Regardless of genre, subject matter, or publication type, copyediting ensures the text is polished, intentional, and reliable. At its core, copyediting ensures that writing is clear, correct, consistent, and cohesive.
For academic, nonfiction, and fiction titles, I edit for:
- Grammar, punctuation, spelling, and word usage
- Adherence to the specified style guide(s)
- Consistency in style, tone, names, key terms, and terminology
- Clarity, avoiding awkward or ambiguous phrasing
- Standardized formatting (e.g., capitalization, hyphenation, lists, number formatting)
- Internal consistency (e.g., timeline, facts, plot details, argument points)
- Precise and appropriate word choice, avoiding unnecessary repetition
- Factual inconsistencies or areas requiring author clarification
- Proper formatting of headings, subheadings, quotations, citations, and lists
- Consistency, completeness, and style compliance in citations, notes, and reference lists
The following are also included in the scope of my copyediting services:
- Terminology and publication features tracking
- Checking URLs for accuracy and functionality
- Visual–text integration and support
- Where available, I check quotations and textual extracts for accuracy against their original sources
- Reviewing transliterations for consistency
- Flagging permissions and rights issues
- Flagging potential accessibility issues, including unclear structure, dense formatting, and visuals that may not translate well for screen readers
- Typecoding or tagging manuscipts for production
- Editing and preparing supplementary material
Here’s what you can typically expect to receive as part of a copyedit:
- Editorial feedback summary to give authors and project managers insight into recurring issues, stylistic choices, and opportunities for improvement for subsequent editions or digital updates
- The copyedited manuscript for author review (after initial round of editing)
- The final, clean copyedited manusctipt with all author-approved edits reviewed and incorporated
- Editorial style sheet
For this service, I typically work on:
- Academic and nonfiction - all disciplines
- Fiction and genre - all categories
- Publication types - reference books, scholarly books, scholarly & research journals, trade books, textbooks
The copyediting stage is a great time to prepare your manuscript for audio narration. I offer audiobook manuscript preparation for narrators and production teams. To request a sample of my work, my resume, or a complete list of projects, please get in touch via email or through the contact page.