In this stage you sure the grammar, punctuation and syntax is correct. Since you are not an official copyeditor (and even if you are, you should have another professional editor look over your manuscript), this is probably more like what you would call proofreading.
The questions below are only a beginning. Depending on your story, there might also be other issues you should pay special attention to.
Sentences
- Are your sentences clear?
- Do your sentences make sense grammatically?
- Are you using the correct tense at all times? (This can be especially tricky with flashbacks or when you give background information in general)
Vocabulary
- Does the vocabulary fit the voice of the character, the tone of the story, the formality of situation etc.?
- Have you cut repetitive words or replaced them with synonyms?
- Are you sure you haven’t misspelled similarly spelled or often confused words, such as it’s/its or there/their/they’re?
Punctuation
- Have you made all the commas, periods and semicolons in the right places?
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