Which statement correctly describes the difference between proofreading and editing as used here?

• A. Proofreading is the final check for correcting errors; editing involves minor changes
• B. Editing is the final check; proofreading makes minor changes
• C. They refer to the same process
• D. Proofreading is about content; editing is about formatting

Answer: (A)

The main idea is that editing and proofreading serve different purposes in polishing writing. Editing is the stage where you refine the text to improve content, wording, and flow, typically through small adjustments that sharpen meaning. Proofreading comes last and checks for surface-level errors—typos, punctuation, capitalization, spelling, and formatting—so the piece is clean and ready to publish. So, describing proofreading as the final check for correcting errors and editing as involving minor changes fits how these steps are usually used: editing makes small refinements, while proofreading catches the remaining mistakes at the end. Other descriptions that say they’re the same process, or that editing is the final check, don’t align with how these steps work together.