At T&D Copy-editing, we know that your work is more than a publication, it is part of you. We understand what goes into honing a manuscript, so we do not outsource to other copy-editors, ensuring our quality editing is focused on what you tell us you need.
Before we start, we need from you…
…your work in MS Word or as a PDF. Practically, we prefer to work on Word documents because, well, that’s our preference as we find it more malleable for editing. At the bottom of this page, you can download a commissioning sheet which you can complete with basic information about your submission.
We offer a FREE pre- and post-copy-editing consultation to understand your priorities or to discuss the edits that have been made or suggested - around 15 minutes over Zoom or MS Teams. I know how precious our work is to us, and sometimes editing feels like we’re editing ourselves. This FREE service is optional, but why wouldn’t you take advantage of something FREE!? If I know more about what matters to you in your work, I can edit it with that in mind.
If necessary, during our copy-editing, I will be proactive, contacting you if I have queries which I feel need your input rather than having decisions made for you.
Oh, we also need to be paid for our time spent on your work - only the consultation is free - we too need to eat and treat ourselves occasionally. See the link to pricing.
See the section below for what you’ll get from us. Meanwhile, take time to be more like the blasé animal below.
At T&D, we often take a break to ignore the hustle, to wonder or to simply take time for ourselves. But don’t worry, we’ll finish our work on your work when we promised. We just recognise that being productive sometimes means doing other things.
Jaisalmer, India. © Tom Marshall, 2024.
What you’ll get from us:
Copy-editing
Your Word or PDF document will be returned to you by the agreed date.
Spelling and grammar will be checked, and tracked-changes made if your document is in Word. I will check the structure and flow of sentences and paragraphs and make suggestions for improved clarity (see image to the right for an example of my edited work). My suggestions are just that - I do not want to change your writing voice. Priority will be given to revising sentences to the active voice, which again is a preference of mine for improved clarity. On your instruction, we will check for UK or USA spelling and amend your work accordingly (for example, analyze or analyse, color or colour - but you knew that anyway). All direct quotations will maintain the author’s original spelling.
Other features I can help with is are anonymising your document both in the document as read (where you cite yourself) and in the background information stored in Word documents.
Proofreading
Spelling and grammar will be checked, and if you supplied a Word document, these will be tracked-changed.
How your work is stored
I understand that your work is precious to you, so here is some reassurance about how your document will be handled.
All documents will be stored and edited in a password-protected cloud storage facility. At no point will I store your work on my computer, divulge your work in part or in whole, or its idea(s) to any living person verbally or electronically.
Your manuscript will be deleted from my cloud storage after six months.