Services and rates
I specialize in editing scholarly writing (e.g., theses and dissertations, peer-reviewed journal articles, and books for university presses). I work with both native and non-native English speakers from lots of disciplines, mostly in the social sciences: architectural history, anthropology, geography, natural resources, psychology, sociology, and more. I also regularly edit articles for an online publication of the AAAS.
I can help you convey your ideas with elegance and clarity. That might mean addressing big-picture stuff, like organizing your ideas more logically or helping you construct a narrative so that you're telling a memorable story and not just giving a report. (Scientists tell stories, too!) I can also help with the little things, like getting your citations right or cutting out fluff, so that every word and phrase and sentence in your piece is doing work for you. I typically suggest lots of changes and make lots of comments, erring on the side of being too thorough rather than not thorough enough.
Copyediting ($.04-.05/word) is also called line editing. It comes late enough in the process that you have all the ideas down on the page, but not so late that you can't move them around a little bit more as needed. This stage is about improving the overall readability of a text, with attention to:
Developmental editing ($.04-.05/word) addresses the content as well as the overall organization and structure. That might mean clarifying the argument, cutting passages that are redundant or otherwise unnecessary, or identifying whether any claims need more support. Whole sections might be expanded, re-ordered, or cut. I will also try to make sure that the overall style and tone are consistent, although I focus less on specific wording, as it may change in a later draft. It's often helpful to chat over the phone or Zoom after you've read my comments.
Proofreading ($.03/word) is the final stage of editing. It means double-checking the text for basic errors (spelling, punctuation, grammar, etc.), typos, formatting errors, and other inconsistencies. (Proofreading has a more technical definition in the publishing industry, but here, I just mean the final clean-up.) If you've ever submitted your work for review and then immediately found a typo on the first page, this might be a useful service for you! :)
To estimate the total cost of editing your document, multiply its word count by the kind of editing that you're requesting. Once I see a sample of your writing, I will propose a price, based on how much work I anticipate that it needs. I offer a 20% discount for students, and charge 20% more for a rapid turnaround (more than 3,000 words per day). These rates are comparable to those catalogued by the Editorial Freelancers Association.
I can help you convey your ideas with elegance and clarity. That might mean addressing big-picture stuff, like organizing your ideas more logically or helping you construct a narrative so that you're telling a memorable story and not just giving a report. (Scientists tell stories, too!) I can also help with the little things, like getting your citations right or cutting out fluff, so that every word and phrase and sentence in your piece is doing work for you. I typically suggest lots of changes and make lots of comments, erring on the side of being too thorough rather than not thorough enough.
Copyediting ($.04-.05/word) is also called line editing. It comes late enough in the process that you have all the ideas down on the page, but not so late that you can't move them around a little bit more as needed. This stage is about improving the overall readability of a text, with attention to:
- grammar and syntax
- style and flow
- clarity
- coherence of the whole and relationships among individual parts
- wordiness and redundancy
- conformity to a particular style or format (APA, Chicago, specific journal requirements, etc.)
- accuracy of quotes and citations (only if something sounds strange)
- formatting and/or consistency of captions, footnotes, tables, etc.
Developmental editing ($.04-.05/word) addresses the content as well as the overall organization and structure. That might mean clarifying the argument, cutting passages that are redundant or otherwise unnecessary, or identifying whether any claims need more support. Whole sections might be expanded, re-ordered, or cut. I will also try to make sure that the overall style and tone are consistent, although I focus less on specific wording, as it may change in a later draft. It's often helpful to chat over the phone or Zoom after you've read my comments.
Proofreading ($.03/word) is the final stage of editing. It means double-checking the text for basic errors (spelling, punctuation, grammar, etc.), typos, formatting errors, and other inconsistencies. (Proofreading has a more technical definition in the publishing industry, but here, I just mean the final clean-up.) If you've ever submitted your work for review and then immediately found a typo on the first page, this might be a useful service for you! :)
To estimate the total cost of editing your document, multiply its word count by the kind of editing that you're requesting. Once I see a sample of your writing, I will propose a price, based on how much work I anticipate that it needs. I offer a 20% discount for students, and charge 20% more for a rapid turnaround (more than 3,000 words per day). These rates are comparable to those catalogued by the Editorial Freelancers Association.
estimated cost
=
word count
(one double-spaced page is typically ~250 words)
x
$.04–.05/word for developmental editing
or
$.04–.05/word for copyediting
or
$.03/word for proofreading
x
80% (if you are a student)
x
120% (if you need a rapid turnaround)
=
word count
(one double-spaced page is typically ~250 words)
x
$.04–.05/word for developmental editing
or
$.04–.05/word for copyediting
or
$.03/word for proofreading
x
80% (if you are a student)
x
120% (if you need a rapid turnaround)
For payment, I accept PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, or direct deposit. New clients need to make a 25% deposit before I begin the work. The balance is paid once the job is done.
Testimonials
"Ellie has been an invaluable source of support for my academic writing for years. She's been able to help me with multiple stages of the writing process, from the first sketches to the final revisions. I can always trust that she will keep my writing voice as she makes my work stronger and sharper." (T.P., lecturer at Cornell University)
"Ellie approaches this work in a way that caters to the writer's needs. On a quite long piece, she worked to make writing more concise, and with organization and structure. On a shorter manuscript, her deep knowledge of grammar, citation conventions, and capacity to copy edit (quickly!) were essential. I hope to continue to rely on her throughout my career!" (J.L., professor at Penn State)
“In general, I really liked what you did with the pieces and I like your style. I know how much went into the […] piece, but you made it so much better. I do hope that the authors accept the changes.” (M.M., executive editor of an online publication of the AAAS)
"I approached Ellie to help me edit a journal article. As a non-native English speaker, preparing an article for publication sometimes feels like a double burden due to insecurities with language use. Ellie took a genuine interest in the subject, which translated into specific editorial suggestions that made the text more grammatically correct and helped clarify the message. Ellie respected my authorial style throughout the revisions and offered options that empowered me as a writer. I will definitively enlist Ellie's help again in all kinds of writing projects!" (F.G.R., professor at William & Mary)
“I had a great experience with Ellie, she is not only polishing the language, but she helps me to sharpen the expressions and arguments I want to deliver. What I really appreciate for her editing is that the language is concise, and ideas are stronger after her work. Also Ellie has been very patient to listen to me and understand the messages and ideas that I wanted to express. Ellie is great to work with!” (H.Z., recent graduate (PhD) of Cornell University)
"Ellie's editing strengthened my paper so much! As a non-English speaker, it is so hard to put into words the exact idea or concept that you have in mind, but Ellie was able to do this, and also to communicate many complex processes in a friendly, educated (academic), and professional way. She was also super serious about the deadline we defined. I will be very happy if she would help me in all my future papers!" (P.C., recent graduate (PhD) of Cornell University)
"Ellie approaches this work in a way that caters to the writer's needs. On a quite long piece, she worked to make writing more concise, and with organization and structure. On a shorter manuscript, her deep knowledge of grammar, citation conventions, and capacity to copy edit (quickly!) were essential. I hope to continue to rely on her throughout my career!" (J.L., professor at Penn State)
“In general, I really liked what you did with the pieces and I like your style. I know how much went into the […] piece, but you made it so much better. I do hope that the authors accept the changes.” (M.M., executive editor of an online publication of the AAAS)
"I approached Ellie to help me edit a journal article. As a non-native English speaker, preparing an article for publication sometimes feels like a double burden due to insecurities with language use. Ellie took a genuine interest in the subject, which translated into specific editorial suggestions that made the text more grammatically correct and helped clarify the message. Ellie respected my authorial style throughout the revisions and offered options that empowered me as a writer. I will definitively enlist Ellie's help again in all kinds of writing projects!" (F.G.R., professor at William & Mary)
“I had a great experience with Ellie, she is not only polishing the language, but she helps me to sharpen the expressions and arguments I want to deliver. What I really appreciate for her editing is that the language is concise, and ideas are stronger after her work. Also Ellie has been very patient to listen to me and understand the messages and ideas that I wanted to express. Ellie is great to work with!” (H.Z., recent graduate (PhD) of Cornell University)
"Ellie's editing strengthened my paper so much! As a non-English speaker, it is so hard to put into words the exact idea or concept that you have in mind, but Ellie was able to do this, and also to communicate many complex processes in a friendly, educated (academic), and professional way. She was also super serious about the deadline we defined. I will be very happy if she would help me in all my future papers!" (P.C., recent graduate (PhD) of Cornell University)
