A good copyedit can be the difference between publication and rejection, and a cum laude and a summa cum laude. It also prevents a manuscript from being returned with the instruction to have it professionally copyedited, with the inevitable delays.

I seek to get manuscripts as close to publication-ready as possible. I take responsibility for a text as if I were the co-author. My methodology can be described as compacting without over-compacting.

My editing work is an integrated, transformative blend of line editing, copyediting and proofreading, mostly in Word (in Track changes), usually with tables and figures in PowerPoint and/or Excel.

One reason for differentiating for instance between line editing, copyediting and proofreading is to emphasise that work always benefits from more than one set of eyes. In traditional publishing, at least three people go through a manuscript in great detail; still, they seldom catch everything.

This document enables you to swiftly evaluate my work. Along with a cost estimate, it allows you to de-risk your choice of copyeditor and the editing process. Exciting, isn’t it?!

Client confidentiality is assured. I do the work; no other editor sees it or has access to it.

I’m sometimes asked to cap my time; for instance, I may provide a cost estimate for 9 to 11 hours; if a client then requests that I cap it at 9 hours, I will agree to this.

I ask that authors pay attention to the target publication’s style guide, formatting and in-text referencing. I don’t edit references sections, although I tend to spend a few minutes pointing out the kinds of errors and inconsistencies I may find there.

I have much respect for clients who are not first-language English speakers yet write it courageously. I never scold clients about incorrect language use – this is non-professional behaviour that no author should tolerate.

I always ask a client whether the language requirement is UK or U.S. English as well as what the maximum word count for the abstract is.

I recommend that you plan, so as to allow me sufficient time to do the work.

My rate is 34 euro per hour. When I invoice, I generate a unique payment reference.

The sooner you contact me, the sooner I can assist you. Feel free to ask for a cost estimate.