Proofreading and Copy Editing

Many academics and business people like to see how we can improve the quality of their work with professional proofreading services before submitting their documents.

Others want to be reassured of a quality service. A few like to understand the process we go through to get their text into shape for publication.

Last week I had an assignment to proofread a 14,000 word review for an Italian professor of economics. I had done similar work the previous year for this client and the work had been published.

The first requirement was to use word tracking. This feature was not available on my open office application, so I decided to use word. The first task was a word count.

How we proofread Your document is edited using the Track Changes feature in Microsoft Word ®. This allows you to view corrections easily and accept or reject any or all recommended changes. Any comments or suggestions with regard to clarity, meaning or usage are noted in the right-hand margin for your consideration.

The first time I read through the text skimming the content to look for terminology. I have a background in Export Management but some terms are quite recent developments and acronyms are frequently used.

On the second pass of the text, I try to understand the content. If graphs are also provided, this helps a lot.

I studied a book a few years ago called 'Good to great' by Jim Collins

When I do the proofreading, I cover the following areas

• Correct Spelling

• Correct Punctuation

• Correct Grammatical Errors

• Provide Constructive feedback (suggesting ways to improve future works)

My copy editing services involve some of the above and some additional services:

• Correct Spelling

• Correct Punctuation

• Correct Gramatical Errors

• Provide Constructive feedback (suggesting ways to improve future works)

• Improve Intelligibility

• Ensure writing flows

• Amend for appropriate tone.

The last service I offer is Paraphrasing.

• A re-write of all the sentences

• Improvement of your work

• Notes to explain paraphrasing decisions

• Provide constructive feedback

All in all, it is an iterative process. Involving re-reading and assimilating the content and providing the best options of communicating that in a direct manner keeping the reader in mind at all times.

The work is quite challenging and I'm open to collaborate with clients on how we can streamline the process by having a more consistent way of working together to maintain deadlines or keep the project as a work in progress rather than leaving it to the last minute. Turnaround times/delivery of services typically range from:

• 48 Hours - Emergency

• 72 Hours - Express

• 96 Hours - Standard

Whether it's your website, a sales brochure or an article due for publication. If you're not a native speaker, it's always advisable to review using a proofreading service before submitting for publication.

Feel free to contact me at zack@destinationenglish.com for a quote.

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Useful Vocabulary

proofread - /pruːfriːd/ (verb) read (printer's proofs or other written or printed material) and mark any errors."they must revise and proofread their work"

client - /klʌɪənt/ (noun) 1.a person or organization using the 'services' of a lawyer or other professional person or company."insurance tailor-made to a client's specific requirements"

Customer - a person or organization that buys a 'product'

to be reassured of (something)- 1. To restore confidence to: I felt reassured that I was up to the job.2. To assure again: We reassured him that the project was on schedule.

to be reassured by (someone) of (something) - John reassured me that the report would be ready by the end of the week.

to reassure someone of something - I reassure you that you'll have it (the report) on your desk tomorrow morning.

open office - Apache OpenOffice open source project (free software license): https://www.openoffice.org/download/

word count - Word Count Tool is a word counter that provides an extensive statistics about the word count, character count, the number of characters without spaces...

Track Changes - See youtube video https://youtu.be/5_knruAysnA

for your consideration - the act of considering; careful thought; meditation; deliberation: I will give your project full consideration. 2. something that is or is to be kept in mind in making a decision, evaluating facts, etc.

skimming - Skimming is reading a text quickly to get a general idea of meaning. It can be contrasted with scanning, which is reading in order to find specific information

terminology - /təːmɪˈnɒlədʒi/ (noun) the body of terms used with a particular technical application in a subject of study, theory, profession, etc.

acronyms - /akrənɪm/ (noun) an abbreviation formed from the initial letters of other words and pronounced as a word (e.g. ASCII, NASA ).

'Good to great' by Jim Collins - Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't is a management book by Jim C. Collinsthat describes how companies transition from being good companies to great companies, and how most companies fail to make the transition.

copy-edit - verb, gerund or present participle: copy-editing: edit (text to be printed) by checking its consistency and accuracy."the editor goes over the manuscript after it has been copy-edited"

paraphrase /parəfreɪz/

(verb) gerund or present participle: paraphrasing

express the meaning of (something written or spoken) using different words, especially to achieve greater clarity.

"you can either quote or paraphrase literary texts"

streamline the process - A streamlined process means fewer errors and delays. You probably use dozens of business processes every day. For example, you may go through the same steps each time you generate a report, resolve a customer complaint, contact a new client, or manufacture a new product.

consistent (adjective) acting or done in the same way over time, especially so as to be fair or accurate. marked by harmony, regularity, or steady continuity : free from variation or contradiction

deadlines - /dɛdlʌɪn/ (noun) the latest time or date by which something should be completed/submitted."the deadline for submissions is Friday 5th June"

Turnaround (time) - Period for completing a process cycle (such as repair or replacement of a component or equipment), commonly expressed as an average of previous such periods.

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