I can edit your paper so that it is clear, it reads well and the English is correct. I am particularly experienced at editing articles written by non-native speakers of English, and in making dense academic text more accessible for a general scientific audience. This kind of editing is called copyediting.

Copyediting includes:

• Making sure each sentence is clear
  
• Adjusting the writing style to fit the intended audience
• Correcting grammatical errors
• Correcting errors in usage
• Checking all cross-references
  
• Ensuring consistency in spelling, terminology and punctuation
  
• Suggesting changes to figures and illustrations for consistency with legends and text and for clarity
• Checking that all abbreviations are defined on first use
• Checking that special characters (such as Greek letters, degree symbols and mathematical symbols) are correct
  
• Editing tables to ensure they are clear and logical
  
• Checking that the references are cited correctly
• Checking and correcting capitalization and italicization, for example of gene and protein names
• Checking for libellous or offensive statements and mentions of trademarks
  

I will check with you when I'm not certain of the meaning of a particular sentence by including a query with the edited manuscript.

All editing is done in Microsoft Word 2007 (saving in .doc format if needed) and changes are tracked so that you can check them.

Copyediting does not include shortening, fact-checking or rearranging. I am happy to do these things, which are part of substantive editing, before copyediting if necessary.

Note about proofreading

If you would like your manuscript 'proofread', please note the following:

Proofreading is the final stage of checking edited and typeset material before publication.

• Proofreading is for:
• picking up small errors
• checking that previously spotted errors have been corrected
• checking that no errors have been introduced during editing or typesetting
• ensuring that the layout is correct.

• Proofreading is NOT for:
• improving the grammar or style
• making sure the text makes sense
• fact-checking
  
• making sure the text is appropriate for the particular audience
• fitting to a house style
• correcting inconsistencies, ambiguities and errors of fact
• checking for libellous or offensive statements

If your manuscript has not previously been edited, it probably needs copyediting rather than proofreading.

The Bay Area Editors Forum has a useful page explaining the differences between proofreading and various kinds of editing.