One of the most common points of confusion for new authors is the difference between editing stages. They are sequential for a reason: each one addresses a different layer of the manuscript, and doing them out of order wastes both time and budget.
Developmental editing comes first and looks at the big picture — plot structure, character arcs, pacing, argument logic for nonfiction, and overall organization. A developmental editor might suggest cutting a subplot, reordering chapters, or strengthening a thin section of research. This stage often results in the most substantial revisions.
Line editing follows once the structure is settled. Here, the focus narrows to how each sentence and paragraph reads — voice, clarity, rhythm, word choice and transitions. A line editor is working with your manuscript at the level of craft, refining how the story or argument is actually told.
Proofreading is the final safeguard before a manuscript goes to formatting and print. This is a meticulous pass for grammar, spelling, punctuation and consistency — catching the kinds of small errors that are nearly invisible to an author who has read their own manuscript dozens of times.
Skipping a stage, or doing them in the wrong order, tends to create rework. A beautifully line-edited chapter that later gets cut in a structural revision is wasted effort. That is why a publishing partner will typically recommend developmental editing before line editing, and proofreading only once the manuscript is considered final.