What does a copy editor normally do?

What is the difference between a general editor and a copy editor in publishing?

• Answer:

  A copy editor is specifically charged with looking at the punctuation, grammar, spelling and essential style-guide elements required by the publisher. A copy editor may also be charged with building an index, generating a table of contents and so forth. A general editor or editor is a catch-all phrase applied to a people who perform a wide range of tasks. For example, the editor of a magazine could be the second in command after the publisher. Or the editor could be responsible for choosing a theme or sequence of stories or assembling some kind of collection for publication. As well, writers work with editors to hone and polish their work, so the editor acts as a sounding board for the writer's work. In order to understand the role of an editor, the title must be in a context, so that the editor's tasks, responsibilities and authorities are clearly defined.