Services

Types of Editing

Standard Edit

A standard edit consists of correcting grammar, spelling and punctuation as well as checking for consistency of terminology. I have sufficient expertise to edit documents to this level in most areas of biological or medical research.

Substantive Edit

Substantive editing includes standard editing as well as editing or rewriting for document flow and clarity. I feel comfortable performing substantive edits only on topics with which I am very familiar. This includes cellular and molecular neuroscience and neuroimmunology.

Comprehensive Edit

A comprehensive edit is a substantive edit with unlimited free revisions. This services is suitable for journal articles and includes editing of cover letters and responses to reviewers' comments.

Process and timing

To get started with a job, I first create a quote for the work based on a sample of the writing. Once we've agreed on a price and timing, I prepare a contract which we both sign before I start work. The document(s) are then typically submitted to me by email (Google Drive is an alternative for large files). I prefer to also receive associated figures as this often helps me understand the results so that I can make accurate changes to the text.

An initial edit of a typical research article usually takes about 1-2 days for a standard edit or 3-5 days for a substantive edit. I require about a week for a first substantive edit of a grant proposal. The initial edit phase is usually followed by a bit of back and forth, especially if I have made suggestions requiring author input or if the grant has been changed after a review process.

Editing Format

When documents are submitted in Microsoft Word format, I return a version with the changes displayed using the "Track Changes" feature of Microsoft Word. I also leave comments with explanations and suggestions for the author using this mechanism.

I also accept documents in rich-text format and in LaTeX format. In this case, only the final corrected version of the document will be returned to the client.