1. Establish the scope and terms of editing.

Editing is not one-size-fits-all. It's important to define the types of changes you are looking for. Some papers are in good shape and just need simple proofreading to catch typos. Others need more extensive editing for clarity and proper English usage. It may even be necessary to rearrange sentences to improve the logic and flow or to delete sentences to reduce repetition. When sharing your paper with an editor, try to explain your goals as much as possible. If you're not sure what your paper needs, ask the editor for feedback on what will best improve the paper. If budget is a concern, the editor should be able to provide options at different price points for you to consider.

In addition, be sure that the terms of editing are clearly established. How quickly will the revision be returned to you? Are additional rounds of editing based on your feedback included? 

2. Give the editor all the information they need.

References are typically not edited, but you may also wish to exclude tables, figures or other portions of the text from editing. Be sure that this content is still available to the editor. The editor may need to consult a reference or data in a figure if a statement in the text is unclear.

3. Read the editor's comments.

The editor may make suggestions for deleting text or adding new text, offer alternative revisions, explain why a change is necessary, highlight terms that are not defined or are used inconsistently, or ask questions about your intended meaning. The editor's comments are opportunities to improve your paper further. Consider them carefully and make additional changes or ask questions (see below).

4. Ask questions!

Don't be afraid to ask questions if you disagree with a change, don't understand why a change was made, think further changes might be necessary, or have other concerns about your paper. Remember that your editor wants to help you succeed.

5. Ask for a final read-through before submission.

This is so important! If you make changes to the paper after it's been edited, ask the editor to check it one last time. If you're worried that doing so will delay submission, let the editor know in advance that you plan to ask for one last check and schedule a day to do so. This allows the editor to set aside time to return the paper to you quickly. 

Ready to take the next step in getting your paper ready to publish? Contact me!