The following descriptions of proofreading and copyediting can help you figure out what approach you want me to take with your manuscript so I can work efficiently and help you get the most bang for your buck. To view my rates and get a cost estimate for your project, click here.
Proofreading consists primarily of finding and correcting things that are definite errors: misspelled words, missing punctuation marks, incorrect capitalization, and so on. Of course, very few rules are hard and fast, so even in basic proofreading I may need to check with you to find out your preference on a spelling, punctuation, or capitalization issue.
Copyediting includes proofreading, but also consists of correcting or asking you to correct the following: weak grammatical structures, inconsistencies in style, misnamed or misplaced images, incorrect or incomplete references, awkwardly spaced or aligned text, and anything else that might weaken your manuscript or confuse readers.
My default approach is to copyedit, so please specify if you want me to proofread only. I will perform a sample edit of your manuscript and let you see what I’ve done before continuing with the rest of the project. The sample edit gives you an opportunity to tell me if I’m being too detailed or not detailed enough. It also allows me to give you a more accurate estimate of how long it should take for me to edit the entire manuscript, which will help determine the price.
A note about style guides: I am proficient in APA, Chicago, and MLA styles. If your manuscript must follow a different guide, such as Turabian, CSE, or AP, I am happy to borrow or purchase the resources I’ll need to edit according to that style.
I can edit a hard copy of your manuscript using a pen or an electronic copy using the Track Changes feature in Microsoft Word. Just let me know what works best for you. Click here for samples of my editing on electronic copy.