A manuscript evaluation is an assessment, undertaken by a professional editor, that outlines the larger thematic successes and areas for improvement within a work. This can range from notes on plot and character development to advice on document- or paragraph-level structural organization and targeted audience and genre specifications. Depending on the editor and condition of the work, the evaluation may also include a sample of line or copy edits, comments regarding research and fact checking, and/or notes on future marketing and publicity campaigns.

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Developmental editing (also known as substantive, structural, or content editing) focuses on macro-level revisions. On one end, a developmental editor may work with an author from the inception of an idea, and on the other, a developmental editor may work with an author on content, structure, narrative flow, character development, and style. Many developmental editors also focus on paragraph or sentence level issues relating to clarity, flow, or consistency. Developmental editing is considered paramount to the production of any good book.

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Line editors work at the sentence or paragraph level of a project. Like copyeditors, they correct errors, but their main focus is on improving the language and style of the text. Line editing may either be performed in conjunction with developmental editing or as a second step in the editing process, after big-picture issues have been addressed.

Copyeditors correct spelling, grammar, usage, and punctuation; check cross-references; and prepare the style sheets that guide consistency and accuracy across the manuscript. A copyeditor reviews all aspects of the manuscript at levels of response that vary from light (making a notation to the author) to heavy (revising the text).

Proofreaders check the text of a project for errors, including typographical errors and problems with typesetting specifications and page makeup. They often compare the latest stage of the project to earlier stages and make sure changes have been made correctly.

Fact checking is performed by going through a manuscript and confirming the veracity of each statement that is claimed as an assertion of fact. While incidental fact checking may occur during the editing process, this is a deeper level of scrutiny. Research and fact checking are particularly important and common in historical writing (especially in fiction and narrative nonfiction).