Editing and Proofreading
Give your work a professional touch with affordable, high-quality proofreading and editing.
Hire a freelance educational editor or proofreader
When it comes to adding a finishing touch to your projects, an editor or proofreader can help spot errors in grammar, phrasing and punctuation before it goes to print.
When hiring an editor, the first thing you’ll need to know is how much you want them to change your document. This can vary from spotting typos and punctuation errors (proofreading) to developmental editing (helping with structure and formatting).
Pricing is based on the level of attention to detail you need x the number of words you need reviewed.
Do I need proofreading or editing?
The choice of proofreading vs editing depends on where you're up to in the writing process
Researching and Ideas
Getting all your ideas together and planning your writing
Writing your first draft
Once you’ve gathered your ideas it’s time to start writing!
Editing
Once you have the basic structure organised – it’s time to do a structural edit. This is the time to reorder paragraphs, add more details, switch things around and make sure the structure flows.
Editing may be repeated in stages, starting with the most drastic edits and then refining until it’s flowing perfectly.
Proofreading
Once your writing is ready to publish – it should be proofread to make sure there are no spelling or grammar mistakes. A proofreader will also look for terminology, inconsistencies or missing information.
Publishing
Once you’ve polished your writing, it’s ready to be shared with the world. Preparation for publishing will include designing the way it will look when it’s published, including the layout, fonts, styles and images.
Pricing your editing and proofreading project
The following is a guide so you have an idea of what to expect in a quote. Before quoting, we’ll usually have a look at the text to give an accurate idea of the costs.
What is considered in a quote?
– The depth of attention required
– The number of words
Urgent jobs will incur a 25% rush rate for less than 48 hours turnaround.
In fairness to you as a customer, we quote project rates, rather than by word count. This allows us to build in time for consultations and providing feedback, and avoids any nasty bill surprises at the end.
As a guide, we suggest you budget around:
- $100 per 1000 words for editing
- $100 per 3000 words for proofreading
and add in a 10% contingency to your budget in case the scope of the project changes (we’ll let you know well in advance if this is looking likely).
Editing is more time consuming than proofreading, which is reflected in the pricing.
How do I know if I need a proofreader or editor?
Usually, the editing is done first, and proofreading is the final polish before publication. If you’ve reviewed your writing yourself and you’re happy with the flow, content and structure, then you may just need proofing.
Before quoting, we’ll have a look at each piece (or a sample) and let you know our thoughts on what would work best too.
What are the different types of editing?
Structural editing – improving the layout and flow of the work by reviewing the content, language, style, and presentation.
Copyediting – reviewing the accuracy, clarity and consistency of the writing. These are minor changes to the writing only.
Proofreading – checking the writing before publication.
(Credit: Institute of Professional Editors)
Success tips for working with an editor
Communication
The more information you can provide about what you need, the purpose of the text, what your expectations are – before we get started, will help avoid any issues later.
Ask all the questions
There’s no such thing as a silly question – use your time to ask all the things and learn as much you can about the process as we work. We love to share our knowledge and help you become better writers along the way.
Trust the process
It can be hard to let go of your carefully curated words – but we’re on your side. We both have the same goal of shaping your work to be the best it can be. Feedback on your work is designed to help you become a stronger writer.
The editor other copywriters trust
Working with Tanya is an absolute pleasure. She has a quick turnaround and is always generous with her guidance.
I’d recommend her to anyone needing a professional to write their course materials.
Tanya does an exceptional job of taking complex topics and making them not only easy to understand but enjoyable to read.