How I Work

Microsoft Word

I usually work in Microsoft Word with Track Changes and comments. Academics, students, businesses and self-publishing authors usually favour this method because it allows you to produce a corrected document onclick. If you haven’t used the track changes tool before, you can find instructions on the resources page. It is very easy to use.

PDF

I can annotate PDFs using the built in editing tools or traditional markup symbols (British Standards Institute proof-correction symbols).

Hard Copy

I can markup hard copy with the British Standards Institute proof-correction symbols if your publisher requires it.

What You Will Get

I will email you two documents:

a clean, fully proofread /copy-edited document
a copy with tracked changes and comments allowing you to see what corrections and suggestions I have made. You can choose whether to accept or reject each suggestion and deal with any queries I have raised (alternatively, you can just choose ‘accept all changes’!). Please see the resources page for instructions if you have not done this before.

Turnaround

Turnaround depends on the size of document and my current schedule. I will always return work by the agreed completion date. I can usually return work within three working days for short pieces. Please contact me and I will do my best to accommodate your requirements.

Revisions

I will do revisions (within reason) free of charge but not for new or additional material which will usually be charged at the agreed rate for the original work unless it differs substantially in nature, in which case I will give you a quote.

Accuracy

The publishing industry recognises that it is impossible for a single pass of a manuscript to catch 100% of errors. This is why a number of professionals are employed to work on the manuscript before it is finally published. These include substantive editors, copy-editors, layout designers and a final pass from a proofreader before publication. The Society for Editors and Proofreaders guidance says that a copy-editor will usually identify about 80% of errors and a proofreader about 90% of those remaining. In other words, approximately 98% of errors are expected to be caught as an acceptable industry standard. More than this is not considered cost effective. I aim for 100% but, with the best will in the World, I cannot realistically guarantee it. Please see My Guarantees for what I can guarantee you.

Billing

I ask for payment in advance for small pieces and will invoice you before I start work once the brief has been agreed. Longer pieces can be invoiced in instalments by arrangement.

Payment

I accept payment by direct bank transfer or Paypal.

Confidentiality and Security

I will never share your information, and your documents will never be stored without your permission. To ensure the confidentiality and security of my service, this website uses SSL industry standard encryption technology for transferring and encrypting data.

Copyright

All content delivered to me by a Client for the proofreading/editing project is owned by the Client.

Following payment of my invoice, any content created by me as part of the proofreading/editing process will become the copyright of the Client unless otherwise agreed.