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Editing

Sep 03

What to do if the journal editor recommends English language editing services

By Academic papers, Editing, Short and sweet

It’s not uncommon for authors to receive a note from the editor of a peer-reviewed journal that says,

  • “the authors are advised to get professional English language editing services”,
  • “have the manuscript checked by someone with full professional proficiency in English”,
    “the authors need a native English-speaking co-author to thoroughly revise the grammar of this manuscript” (as Adriana Romero-Olivares received), or
  • “seek help from a native English speaker to correct the grammar of the manuscript” (if you’re a journal editor, please read this brilliant article by Small Pond Science).

Read More

Jun 18

Things I’ve learned from eight years of freelance editing

By Blog, Editing, Freelancing, Lessons learned

Cake made of books to represent 8 years of freelance editingThis month I’m celebrating eight years in the business of English editing. I’ve spent more time working as a nonfiction editor and proofreader than as a geologist, the profession for which I trained till PhD level. It’s about time that I looked back at my freelance editing career to see what big lessons I’ve learned along the way.

Most people are trustworthy

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Apr 23

Writing geoscience papers: A list of useful resources

By Academic papers, Editing, Writing

Open book with globe behind to represent writing geoscience papers resources“About 10 percent enjoy writing; the other 90 percent consider it a necessary chore”, says David R. Lindsay in Scientific Writing = Thinking in Words.

Writing geoscience papers becomes less of a chore if you have access to all the resources you need. Having to pause in the middle of a sentence to look up whether a term is hyphenated or check the capitalization of a geological unit can slow you down. And being unsure about what to include in an illustration can set you back days or weeks.

To help you speed up the process of writing and editing geology manuscripts, in this article I will discuss several resources for earth scientists and editors. Read More

Mar 15

Why give detailed instructions to your freelance language editor

By Editing, Freelance, Short and sweet

Not even the best freelance language editors can read their clients’ minds. Sure, experienced language editors can make an educated guess, but they can’t be sure what you want unless you tell them.

In this short post I will list the three main things to tell your freelance editor, especially if you’ve never worked with them before, to increase your likelihood of being happy with their service. Read More

Feb 07

What is structural editing in nonfiction?

By Definitions, Editing, Short and sweet

Structural editing of a nonfiction document is a level of editing that deals with the structure of the manuscript. This level of editing is also called substantive editing.

Some editors and authors consider substantive editing as belonging to developmental editing. Others use the terms substantive editing and developmental editing interchangeably.

Both levels of editing are concerned with the big picture of the manuscript rather than its grammar and spelling. But developmental editing can happen early during the writing process—even when you have only an outline—as well as in later stages. Its goal is to set the direction for the manuscript. In contrast, structural editing requires that you have a complete draft. Read More

Jan 15

What is developmental editing in nonfiction?

By Definitions, Editing, Short and sweet

If you are writing or planning to write a nonfiction book, chapter, or article, you may have heard that developmental editing is crucial for a writing project. But what is developmental editing in nonfiction? And should you work with a freelance editor on your manuscript?

In this short post I aim to answer these two questions so you know what to expect from developmental editing in nonfiction. Read More

Aug 22

How much does English language editing cost?

By Academic papers, Editing, Short and sweet

If you’ve never had an academic manuscript edited by a professional, chances are you know little about editing rates. So, how much does English language editing cost?

English language editing rates for academic manuscripts

Academic editing rates vary a lot from one service provider to the next. Here’s what some of them charge for editing 9000 words as of March 2024 (I used Xe.com for currency conversion where needed): Read More

Aug 12

In short, what is editing?

By Definitions, Editing, Short and sweet

The question “What is editing?” doesn’t have only one answer. But many professional editors will define editing like this:

Editing is the process of reviewing a written text to correct and improve it so that it meets the needs of both the person who commissioned the work and the reader.

Editing comes after writing and before proofreading. Ideally, both come before publishing. Read More

Jul 30

What freelance editors can learn from project managers

By Editing, Freelance, Project management

Style book on a table to suggest project management for freelance editors

If you’re a freelance editor, you’ve likely chosen this career because you love the written word and the chance to learn from every new editing project. But how do you manage your editing projects? Do you underestimate costs, overestimate requirements, and go above and beyond to make your clients happy?

To keep your editing business thriving, take a cue from project managers. Here are seven project-management-related concepts you should know more about if you want to manage your editing projects better.

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Jun 05

What is language editing?

By Definitions, Editing, Short and sweet

If you’ve seen freelance editors advertise services such as language editing, manuscript editing, copyediting, developmental editing, and so on, you might have wondered what these terms mean. They all fall under the umbrella of English editing. I’ve explained many of them in the article What’s the difference between editing and proofreading?

In this short post I’m going to answer the question, What is language editing? Read More

May 27

13 Signs you’re wasting the reader’s time and how a freelance editor can help

By Editing, Tips, Writing

Hourglass to mean wasting the reader's time according to a freelance editorResearch proposals, business reports, articles, scholarly books—no matter what type of nonfiction document you write, you must respect the reader’s time. To do so, use the most effective way to communicate information by aiming for correctness, clarity, and concision.

When you edit your draft, examine your writing and see if you can spot any of the following signs you’re wasting the reader’s time. If you don’t know how to fix them or don’t have the time to do it, ask the help of a freelance editor.

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Mar 05

Should I edit my own research paper?

By Academic papers, Editing, Short and sweet

Yes, you should edit your own paper for grammar, spelling, logic, clarity, and style.

Why edit your own research paper

As the author of your research paper, you know better than anyone else what message you want to convey. So, it’s a good idea to be your paper’s first editor—but only if you know how to edit a research paper. (If you don’t, ask an experienced editor for tips, read academic writing books, and seek editing resources online.) Read More

Jan 21

What I tell people who hire a freelance editor half-heartedly

By Editing, Freelance, Writing

Blue pencil to mean hire a freelance editor

People hire a freelance editor for various reasons. Here are just some of them:

  • “I want to hire a freelance editor to make sure my research paper has the highest chances of being accepted by a top journal.”
  • “Our paper was rejected, and we need to have it professionally edited before we can resubmit.”
  • “This is a patchwork report, so it needs a coherent voice and style.”
  • “My English is a bit rusty and I know I make mistakes, so I must hire a freelance editor.”
  • “The copy needs to be flawless, but I don’t have time to edit it myself.”
  • “Some reviewers said my [self-published] book needs language editing.”

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Nov 03

Should you use trademark symbols in scientific writing?

By Academic papers, Editing, Writing

Trademark symbols in academic writing with sticky note saying yes or no

When writing a research paper, you may need to mention a brand or a proprietary building material, machine, medicine, or any other commercial product. Should you use trademark symbols in scientific writing every time you mention the name of a trademark?

In product documentation, trademarks usually appear together with the ® or ™ symbol. But this doesn’t mean you have to use either of these symbols every time you write the name of a trademark. In fact, there’s no legal requirement to use trademark symbols in academic writing.

So, if you’re wondering if you should use trademark symbols in the research methodology, abstract, or introduction of your paper, the short answer is no. The following is a more detailed explanation of the use of trademark symbols in scholarly publications. Read More

Sep 01

What’s the difference between editing and proofreading?

By Definitions, Editing, Proofreading

2 pairs of glasses to show the difference between editing and proofreading

What’s the difference between editing and proofreading? Ask a few freelance editors and proofreaders to answer this question and they’ll likely give you different definitions of editing and proofreading. That’s because there’s no global standard that regulates and defines editing and proofreading services.

In this article I’ll use various reliable sources (including reference books and professional organizations) to answer the question, What’s the difference between editing and proofreading? In addition, I’ll clarify what editors and proofreaders do and don’t do so you have a better idea of what freelancer you may need to hire for your writing project. Read More

Jul 16

Tips from an editor on managing content writing projects

By Editing, Project management, Writing

Quill pen to represent managing content writing projects

If you’re interested in creating digital marketing content, an online training course, or any other type of written materials for your business, you’ll need to develop content. To keep costs relatively low, you may prefer to hire freelance editors and writers rather than work with a marketing agency.

But managing content writing projects can be a herculean task. You need to define your project’s goals, budget, and schedule. You need to put together a team of freelance writers and editors. You need to train your team and define ground rules. You also need to create an editorial style guide. Finally, you need to take care of all the logistical details—from the cloud platform to use to NDAs.

Here are some things you should know before getting started with your content writing project to increase its likelihood of success. Read More

Apr 27

How to minimize the cost of editing

By Editing, Freelance, Tips

Editing cost as euro currency symbol with hand saw cutting a piece of it

Freelance English editors charge different rates depending on many things, including their location, experience, and specialty. However, professional editing services do not come cheap. The recommended hourly rates for editing nonfiction documents are between $40 and $70 according to the Editorial Freelancers Association and at least £31 according to the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading. 

If you have a nonfiction book manuscript, technical course materials, or a few hefty business reports, hiring an experienced editor may end up costing you as much as a nice overseas vacation.

Whether your budget for editing is tight or limitless, keeping the cost of editing low means you’ll have more money for marketing your publication or for other writing projects. Here are four things you can do to minimize the cost of editing regardless of which freelance editor you hire. Read More

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