Different editing services
It can be confusing deciding which of my editing services you need. I’ve tried to provide simple definitions below to help you. If you need more detail once you’ve read this page, just take a look at the Proofreading and Copy-editing and Proof-editing pages or email me, attaching your text or a sample.
Copy-editing
I will suggest changes to make the text read more fluently and clearly. I’ll highlight ambiguities and monotonous repetition and suggest solutions. If you haven’t decided on a consistent style, I can make suggestions. So I will be considering things like hyphenation, use of italic and bold, capitalisation and when quotation marks are to be used, and so on. I can check that this style is consistently used. There is an overlap between copy-editing and proofreading: I’ll check spelling, grammar, syntax and punctuation too.
Proofreading
This is the final check done on a text. It includes checking spelling, grammar, syntax and punctuation. It also includes making sure that the style used is consistent, e.g. hyphenation, use of italic, and so on.
Proof-editing
This is a combination of proofreading and copy-editing and is done in one pass.
Many people ask me for a quote for proofreading but when I take a look at their text it’s clear to me that they need copy-editing and proofreading. As just described, this can be done in one pass and can be described as proof-editing. This isn’t a problem, so if you’re still not sure what work needs to be done and would like some advice, just get in touch via my Contact page or by emailing me at [email protected]
You can also browse my CIEP directory entry for a summary of what I offer, some testimonials and some details of my portfolio: https://www.ciep.uk/directory/beverley-bev-sykes-academic-copy-editor-and-proofreader/