I provide professional proofreading and editing services for all types of English language documents. My experience ranges from children’s books to non-fiction book prefaces and academic journal submissions. I most commonly use track changes in MS Word for markup. However, I can also proofread or edit your material in PDF form (using Adobe Acrobat) or on hard copy, and I can markup using BSI symbols or make corrections using a red pen and highlighter if you prefer. Whatever your needs, I can customise a plan to best suit you.
Proofreading, copy-editing or editing?
Many people ask for proofreading when they actually need copy-editing or editing, and there is often confusion about the three terms. When preparing a document for publication, it will usually go through some form of all three stages: editing, copy-editing and then proofreading. For small documents, many native English speakers with writing experience will bring the document up to copy-editing or even proofreading stage themselves.
Editing needs vary with the type of document but the end result is always to bring about effective communication of the information to the intended audience. This may include substantial rewriting and/or reformatting to improve clarity and readability, removing ambiguities and repetition, identifying missing information, changing the style of the document to better suit the intended audience, and making suggestions such as the addition of examples or diagrams or the removal of confusing terminology to bring about more powerful delivery of the information and ideas. Invariably, it involves working closely with the author or authors, and decisions about language style, headings and fonts are often made at this stage. Editing becomes particularly important when the material has to fit comfortably with previously published work, when a number of contributors are involved (because of style changes, repetition of material or conflicting ideas) or when a number of documents from different sources are being brought together into one cohesive form.
Copy-editing is the stage which gets the document ready to be submitted or published and involves thoroughly checking and correcting a document for construction, flow and style, audience suitability, vocabulary, consistency and meaning as well as correcting grammar, punctuation and spelling. For academic writing it will often include reference checking. Editing and copy-editing do overlap to some degree and may be completed at the same time, although for substantial documents undergoing a lot of editorial changes it is usually prudent to also do a final copy-edit. In general, all documents require copy-editing at some point before proofreading, and this is particularly so for material written by non-native speakers of English. As well as correcting grammar, punctuation and construction mistakes, careful copy-editing by a native English speaker ensures the meaning is both unambiguous and as the author intended, and the style is suitable for the intended audience. After a document is copy-edited and the corrections are implemented, the document is then considered to be laid out in its final form.
The proofreading phase is then the final pass to correct any last mistakes still lurking or inadvertently introduced during layout or copy-editing. For written material being published online there may be no need for an additional proofreading phase as the copy-edited material is published directly without a type-setting phase. For academic writing to be published in journals, proofreading may be done by the journal before the author is sent a final proof.
What do I offer?
Depending on your needs, I offer proofreading, copy-editing or a full editing service. If your needs are unclear I will proofread or edit a sample of your material during the quotation stage so there is no confusion, and you will clearly know what you will be getting. I may ask to Skype with you, particularly on larger editing jobs, so that I can better determine the style required and discuss any concerns. Note that because I live in Singapore, clients located in Europe and Australasia are best to submit material in PDF or Word format via email or a link. For clients in SE Asia a paper copy can be couriered relatively easily if preferred. Payment can be made by bank transfer into my Singapore-based account and I can quote and accept payment in most major currencies. Please note that I cannot accept work from clients based in Singapore.
-Heather