“It is with words as with sunbeams. The more they are condensed, the deeper they burn.”
– Robert Southey
Copyediting
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What is copyediting?
Copyediting includes proofreading, plus a close inspection of style and consistency. I will apply the rules of the applicable style guide (Chicago, APA, AP), and I will individualize corrections to maintain the credibility and voice of your work. I will also analyze the language, grammar, readability, consistency, and clarity of the content, and I will offer suggestions to either fix or improve it accordingly. I will fact-check for commonly understood information. Copyediting can range from simple to extensive, depending on the quality of the original text. I will provide a style sheet for easy reference.
Includes proofreading plus identifies:
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Possible copyright violations
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Passive voice
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Formatting inconsistencies and errors
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Content errors
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Incorrect or inconsistent "facts"
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Repetitive, confusing, or awkward sentence structure and word usage
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What does copyediting NOT include?
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Copyediting will not include an in-depth look at the logic or flow of a text.
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Copyediting will not include a second edit, unlike the substantive edit.
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Copyediting will not include developmental suggestions.
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Copyediting will not include extensive coaching correspondence.
Please note: After copyediting and for best practice's sake, your document will still need thorough proofreading for additional mistakes/errors that may have occurred in its new draft.
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How does it work?
1. You will email me a few pages of your document and include your specifications, any questions you may have, and your timeline.
2. I will analyze the document and ensure it doesn't require a substantive edit or a proofread. Assuming copyediting is the right stage of the process, I will accept/negotiate your terms and send you a Client Agreement form. After you accept the agreement, I will send an invoice for a 50% deposit fee, which I require to secure our agreement.
3. I use Microsoft Word's Track Changes feature to copyedit. View comment boxes below to see the benefits of a copyedit over a proofread.
How might a copyedit look?
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How much will copyediting cost?
Copyediting is the most popular editing package because its cost represents the balance between total overhaul and polished shine. The cost of copyediting ranges from one and a half cents ($.02) to two-and-a-half cents ($.025) per word, depending on the content, accuracy, and clarity of the original document. After I view a sample of the document, I will provide a more specific quote. For a 70,000 word document, the maximum cost would be $1750.00. For information on payment information for copyediting click here.
What types of documents will you copyedit?
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Websites
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Fiction manuscripts
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Social network pages
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Business documents
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Marketing material and advertisements
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Nonfiction manuscripts
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Essays and research papers
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Magazine articles
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