Definition
A line edit works through your manuscript sentence by sentence, focusing on how you say things rather than what you're saying. It addresses prose rhythm, word choice, clarity, tone consistency, dialogue naturalness, and overall readability. A line editor might restructure a clunky sentence, flag an overused phrase, tighten a paragraph of exposition, or suggest a stronger verb to replace an adverb-propped weak one.
Why It Matters
Story structure gets readers to keep turning pages, but prose quality determines whether they enjoy the ride. A line edit is where your writing voice crystallizes. It's the difference between prose that readers push through and prose they savor. Even well-plotted novels get put down if the sentence-level writing feels flat or labored.
Common Mistakes
There's no point perfecting the prose in a scene you might cut or completely rewrite. Handle developmental and structural issues first, then do your line edit.
Line editing is about style and voice. Copy editing is about correctness and consistency. A line editor might rewrite a sentence for better rhythm. A copy editor flags a misplaced comma.
The goal is to make your prose the best version of itself, not to sand every sentence into the same smooth shape. If a quirky phrasing is part of your voice, keep it.
Reading your prose aloud is one of the most effective line editing techniques. Your ear catches rhythmic problems and awkward phrasing that your eyes skip right over.
Try It Yourself
Take a single page of your manuscript and edit it three times with three different goals. First pass: cut every word that isn't earning its place. Second pass: vary your sentence lengths so no three consecutive sentences have the same rhythm. Third pass: replace three weak verbs with specific, vivid ones. Compare the before and after versions.
Want to see your prose patterns at a glance?
Novelium's manuscript editor highlights sentence length variation, repeated words, and overused phrases across your entire manuscript, giving you a clear view of your prose habits so you can line edit with precision.