Proofreading (light editing): $2.50 per page
This level of edit is best performed on a finished document ready
for submission. I will check the following points and correct any
errors:
- typos
- spelling
- punctuation
- capitalization
- hyphens
- dashes
- abbreviations
- indents
- number style
- italics
- spacing
- page numbers
- citations
- running heads and footers
- cross-references to pages, charts, tables, maps, etc.
- style and documentation format
I will not change wording except to correct simple errors of grammar.
Copy editing (medium editing): add .50 cents per page
This level of edit includes all the above plus attention to usage
and grammar. Below is a sampling of the types of errors I will look for
and correct:
- word choice (e.g., affect/effect, ambiguous/ambivalent, convince/persuade, imply/infer, lie/lay, permeate/pervade)
- subject/verb disagreement
- pronoun/antecedent disagreement
- dangling participles and misplaced modifiers
- split infinitives
- misused adjectives and adverbs
- improper prepositions
- faulty tense and mood
- lack of parallel construction
- mixed grammar
- sentence fragments
- confusion of restrictive and non-restrictive clauses
- obvious errors of fact
At this level of edit I will not take matters of style, organization, argument, or evidence into consideration.
Substantive editing (heavy editing): add .50 cents per page
In addition to the above considerations, I will improve style by
working to achieve a consistent tone, as well as a clarity and flow of
language. To this end I will:
- smooth out awkward language
- eliminate ambiguity, wordiness, redundancies, jargon, slang, and bias
- change passive to active voice where appropriate
- clarify indefinite pronouns
- rework run-on sentences and noun strings
- point out vague or confusing language
- indicate where paraphrase is preferable to quotation
- rework paragraph structure and transitions
This level of edit includes some attention to organization but not to arguments or evidence.
Structural editing (manuscript evaluation and critique): add .50 cents per page
At this level of edit I analyze the document as a whole, looking for
strengths and weaknesses in organization, argument, and evidence. I
makes considerations on whether:
- the document is clearly organized
- you have an effective introduction
- you have a strong conclusion
- you have a compelling hypothesis or theme
- you have clearly stated your hypothesis or theme
- your arguments support your hypothesis
- your evidence supports your arguments
- you have sufficient evidence
- your arguments or sequence of ideas flow logically and are easy to follow
- your assumptions are valid
- logic, facts, and details are consistent
- paragraphs are well structured and developed
- you have a good balance of primary and secondary sources
- your introduction, conclusion, arguments, and evidence are all clearly related.
I will also query possible errors or omissions. At this level I am
not editing for such matters as grammar, spelling, punctuation, style,
or usage, which require a separate edit if you choose; this is best
done after the structural editing. Also, I will perform this type of
editing only for documents in the humanities, arts, and social
sciences, not being expert in other fields at this time.
Style editing: add .50 cents per page
I will conform a document to a particular style (APA, MLA,
Chicago/Turabian, AP, or other journal or publisher style) or to
university and department guidelines for theses and dissertations. This
includes but is not limited to the following considerations:
- margins
- typeface and font
- spacing
- indents
- capitalization
- abbreviations
- italics
- serial commas
- number style
- heading formats
- tables
- captions
- pagination
- proper sequencing of manuscript pages
- documentation format
These different levels of editing necessarily shade into one
another, and it’s not always easy to decide where one ends and another
begins. For this reason your document may receive a bit more editing
than you arranged for, but never less, and at no extra charge.
(347) 855-2050
453 USS Florida Court #2
Staten Island, New York 10305
cmwheeler@cmwpro.com