If you’re not sure what type of editing you’re looking for the following lists should help you:

Developmental Editing

• Works with the client and usually the author of a book/document to develop a manuscript from initial concept, outline, or draft through any number of subsequent drafts
• Makes suggestions about content, organization and presentation based on  analysis of competing works, comments of expert reviewers, the client’s market analysis, and other appropriate references
• Rewrites, writes, and researches as needed, and sometimes suggests topics or provides information about topics for author’s or client’s consideration

Substantive Editing

• Identifies and solves problems of overall clarity or accuracy
• Reorganizes paragraphs, sections, or chapters to improve the order in which the text is presented
• Writes or rewrites segments of text to improve readability and information flow
• Revises any or all aspects of the text to improve its presentation
• Consults with others about issues of concern
• Incorporates responses to queries and suggestions in creating a new draft of the document

Copyediting

• Corrects spelling, grammar, punctuation, syntax, and word usage while preserving the meaning and voice of the original text
• Checks for or imposes a consistent style and format
• Prepares a style sheet that documents style and format
• Reads for overall clarity and sense on behalf of the prospective audience
• Queries the appropriate party about apparent errors or inconsistencies
• Notes permissions needed to publish copyrighted material
• Prepares a manuscript for the next stage of the publication process
• Cross-checks references, art, figures, tables, equations, and other features for consistency with their mentions in the text

Proofreading

• Compares the latest stage of text with the preceding stage, marking discrepancies in text, and when appropriate, checks for problems in page makeup, layout, color separation, or type
• Checks proof against typesetting specifications
• Queries or corrects errors or inconsistencies that may have escaped an editor or writer
• Reads for typographical errors or for sense without reading against copy