Academic Editing

Why Academics Need Editing

Academic editing is a specialized service for students, researchers, and professors at universities and other scholarly institutions. Academic writers typically produce course papers, journal articles, dissertations and theses, and single- and multi-author books for university presses and scholarly publishers. This work is often distinguished from other types of nonfiction because it undergoes peer review.

Scholars speak a special language and need to convey strong ideas to advance their fields. Whether you need help developing a strong argument or cleaning up a manuscript for publication, we’re here to assist with high-quality editing at a fast turnaround and unlimited availability.

Our academic editors have PhDs in various subject areas, as well as specialized training and/or years of experience as professors at top universities across the United States. Many of our editors are current and former professors; some have even been department chairs.

Our professional editors help authors in the humanities and social sciences, including but not limited to the following fields:

Art History

Cultural Studies & Anthropology

Economics

Film & Media Studies

History & History of Science

Languages & Literature

Philosophy

Political Science

Psychology

Race, Gender, & LGBTQ+ Studies

Sociology

Theatre & Performance

Manuscript Editing

Developmental / Structural Editing

Developmental editing will help you shape the content of your document so that your contribution takes center stage. Our developmental editors have served as managing editors of academic journals and published widely. We can help you shape the argument, evidence, organization, and flow of your manuscript.

Line / Stylistic Editing

Line editing is used to address the style of your writing so that it has maximal impact. Our line editors are experts at the craft of writing and have published widely themselves. We can help you maintain a consistent tone, improve word choice, identify text to be cut/pruned or expanded upon, and write clear sentences in native English.

Copyediting

Copyediting involves a rinse of your manuscript, with attention to grammar, punctuation, and mechanics (i.e., conforming it to house style or manual like the Chicago Manual of Style). Whether you’re a novice or experienced writer, this service will ensure that you deliver a clean document to your respective publisher, journal editor, or advisory committee.

Proofreading

Proofreading is the final stage in the publication process and is reserved for minor typos and consistency between manuscript sections on page proofs. By the time you are ready for a proofread, your manuscript should have already gone through a content (developmental) edit and a copyedit. This service will ensure that your manuscript is publication-ready.

Pricing

Coaching is intended for clients who are still writing or strategizing their content. Each session includes up to one hour of reading/research (e.g., reading a book chapter or manuscript). It does not include editing of the manuscript itself (see other services below).

Service Details

One session, $225; six sessions, $1,215; twelve sessions, $2,430

Note that the rates for developmental editing do not include front/back matter or citations/bibliographies.

Service Details

Manuscript Assessment
Report + Call
$0.05/word (up to 50k words); $0.04/word (50k words and up)

Full Developmental Edit
Draft markup + Report + Call
$0.07/word (up to 50k words); $0.06/word (50k words and up)

Graduate Student Manuscript Assessment
Report + Call
$0.03/word 

Book Proposal Evaluation
Report + Draft markup + Call
$325

Job Application Document Evaluation 
Cover letters, statements, proposals
<1,000 words: $100
1,001-1,500 words: $150
1,501-2,000 words: $200
2,0001-2,500 words: $250
2,501-3,000 words: $300

Note that the rates for developmental editing do not include front/back matter or citations/bibliographies.

Note that the rates for line editing do not include front/back matter or citations/bibliographies. Minimum purchase $100. Per-word rates begin at 3,001 words.

Service Details

Line Edit
Improve word choice and syntax of sentences; address overall flow of writing; ensure consistent voice and tone
$0.06/word (up to 50k words); $0.05/word (50k words and up)

Graduate Student Line Edit
Improve writing style, sentence structure/flow, and tone for dissertations and theses (only one editorial pass included).
$0.04/word

Short-Form Line Editing
For short documents (e.g., blog posts, short essays, proposals, cover letters)
<1,000 words: $100
1,001-1,500 words: $150
1,501-2,000 words: $200
2,001-2,500 words: $250
2,501-3,000 words: $300

Minimum purchase $100. Per-word rates begin at 3,001 words.

Service Details

Light Copyedit
Correct grammar and punctuation, apply style guide to text and citations
$0.04/word

Medium Copyedit
Correct grammar and punctuation; improve word choice or voice; apply style guide to text and correct citations
$0.05/word

Heavy Copyedit
Correct language, grammar, and punctuation; reformat text; apply style guide to text; overhaul citations
$0.06/word

Grad Student Copyedit
Correct grammar and punctuation and apply a style guide to text and citations on dissertations and theses (only one editorial pass included). Proof of enrollment required.
$0.03/word

Short-Form Copyediting
For short documents (e.g., blog posts, short essays, proposals, cover letters)
<1,000 words: $100
1,001-1,500 words: $150
1,501-2,000 words: $200
2,001-2,500 words: $250
2,501-3,000 words: $300

One of the last stages in publishing academic and nonfiction books, but also the stage requiring special expertise. Priced per indexable page (PDF page proofs only; count includes body text/foot- or endnotes/illustrations/appendices but does not include front/back matter/bibliography)
$5/page

Minimum project budget $200.

Service Details

Basic Proofread
$0.03 per word

Citations
Apply style to foot/endnotes and/or bibliography (CMoS, APA, MLA, others)
$1.50/citation (not per note)

Convert biblio <-> notes
$2.50/note citation

Manuscript Formatting
Correcting layout issues, including front matter, pagination, figures and tables, headings, and page margins according to a style guide (e.g., CMoS, APA, or university guidelines)
$2/page

Additional Services

Graduate Students

Special services and rates for PhD and masters students

Applications

For academic jobs, fellowships, grants, and more

Book Proposals

Evaluations for authors submitting to university presses

Coaching

For academic writing and job interviews

Latest Work

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