For clinicians and scientists who publish their work
Science and medical copy editing and proofreading
You did the research. Now the words have to do it justice. Whether it’s a journal article or a clinical document, they carry your findings to the reader. I copy edit and proofread science and medical writing so nothing on the page gets in the way of what you found.
I’ve edited science and medical writing for 25+ years, across peer-reviewed papers and clinical and regulatory documents. Every document is edited by me, personally.
Editing for every kind of science and medical work
Your work might run from a paper headed for a journal to a thesis or a book. Here’s the editing that fits each one.
I edit and proofread work you’ve already written. I’m not a ghostwriter, and I don’t write or create content from scratch.
Whatever service you need, the care behind it is the same. Every project comes with both copy editing and proofreading, together with practical advice in the document. I also provide aftercare: once you’ve made your changes in response to my edits, I’ll recheck those changes at no extra cost.
Who you’re working with
I’m Tara, and I’ve spent my career as a professional editor. My science and medical work has ranged from neurology and peer-reviewed surgical research to clinical-trial protocols and the patient-facing materials that go with them. A lot of it meant keeping many authors consistent to one house style across long, technical manuscripts. That is exactly the kind of consistency a paper headed for review needs.
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
Formatting to your required style and reference guide, including APA, Harvard, Chicago, and AMA
Aftercare on every project
See how my editing process works.
Your expertise stays yours
You’re the expert in your field, so everything I do starts from that. My job is to make your writing as clear and precise as possible. I’ll make sure your methods, your results, and your conclusions read cleanly and land in your own voice. I don’t write your content, and I don’t check your data, your statistics, or your sources, because the science and the clinical accuracy are yours to stand behind. If an edit might change your meaning, I’ll flag it and check with you first. When your work comes back, it still reads like you, just clearer.
What my clients say and what I work on
“I have used Tara for the proofing of neurological medico-legal reports. I have always found the standard of work to be extremely high and the turnaround has also been very quick and efficient, even when requesting urgent work to be carried out. I would have no hesitation in recommending Tara for proofreading work.”
“Able to polish my manuscript and fix all of my references and language.”
Pharmaceutical and clinical-trial communications
Clinical-trial protocols and manuals of procedure, informed-consent forms, patient information sheets and study leaflets, and the clinician-facing referral and dear-doctor letters that go alongside a trial.
Peer-reviewed surgical research
Manuscripts in ENT and facial surgery headed for peer review, including studies on surgical technique and post-operative outcomes, prepared through multiple rounds of author revision and reviewer response.
Neurology and clinical case reports
Medico-legal neurological reporting and clinical case reports, edited to a high standard under tight, often urgent, deadlines.
Laboratory and applied science
Peer-reviewed bench science, including a dental biomaterials study, alongside technical writing in food and nutrition science and environmental science.
What it costs
Pricing is simple and all-inclusive, with no add-ons or surprises.
Questions people often ask
Can you edit to Vancouver, AMA, or my target journal’s style?
Yes. Vancouver and AMA are the usual standards in science and medical writing, and I work to either, along with CSE or whatever guide your target journal asks for. Send me the style you’re following and I’ll apply it consistently across the whole document, from your headings and in-text citations to your reference list. If you don’t have a set style, I’ll keep everything consistent and note the choices I’ve made.
Can you help get my paper ready to submit to a journal?
Yes, and it’s a lot of what I do. I’ve edited many papers headed for peer review, so I know the kind of polish a submission needs. I’ll edit your paper so it reads clearly and help it meet your target journal’s word limit and style, and I’ll flag anything that might trip up a reader or reviewer. I can’t promise acceptance, since that rests on your research and the journal’s decision, but I’ll make sure the writing is doing your work justice.
Do you check my data, statistics, or sources?
No. You’re the expert, so I don’t verify your science, check your data or statistics, or confirm your references and sources. My work is the writing around them. If something reads inconsistently, like a figure that doesn’t match your text or a citation that isn’t in your reference list, I’ll point it out for you to check, but the accuracy of the science stays with you.
Will my unpublished work be kept confidential?
Yes. Your work stays private, whether it’s an unpublished manuscript, a clinical-trial document, or pre-launch material, and I’m happy to sign a non-disclosure agreement if you’d like one in place before you send anything. I only ever work on your files myself.
Ready when you are
The science is yours, and the writing should be every bit as clear. I’ll give your paper or manuscript a last, 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 more clinical practice than research or laboratory science, see my nursing and healthcare editing. For an academic book, see my non-fiction editing.