The main functions of copy-editing and proofreading are to correct errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, style and language, and to examine your entire manuscript or project for consistency (including consistency in expressing quantitative concepts), logical structure, factual accuracy and clarity.

We check every word, sentence and paragraph in the manuscript and make specific suggestions and corrections, which you are free to accept or reject. These detailed suggestions and corrections are written (marked up) on the manuscript itself. Or, if the manuscript is sent as a soft copy (Microsoft Word format only), suggestions and corrections are made via the “Track Changes” function of Microsoft Word.

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I have a scientific manuscript. Why do I need to have it copy-edited or proofread by a writer or editor familiar with the scientific method?

Scientific writing is precise—every word conveys a subtle, yet distinctive meaning.

Unfortunately, many writers (and even scientists) gloss over the importance of using scientific terminology and concepts in a precise manner, either from a lack of understanding and a poor scientific education, or out of apathy and laziness. It takes moil and toil to master clear scientific explanations.

Here are a few examples of scientific subtleties that may be overlooked by non-scientific writers, or careless scientific writers:

• an “accurate” measurement is not the same as a “precise” measurement
• a “reliable” result is different to a “valid” result
• the “probability” of an event occurring is expressed differently to the “odds” of the same event occurring
• a “pill” is not the same as a “tablet”
• the “data” are reliable; the “datum” is not reliable
• genes are italicised, proteins are not italicised
• scientific names are italicised—for example, Pan paniscus—and on subsequent mentions the genus name may be abbreviated with a full stop, P. paniscus.

And the following example is taken from a medical article in one of the largest, and most trusted, Australian newspapers: Apparently, a man suffered from heart “palpations” after taking his medication. The spellchecker, writer and newspaper editor all agreed with heart “palpations”. (This would be an intriguing adverse reaction to drugs acting on the cardiovascular system.) What they meant to say was heart “palpitations”.

For all these reasons, and more, you need to have your scientific manuscript copy-edited or proofread by an editor trained in the scientific method. You cannot risk having your manuscript or article being rejected or unpublished, because of scientific mistakes that are easily identified and rectified by an experienced scientific writer or editor.

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Time frame

Upon receipt of payment, copy-editing or proofreading is usually completed in less than six weeks. Short manuscripts or manuscripts with simple content are edited in less than one month, whereas long manuscripts or manuscripts with complicated content may take about six weeks or longer to edit. In any case, you may ask for your project to be completed within a specific time frame.

Format

Unlike a structural edit or manuscript assessment, you do not receive a separate report when your manuscript is copy-edited or proofread. Your thoroughly corrected manuscript, with numerous suggestions and commentary on every page, is your report.

Style sheet or style guide

Unless you send us your own style sheet or specific instructions, we will use our in-house style guide for all copy-editing projects. This means using British English spelling.

Fees

• Copy-editing fees are $0.02 to $0.04 per word.
• Proofreading frees are $0.02 to $0.04 per word.

All prices on this website are quoted in Australian dollars and include GST.

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Instructions for payment and online agreement

1. Make sure your manuscript is complete. You may include a title page, total word count, synopsis (500 words), market analysis (500 words), and writer’s bio (300 words).
2. Manuscripts should be formatted in the following way: double-line spacing; 12 pt font size for body text (no fancy fonts); start each chapter on a new page (about halfway down the page); and keep everything simple and consistent throughout. 
3. Manuscripts sent by post should be printed on A4 paper (single side), and each page must be numbered. You must also include a self-addressed and stamped envelope for the return of your manuscript. Please make sure the envelope is large enough for your manuscript and that you have included enough stamps. Proton does not accept any responsibility for loss or damage of your manuscript by post. You must keep a copy of the manuscript, or the original, with you at all times. The safety of your manuscript is your responsibility.
4. We prefer to receive manuscripts by e-mail. Make sure your manuscript is saved as a Microsoft Word document—less than 3 MB in size—and attach this saved file to your e-mail. Send all submissions to: submissions@WritersMarke.com
5. Use the price quoted by a Proton representative to arrive at the copy-editing fee for your manuscript. For further information about fees, read the previous section titled “Fees”. All prices on this website are quoted in Australian dollars and include GST. If you are making a purchase from outside Australia, please make sure your payment is in Australian dollars.
6. Proton Writing Consultants Pty Ltd accepts payment by cheque, money order or electronic bank transfer. Make all cheque and money order payments payable to: “Proton Writing Consultants Pty Ltd”. Please do not forget to include “Pty Ltd” in the name. If you would like to pay by electronic bank transfer, please send an e-mail with a request for our bank account details. Send the e-mail to: submissions@WritersMarke.com
7. Post your cheque or money order to: Proton Writing Consultants Pty Ltd, PO Box A2379, Sydney South, NSW, 1235, Australia. If you are sending your manuscript by post, include the manuscript with your cheque or money order in the same postal package—and do not forget to include a self-addressed and stamped envelope for the return of your manuscript (see Condition 3).
8. Finally, you must read carefully, agree to, and fill out the online agreement form (contract)—see link below. Your manuscript will not be copy-edited unless you agree to Proton’s Terms and Conditions, and fill out the online agreement form.