A checklist of the copy editing process.

Title: Copy editing Checklist

Subtitle: For emails and short digital texts

Stage 1: Setup

Start tracking time

Read the brief

Check you have everything

Make a copy of the text file

Check all your language settings are correct

First skim 

Plan your time

Make a clean style sheet, or a document for notes on style

Turn on Track Changes/Suggestions

Stage 2: Automated checks

Run Find-and-replace checks

Run any macros you use

Run error-checking software (Grammarly, PerfectIt, and so on)

3. The main edit

First pass (wording, tone of voice and clarity)

Second pass (spelling, punctuation, grammar and style)

4. The extra bits 

Check links go to the right places

Check spacing

Check formatting 

Check paragraph styles

5. Finish the job

Clean up your comments

Final check

Stop logging time

Tell your manager you're done