Home »
Proofreading & editing
We can undertake to edit or proofread at any level from checking for basic errors of grammar and spelling to working with an exacting house style or rewriting text by non-native English speakers. We offer three grades of service: Light, Normal & Heavy.
Light Edit
For new editions of previously published material or where minimal intervention is requested, we would undertake to:
- correct faulty spelling, grammar and punctuation
- ensure consistency of style in spelling, punctuation, hyphenation, capitalisation and use of articles in headings and consistency of presentation
- anglicise American spelling (if requested)
- correct errors in cross-references to sections, figures, tables, pages, etc.
- check numbering of figures and tables
- check numbering of references and footnotes
- query out-of-date statements
- check table of contents for completeness and agreement with text headings
- scan indexes, glossaries and lists for inconsistencies and errors
Normal Edit
Where material needs to be prepared for publication but does not need extensive rewriting, we would undertake – in addition to the services listed under Light edit – to:
- ensure consistency in use of numerals, units, abbreviations, lists, italic/bold face
- edit to conform with client's house style (if applicable)
- convert units as necessary
- improve choice of words/phrases and linking passages, where appropriate, to ensure overall clarity, readability, fluency and consistency
- ensure that artwork, captions, labels, headings and text agree in matters of spelling and content and are consistent in presentation
- ensure that the text does not contradict data in tables and graphs
- query tabular matter that merely duplicates data plotted in graphs
- query inconsistent or incomplete references, footnotes and bibliography
- check the heading hierarchy/structure and ensure consistency of style and presentation
- check accuracy of arithmetic/conversions
- query libellous statements
- check accuracy of dates, proper names, place names and titles as far as they can reasonably be checked in standard reference books
- check that appendices, glossaries, indexes and other endmatter are complete and consistent in style and content with the rest of the material
Heavy Edit
Where material needs extensive rewriting, we would undertake – in addition to the services listed under Light edit and Normal edit – to:
- rewrite to eliminate verbosity, clumsiness or vagueness of expression and clarify ambiguous or confusing statements
- rewrite to eliminate non-sequiturs, redundancies, repetitious passages and unnecessary use of jargon
- suggest areas where deletions, expansions, re-ordering of passages or other amendments would improve the coherence, logic and structural organisation of the text
- supply (where possible) missing information in bibliographical references
- edit the texts of non-native English writers to conform to an acceptable standard of English (such editing is generally classed as 'heavy' unless the author has an excellent command of English)
