology in the industry. Many places use the terms "copy editing" and "proofreading" interchangeably. Other places don't differentiate between "line edit" and "copy edit". I offer all three as different services.

Do

• Ensure the draft is structurally sound and complete. It should contain everything the final text is meant to have, and in the same order.
• If at all possible, consider also having a copy edit done after the line edit is finished.
• Pay extra attention to recurring issues in the manuscript. If the same kind of edit needs to be done repeatedly, it might be worth looking into how things can be improved at the writing stage.

Don't

• Avoid editing incomplete drafts and manuscripts which are known to need structural work. Major changes and reshuffling after editing will always lead to some of the work being wasted.
• Don't confuse line editing with developmental editing. A line edit can reorder paragraphs within a page to improve flow, but it can't fix structural issues with the plot or characters.
• Never skip proofreading after a line edit. The scope of work is so different that some typos and mechanical errors are unavoidable even with the most careful editing.