Document Proofreading & Editing

Since my passion for pattern editing stemmed from my need to point out errors in written documents, it only seemed natural to also offer my proofreading and light editing services for other written documents (such as papers, reports, books, etc.). Similar to editing patterns, I will look over your document, give you a time and price estimate, and afterwards I will send you a marked-up copy of your document, so that you can decide which changes you want to integrate into your document.

So what is covered in proofreading? It used to include things such as dotting i’s and crossing t’s, but since nearly all documents are in electronic form these days, that’s fallen to the wayside. Instead, here’s a list of the more common items checked during proofreading:

  • spelling
  • capitalization
  • punctuation
  • use of single and double quotes, apostrophes, hyphens, dashes, and parentheses
  • spacing between words, between paragraphs, and between written areas and tables, graphs, charts, and images
  • citation of sources
  • captioning of tables, graphs, charts, and images
  • ensuring written areas agree with data offered in tables, graphs, charts, and images
  • consistency of font, including size (no flip-flopping between 10pt Ariel and 12pt Tahoma)
  • use of italics, bold, and/or underlining
  • use of numbers and abbreviations
  • identifying missing words in a phrase
  • use of homonyms, homophones, and homographs

That already seems like a lot, so what do I mean by light editing? Light editing would be pointing out sentences that are clunky and may need rewording, identifying and correcting phrasing for idiomatic American English (particularly helpful for those who are translating from another language), or addressing other similar items that affect the readability of your document. It means I generally will not be reconfiguring your document or moving entire storylines around. That sort of heavy lifting is better left to full-time editors.

To summarize, I’m using the finest grain of sand paper to eliminate the last few errors and irregularities on your document and then buffing it to a beautiful high gloss so that you, and your document, look as good and professional as possible.

Pricing and Other Specifics

  • My rate is $0.02 per word (USD). After a lot of research, I feel per-word pricing is the fairest since it is based on the number of words I need to proofread, regardless of your favorite font, spacing, margin settings, how large you like your headers, or number of pictures.
  • I offer a free initial consultation where I assess the document and give you an estimate on pricing and turn-around time.
  • All new clients get 15% off of their first proofread!
  • Once I have completed my work, I will send you a marked-up copy of your document with corrections, suggestions, and other notes. It is up to you, the author, to decide to implement those changes into your document. Afterward, you may send it back to me for a final look. If you choose not to, that’s fine, too.
  • I utilize PayPal for invoices and request full payment within 30 days of the invoice date.
  • If you require rush service, my rate doubles to $0.04 per word (USD).
  • I offer multiple item discounts!
    • Two (2) documents – 10% off total invoice
    • Three (3) documents – 15% off total invoice
    • Four (4) or more documents – 20% off total invoice
    • Those with pre-set publishing rates (magazines, books, etc.) – contact me

Interested? Feel like you need more information? Contact me and we can have a quick chat about it.