Owl Editing

About Owl Editing

Glen Wheeler has more than 20 years of experience as a freelance academic editor. He has two university degrees, including a Ph.D. in Physiology. and has published many research reports in science and medicine. He has also published works of poetry and was an executive member of the West End Writers' Club (Vancouver).

How the editing process works


The turn-around time for most short reports or essays is within 24 hours. For theses, the turn-around is approx. 5-8 days. Send a message to learn more.

When you send an attachment file, the editing fees are assessed. Payment will be required in advance. For large projects, installment payments are acceptable.

Word .doc files are preferred so that the changes can be "tracked". When the edited version is sent back, specific tips and comments are also included.

Common problems


  • incorrect use of punctuation, commas, semicolons, colons, and dashes, etc.
  • misuse of articles and prepositions,
  • mistaking one word for another (i.e., envelope/envelop, stationary/stationery, affect/effect). A spell-checker won't detect these errors.
  • confusing "then" and "than," "its" and "it's," and "lay" and "lie",
  • creating run-on sentences or sentence fragments.

Solutions


Copy-editing - Level 1

  • correcting spelling, grammar, and punctuation,
  • correcting confusion in tenses,
  • eliminating redundancies,
  • correcting headings, tables, figures, and lists,
  • substituting words that more accurately convey the author's intent,
  • avoiding sexism, racism, or other pejorative language.

Copy-editing - Level 2

  • correcting errors in spelling, usage, grammar, punctuation, and style,
  • correcting fluctuations in tense,
  • clarifying ambiguities,
  • noting inconsistencies in point of view,
  • identifying inconsistencies in facts and details,
  • revising or cutting to meet length requirements.

Copy-editing - Level 3

  • reviewing the overall organization,
  • suggesting deletions, additions, or rearrangements,
  • indicating gaps in content or unclear transitions,
  • creating a Table of Contents,
  • adjusting tables, charts, or diagrams.

Citations and references

  • ensuring that sources are acknowledged appropriately.

Editing tables and figures

  • adjusting the presentation of data,
  • ensuring the proper positioning of tables and figures.


Frequently asked questions


  1. What does it cost?
    Fees can be estimated from the total word count. Approx. $25-30 per 1,000 words.

  2. How should I send the document?
    The preferred method is by e-mail attachment.

  3. Can I see the editing changes?
    Yes. The MS-Word Revision Tool is used to show all changes from the editing.

  4. Can I have a document edited on an urgent basis?
    Yes. Rush editing service is available. An extra fee is usually applied, depending on the degree of urgency.