HUWWILLIAMSEDITING
Our Services
SOME QUESTIONS...
Which level of editing should I choose?
It depends on the size and nature of your document and what you require. If you are confident in the structure and content, then a copyedit is usually sufficient. Remember that you usually have only one chance to make a good impression with your document, so consider the criticality and the consequences of any errors or inconsistencies in the text when making your choice.
Your prices are quoted per hour. How do I know how long my document will take to edit?
Until we see a document, we cannot say with any certainty how long it will take us to edit it. However, a rule of thumb for proofreading and copyediting is ten pages per hour, based on a word count of 300 words per page. Substantive editing may take considerably longer, hence the need for us to see the document before we can quote a fee.
Does your service include digital editing, such as websites, ebooks, etc?
Yes, our service is not limited to editing for print. We will happily edit your website or ebook for the same rate.
We offer three levels of editing, depending on your requirements:
Proofreading
Our most basic level of service, proofreading is most suitable when you need a fresh pair of eyes to check for spelling and grammar errors, typos, inconsisencies and anomalies. We recommend this for documents that have already been edited and revised and where you are satisfied with the quality of the writing. Price: $18 per hour.
Copyediting
Copyediting is often confused with proofreading, but this service goes beyond a simple correctness check to include a review of syntax, style and the appropriate use of language and punctuation. We check factual statements for accuracy and assess the level of jargon and technical terminology to ensure that the document is suitable for its intended audience. Supplementary materal, such as references and illustrations are also checked for accuracy and consistency. This is the recommended minimum level of editing for all documents. Price: $25 per hour.
Substantive editing
Our most comprehensive service, substantive editing looks at the structure of the entire document with the aim of making the text functional for its intended audience, rather than just correct and consistent. We assess the order of presentation, its coherence, the relevance of the information (and whether anything is missing) and the style and language of the content. There are no set rules for this type of editing as there are with proofreading and copyediting, so undertaking a substantive edit requires us to work closely with you to ensure that the document is improved while retaining your message and style. Price: available on request.
All of our editing services adhere to the Institute of Professional Editors' Australian Standards for Editing Practice. We use the Macquarie Dictionary and the Style Manual for Authors, Editors and Printers as standard points of reference, however if you have your own in-house style guide then this of course would take precedence.
Turnaround Time
We understand that writers often have tight deadlines, and that editing may be left to the last minute, so we endeavour to complete your document within whatever timeframe suits your needs, as long as this is reasonable (minimum 24 hours). If we are unable to do so, perhaps because of the size of the document or the amount of editing required, we will always be honest about this and suggest an alternative return time that will be prompt without sacrificing quality.