Copy-Editing & Proofreading

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A copy-edit and / or a proofread is the perfect option if you’ve already had your manuscript assessed and have a typeset final draft. It puts the final polish on your words so they really shine, and will ensure your reader has the smoothest possible reading experience.

I offer these as separate services, or as a two-in-one complete service, depending on what you feel your project needs.

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Copy-editing

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If you’ve finished your draft and are feeling happy with the content and structure, but less confident about your spelling and / or grammar, then you may want to consider a copy edit.
Copyediting focuses not only on correcting spelling and punctuation, grammar and syntax, but also looks at overall clarity.​​

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I'll carefully read and review your manuscript, and using Tracked Changes, make any necessary corrections to language as well as suggesting any changes to the text which would improve coherence and readability.
I'll also be looking out for any inconsistencies; flow or story issues, as well as pointing out weaker areas of writing, and fact-checking where necessary. This may involve some basic rewriting, or highlighting parts of text that a writer may need to look over again.

 

What do you get?

 

• A version of your manuscript with Tracked Changes that's been checked for errors in punctuation, spelling, and grammar in order to improve the text’s overall quality.

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Fees: from £30 per hour​​​

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Proofreading

Proofreading is completed after the copyedit, and is the vital final stage before publication. It's an opportunity to correct any last-minute errors missed by a copyeditor, or introduced during the design phase. The word proofreading comes from the corrections which are carried out on what traditional publishers call the ‘proof’ copy – the typeset text that's almost ready to go to print.

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Like a copy-editor, a proofreader takes into account spelling, punctuation and grammar, but they'll also look to correct errors in visual as well as textual elements, striving for consistency in areas such as formatting, capitalisation, italicisation, and hyphenation.

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I'll carefully read and review your manuscript, and using Tracked Changes, correct basic errors in spelling, punctuation and grammar, and also identify formatting errors, like paragraphs with too much spacing or bad line breaks. I'll focus on such areas as tense, layout, titles, indents, indexes, page numbering, font and typeface, and any remaining typos, and check permission on any copyrighted material.

 

What do you get?

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• A final version of your manuscript with Tracked Changes that's been checked for errors in punctuation, spelling, and grammar, as well correcting any issues with formatting, italicisation, hyphenation, capitalisation etc.

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Who is it for?

 

• independent authors looking to self-publish their work, to make sure their ebook or print copy is as error-free and professional as possible

• writers who want to get their manuscript in the best possible shape before submitting to literary agents, or for writers submitting a short section of writing to a competition or prize

• writers who feel less confident with their written English

 

Note: I always recommend a manuscript assessment or developmental edit before booking in for a copy-edit or proofread. You're much more likely to benefit from a copy-edit once you've thoroughly edited your work. Even the most talented and well-known writers have to redraft their manuscripts several times before they submit to a publisher.

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Fees: from £30 per hour

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