Services List
For most jobs, I charge a flat rate per page or word. See Payment Information for more details on how that works and payment methods.
Copy Editing
- Standard rate: $4/page or $0.02/word ($20 minimum)
- Rush: $8/page or $0.04/word for 24-hour turnaround
I read through the text, correct basic mechanics like spelling, grammar, punctuation, and syntax, and query other issues for your attention, as well as creating style sheets if needed to ensure consistency. I follow the Chicago Manual of Style by default, but I can work with other house styles as needed.
For academic writing, this level of editing also includes checking citation style and format as described below under Academic Formatting.
I typically use the Track Changes feature in Microsoft Word to mark my edits, so please email documents for copy editing in Word format (.doc or .docx) if possible. Suggesting mode in Google Docs is another option if you don’t have access to Word. I also have some experience with LaTeX and Overleaf, and I can work with other file types such as PowerPoint presentations and PDFs, but marking or finalizing changes may be more difficult in these cases. Finally, I can mark up paper manuscripts if necessary.
ACademic Formatting
- Standard rate: $2/page ($20 minimum)
- Rush: $4/page for 24-hour turnaround
Note: This rate does not include any copy editing of the text.
I can format your dissertation, thesis, or article in Word according to the guidelines of your university or a particular journal, including citations/references, footnotes or endnotes, headings, page numbering, margins, table of contents, and tables/figures.
APA 7 and Chicago/Turabian are the citation styles I work with most often. I can fill in missing information for references, such as authors, dates, DOIs, etc., if it’s easily accessible online.
Substantive Editing
- Standard rate: $6.50/page or $0.03/word ($30 minimum)
- Rush: $13/page or $0.06/word for 24-hour turnaround
Substantive or content editing is close to rewriting. I work to improve the general clarity and flow of the text by eliminating wordiness, redundancy, and inappropriate word choices, smoothing transitions, rephrasing awkward passages, and reconstructing and moving sentences and paragraphs. The result is a shorter, more fluid, and more concise text.
Proofreading
- Standard and rush rates: Contact me for a quote ($20 minimum)
For PDF proofs of publications/materials that have already been copy edited, I can check the proofs against the style sheet and the original text if needed, and mark corrections and queries with the Acrobat commenting tools.
“Proofreading” here refers to checking pages after typesetting/layout to catch typos, formatting problems, and any minor things the copy editor may have missed. If you have text that needs an initial pass for grammar and style corrections, see Copy Editing.
PAYMENT INFORMATION
RATES
For most jobs, I charge a flat rate per page or word, as listed above. If your text is in standard manuscript format (8.5″ x 11″, double-spaced, 12 point Times New Roman), I calculate using the page count in Word; otherwise, I use the word count. If the total comes to less than the minimum listed, I charge the minimum.
Billing
For short projects, I bill when the job is completed. For long projects (100+ pages), I may require 50% up front and 50% on completion. Depending on the circumstances, other installment plans may be possible. Payments are due within 30 days of billing.
Monthly Accounts
If you or your organization will need my services on a continuing basis, I can send an invoice for your total page or word count each month. This simplifies payment and lets you avoid minimum charges for individual documents.
Accepted Forms of Payment
All charges are in US dollars. Once I’ve billed you, you can mail a check or pay online with credit card, PayPal, Venmo, or Zelle.