Red Line Editing Definition

Red line editing is the process of making changes and suggestions to a document by marking it up with a red pen or pencil. The person doing the editing will go through the document line by line and make corrections and/or suggestions for changes.

This type of editing is usually done on a hard copy of the document, but it can also be done electronically using a program like Microsoft Word. Red line editing is often used when someone else will be reviewing the document, such as in a proofreading or copyediting situation. It allows the editor to make their changes easily visible to the person who will be reviewing them.

If you are working with an editor who uses red line editing, be sure to ask them about their specific process and what they recommend you do with their edits. Some editors will want you to make the changes they suggest, while others may just want you to consider their suggestions and make your own decisions about what changes to make. Whichever way your editor wants you to handle their red line edits, be sure to follow their instructions so that you can get your document back to them as quickly as possible.