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.
Pricing
Note that the rates for developmental editing do not include front/back matter or citations/bibliographies.
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
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 with a minimum budget of $200.
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 (Purchase Online)
For short documents under 3,000 words (e.g., blog posts, short essays, proposals, cover letters)
Minimum purchase $100. Per-word rates begin at 3,001 words with a minimum budget of $200.
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 (Purchase Online)
For short documents under 3,000 words (e.g., cover letters, proposals, statements)
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
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
Book Proposal Evaluation
Our book proposal expert will review your draft and write up an editorial evaluation with their findings. They will suggest ways to improve your writing, the organization of the proposal, the argumentation, and voice, in addition to giving you a plan for revision. Includes a 60-minute Zoom meeting with the editor.
$325
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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