In ancient classical and biblical periods from B.C. to 1300 A.D., texts evolved from oral histories passed down through generations. Individuals--who were generally male and with important religious affiliations--were chosen and trained to write and edit oral histories. Texts were generally hand written on leather or inscribed in metal or wood by a single individual who served as the writer, copy editor and editor.
The individualized role of copy editing descended from the advent of movable type set printing, which was developed in 1436 by Johannes Gutenberg. Unlike the former method of woodblock printing, movable type set printing enabled publishers to produce an exponentially higher volume of books. Renaissance publishing teams of scribes, compositors, and proofreaders (copy editors) worked cooperatively, only changing punctuation, grammar and spelling, so that it did not alter the original meaning.
The steam-powered rotary press was invented in 1843 by Richard March Hoe, and it positively impacted the publishing industry. The printing revolution necessitated a greater division of labor. Authorship, copy editing and final editing became increasingly secularized departments in response to the growing volume of printed text.
In 1904, bibliographer Ronald B McKerrow defined "copy-text" as the most reliable source. In 1950, Sir Walter W. Greg published "The Rationale of the Copy text," popularizing copy-text theory that focused on grammar and language. In the 1960s, Frederick Bowers introduced critical editing and the concept of "radiating texts," referring to the number texts taken from the original. In 1991, Jerome McGann wrote "The Textual Condition," which re-defined copy text to favor heavy editorial alterations with a social emphasis.
In the 1990s, G. Thomas Tanselle revised "Editing Without a Copy-Text," which shifted the editorial point-of-view from Greg's emphasis on grammar and language to include critical judgment. Twentieth century scholar A.E. Houseman endorsed Tanselle's editing theory. Houseman's advocacy increased editorial license and profoundly altered the concept of copy editing.
The copy editor may question the author's assumptions. Publishers have different protocols for the duties of the copy editor. The ideal of copy editing is to keep the text as clean, interesting and economical as possible. Copy editors cut the fat and seek to avert major revisions, while serving the best interests of the reader.
Between the years of 2003 and 2008, copy editors were laid-off more than any other publishing department due to downsizing. Merrill Perlman, a retired chief of copy desks at "The New York Times," stated that copy editors were absolutely vital because a sloppy publication undermines credibility. Copy editors are quality control professionals, making sure the text is accurate and understandable.