What does coediting mean?
Coediting is the practice of editing a text, document, or other material jointly with one or more collaborators. It may involve people revising a manuscript together, or multiple users changing the same digital file, sometimes in real time. The term is common in publishing, journalism, education, and collaborative software, where it emphasizes shared responsibility for the final wording and presentation. Coediting differs from copyediting: the former focuses on working jointly with other editors, while copyediting focuses on correcting grammar, spelling, punctuation, and consistency. Although “co-edit” is derived from the familiar word “edit,” the compound conveys an additional social idea—collaboration and negotiation rather than solitary revision. It is therefore useful in discussions of editorial workflows, online writing tools, and shared authorship, where the division of labor and the process of reaching an agreed text are important.
The act or process of editing a text or document jointly with one or more collaborators.
"The team's coediting of the draft produced a clearer and more consistent final version."
Usually used as a singular or uncountable process noun.
To edit a text, document, or other material jointly with one or more collaborators.
"By coediting the article remotely, the authors incorporated each other's corrections."
The -ing form is commonly used as a gerund or present participle.
This plural is rare; coediting is normally used as an uncountable noun.
"Separate coeditings of the manuscript continued in parallel."
Coediting turns editing from a solitary craft into a collaborative mode, with every revision becoming part of a shared conversation.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does coediting come from?
The compound was formed in English by joining the prefix co-, meaning “together” or “jointly,” with edit. Edit was borrowed into English from French éditer, which was based on Latin edere, “to publish” or “to issue.” Words such as edition, editor, and editorial reflect the same publishing root, while coediting extends its use to describe a shared editorial process.
Related word forms
How coediting is actually used
Coediting is common in publishing, journalism, education, and discussions of collaborative writing software. As a noun, it is normally used in the singular or as an uncountable process noun; as a verb form, it describes editing jointly with others.
Easily confused with coediting
Coediting means editing collaboratively with others, whereas copyediting means correcting a text for grammar, spelling, punctuation, style, and consistency.