If you aren’t sure, I recommend reading about the different types of editing available to see which form of assistance would be most helpful at your current stage of writing. I can also assess your manuscript to suggest which level of editing it would benefit from. 

Texts can benefit from several key types of editing. They generally occur in the following order, going from the macro to the micro level.

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• Developmental editing is big-picture editing of fiction that focuses on plot structure, pacing, characterization, theme, and narrative coherence. It helps the writer to refine the ideas and organization of a story before line or copy editing. (I do not currently offer this service.)

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• Substantive editing focuses on improving the clarity, coherence, and structure of scholarly and technical writing. It ensures that arguments are logical and well-organized, evidence is effectively presented, and the manuscript follows academic or industry conventions. 

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• Line editing focuses on how text flows at the sentence and paragraph level. It improves tone, style and rhythm by refining word choice, syntax and transitions, with the aim of making prose engaging and emotionally effective. It is often combined with copy-editing.

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• Copy-editing focuses on making the text technically correct and consistent. It checks grammar, spelling, punctuation, capitalization, tone, level and adherence to style guides. It also looks for consistency in details and formatting. It is often combined with line editing.

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• Proofreading is the final stage of editing, focused on catching typos, spelling and  punctuation errors, formatting inconsistencies, and layout issues that have slipped through the net. Its ensures the text is clean, accurate, and professionally presented for publication.

After you contact me, we will confirm via email that your work and schedule are an appropriate fit and discuss the price and delivery date. For longer works (10,000+ words), I will provide a sample edit of 500 words to help you decide. 

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Before I begin editing, we will agree on any relevant details of the work: word limits, applicable style guides, UK or US English, etc. 

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After the edited work has been returned to you, you can review it and request further discussion or clarification. Finally, I will invoice you.

This depends on my schedule and yours! I can usually return articles and shorter works (<10,000 words) to you in 1 to 3 weeks. I can provide a clear idea if you contact me with the details of your work. In each case, we will agree to a deadline before proceeding.

I primarily work in Microsoft Office and Google Docs, but you can send me your work in any format and program that allows for tracked edits and comments.

I accept payment via bank transfers and PayPal. (For independent clients not with a university or other institution, a 25% deposit will be payable before I commence work.) I will send you an invoice with payment details upon completion.

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For extra protection, I can offer a Direct Contract through the freelancer platform Upwork, but this incurs an extra 5% fee.

The rates listed on this site serve as a guideline, but I am flexible with pricing depending on your situation and the type of work. 

Given my specialism in working with writers who have English as a second language, I offer a discounted rate for students based in the Global South. Contact me for details.  

I do not use AI in editing. Effective editing requires a human eye with a full understanding of tone, context, style and nuance that is not replicable by AI. 

I do not edit AI-generated writing. However, I understand that there are many AI-powered assistive tools that writers may draw on during the writing process. 

I have experience editing both. My native English is the British variety, but I am well-acquainted with American English. 

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My primary reference for US English (unless otherwise specified by the client) is the Chicago Manual of Style. 

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My primary reference for UK English is the New Oxford Style Manual.