For deeply researched work headed for publication
Journal article and research report editing
Editing and proofreading for researchers, writers, analysts, and organizations preparing deeply researched work for publication. I was the managing editor of two peer-reviewed journals, and I'm one of the editors of the Good Food Institute’s annual State of the Industry reports. Whether you're working on a journal article or a major report, I’ll make it read clearly and format it to your journal’s or your organization’s style. Your findings and your voice stay your own so reviewers and readers can focus on your research.
Editing across the disciplines
Whatever field your work is in, there’s a good chance I've worked on it over my 25+ years of editing. I’ve worked on journal articles and research reports for organizations and researchers across business, healthcare, the sciences, and more. You know your subject inside out, and I’ll make sure the writing does it justice.
Who you’re working with
I’m Tara, and I’ve worked as a professional editor for 25+ years. Before I went freelance, I was the managing editor of two peer-reviewed journals, the British Journal of Nursing and Gastrointestinal Nursing. I ran the peer-review process there, so I know what editors and reviewers look for. I’m also one of the editors of the Good Food Institute’s annual State of the Industry reports, a major research report I've worked on year after year. Whether your work is a journal article or a report, it’s edited by me, personally, from the first read to the last.
If you’d like to know more about me and the work I do, you can read about my background and experience.
What’s included
Here’s what you can expect when I edit your work:
Both copy editing and proofreading, on every project
Two full reads of your work
Comments and practical advice in the document
A tracked-changes version and a clean final version
Reading your target journal’s submission guidelines and advising on what they require
Formatting your work to your journal’s or organization’s style and reference guide
Help working through reviewer comments if your paper comes back for revision
Aftercare: when you’ve made your changes, I'll re-edit them at no extra cost
I edit and proofread work you’ve already written. I’m not a ghostwriter, and I don’t write or create content from scratch.
See how my editing process works.
Your expertise stays yours
You’re the expert on your research, so everything I do starts from that. My job is to make your writing as clear, consistent, and precise as possible. I’ll make sure your argument and your conclusions come through and land well, in your own voice. I don’t write your research or check your facts or your references, because that’s yours to stand behind. If an edit might change your meaning, I’ll flag it and check with you first. Every edit is done by me, personally, so when your work comes back it still sounds like you, just clearer and ready to submit.
What my clients say
“Thank you for copyediting the reports again this year. I can’t tell you what a relief it is to have a go-to copy editor who understands our voice and knows our style guide. I am so proud of how these turned out, and I hope you are too, since we could not have done it without you.”
“Tara, thanks again for your work, it really is appreciated and I wish I had googled ‘copy-editing journals’ sooner! As well as helping with the grammar you have been careful and insightful in finding the holes that the reviewers were suggesting were there.”
“We had a short deadline and had to change the due date for our project at the last minute. In spite of these hurdles, we received excellent proofreading. It followed all the guidelines for our journal, even ones we didn’t immediately understand.”
What it costs
Pricing is simple and all-inclusive, with no add-ons or surprises.
Questions people often ask
Will editing my paper cause a problem with the journal or with authorship?
No. Editing for language and clarity is a standard, accepted part of preparing a paper for publication, and it doesn’t make me an author of your work. I help your writing read clearly and meet the journal’s requirements, and the work itself stays yours.
Do you check whether my facts and references are correct?
No. You’re the expert on your subject, so the accuracy of your facts and your references is yours to confirm. I’ll format your references to your journal’s style and flag anything that looks inconsistent, but I don’t verify the content itself.
Can you edit to my target journal’s style and reference requirements?
Yes. I’ll read your journal’s submission guidelines and edit your paper to match them, including the reference style, whether that’s APA, AMA, Chicago, Harvard, or the journal’s own house style. Send me the journal you’re submitting to and I’ll work to what they require.
English isn’t my first language. Can you help, and does it cost more?
Yes. I often edit work by researchers writing in English as an additional language, at the same flat rate, with no surcharge. I’ll make your writing clear and idiomatic while keeping your voice and your meaning your own. If anything about your work needs more than standard editing, I’ll talk it through with you before we begin.
Is my unpublished work kept confidential?
Yes. Every edit is done by me, personally, and your work stays private, handled only by me. Your unpublished research, and the fact that you’ve worked with me, stays between us unless you tell me otherwise. I’m glad to sign a non-disclosure agreement if you or your co-authors need one.
How long will my edit take, and can you meet my deadline?
It depends on the length of your work and how busy my schedule is, so I’ll confirm a timeline with you before we begin. Tell me your deadline when you get in touch and I’ll let you know what’s realistic. Your work will get the careful attention it needs, and I’ll always be honest if a deadline is too tight to do it justice.
Ready when you are
When you’ve put real work into your research, your writing deserves the same care. I’ll give your journal article or report a final, careful read so it’s ready to submit. Whenever you’re ready, I’d be glad to hear what you're working on.
If your work is for a degree rather than publication, see my academic editing. For manuscripts, see my non-fiction book editing.