Line Editing
A line edit does not comb your project for errors. It focuses on the way you use language to communicate your story to the reader.
Does your writing style have a flow that makes it pleasurable to read? Do your words convey the right emotion, tone, and personality? Are you creative and original or are you using broad generalizations and clichés?
When line editing, I do the following:
- Point out redundancies from repeating the same information in different ways
- Point out changes that can improve the pacing of a passage
- Tighten paragraphs to make it more concise
- Fix run-on sentences
- Fix unnatural phrasing
- Fix confusing or unclear scenes due to bad transitions
- Identify extraneous or overused words
- Identify passages that don’t read well due to bland language use
- Suggest words or phrases that may clarify or enhance your meaning
Copyediting
It is a deeper look at technical issues beyond a surface check, requiring a rule-based understanding of standard English usage that traditional editors don’t necessarily adhere to.
It focuses on grammar, adherence to style guide, fact-checking, and making sure the author’s voice and message come across clearly. Copy editors make sure what was written on one page is consistent with what’s written on other pages.
When copyediting, I check for:
- Correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation
- Correct word usage
- Repeated or missing words
- Punctuating dialogue and dialogue tags
- Consistency of timeline and character details
- Fixing or flagging confusing phrases
- Fixing or flagging repetitive sentences
- Fact-checking
- Proper citations
- Consistency of language style usage (US English vs UK English)
- Double checking foreign words and idioms
Proofreading
It is the last look at content before publishing, catching stray errors that previous editors didn’t find before.
Professional proofreading is required by traditional publishers as a quality assurance measure before mass production of books. At this polishing stage, if the sentence already makes sense, no further editing should be made.
When proofreading, I check for:
- Correct grammar, spelling, and punctuation
- Consistency of capitalization and hyphenation
- Correct word usage
- Repeated or missing words
- Formatting issues with font size and style
- Proper citation (depending on the style guide)
- Broken links
- Cross-referencing errors
- Consistency of language style usage (US English or UK English)
See what they’re saying.
If you’re looking for an editor, you won’t find many better than Jam.
Writing/editing can be especially tough for even the most experienced of writers, but she has a way of making the process a lot more bearable.
Expect her to be casual but don’t let the kind personality deceive you! Her work is impeccable and she can spot even the tiniest of mistakes. Take note that Jam is not just a human version of Grammarly (if you want her to be). Meaning, she will look beyond sentence structures, tenses, punctuation marks, and everything else in between. Jam helped clarify my words and shape my idea into what it is now. That level of assistance and attention to detail is invaluable to any writer.
It was a blast working with her, and if I ever have any future projects, she will be my first-choice editor (and if you know any better, she should be yours too).
Jet Ko
Author of PowerlessMy thesis partner and I were struggling with our thesis last year and when Jam offered her help to proofread our paper, it was definitely helpful since we were able to effectively write and deliver our thesis.
She reviews every detail in the text and gives helpful suggestions to further improve the articulation of our ideas from the introduction to the conclusion. I would highly recommend her for she’s approachable and determined to help other people.
Gwyneth Magdamit
Project: Thesis ReviewI’m really satisfied with what [Jam] did!
The phrases I struggled to express correctly and concisely—[she] rephrased easily. I was shocked at the amount of errors I had in my piece, especially when it came to punctuation marks!
Katlyn Berdin
Project: Application EssayI highly recommend her services and I am excited to work with her more in the future.
Candis Legaspi
Project: Resume ReviewBefore working with Jam, I was not confident enough to submit my essay due to the fact that I, myself, am not confident in writing. Afterwards, my essay was great!
She saw the flaws in my essay I haven’t noticed at all, and made the necessary corrections. I recommend her service because she is patient and nice to her clients, she is indeed a life saver!
Patrick Abrigo
Project: Application EssayMs. Jam is an amazing person to work with. She is very patient, accommodating, and professional. She is easy to talk to and is very responsive to emails and queries.
The edits are detailed and are of high quality as I saw that she also does her own research on some topics in my essay as needed (i.e. when she corrected “boy scouts” to “Boy Scouts”).
Julienne Calara
Project: Application EssayCommon Questions.
What makes you qualified?
Aside from my Certificate of Excellence in General Proofreading: Theory and Practice, I’ve been involved in helping to publish books to the public domain in Project Gutenburg—coupled with nearly a decade of being a competent writer and a professional copy editor for brand consultants in recent years.
What do you like to edit?
I am super into science fiction and fantasy! As you’re reading this, I’m mentally beseeching the YA gods Neal Shusterman and Suzanna Collins to use their powers and compel you to sign me up for your book.
Do you proofread nonfiction content?
Sure! I actually started out with a niche in editing academic papers. Especially if it’s something that keeps up with current events (even better if it’s a hot slice in the socio-political dimension of affairs). I also love self-help—I consume life coaching advice like vultures on carrion.
How can I know your availability?
I’ll always be updating this website to showcase my availability. Look out for the banner appearing at the top of every page!
I also provide a calendar overview of my current workload so you’re always up-to-date regarding my availability. If there are remaining time slots, it means I have the bandwidth to use those times for editing your work (should you avail of my services). For your reference, I proofread around 1,500-2,000 words an hour.
If you have a big project that has a lot of particulars (and emailing doesn’t quite cover it all), you can also choose to book a discovery call with me on those slots. Due to COVID-19, consultations are free of charge until further notice.
The Editorial Process
To ensure your satisfaction, working with me consists of three steps:
1. Submission
Answer my form and list a few details such as the service you require, the nature of the text, and the word count. If it applies, you may also specify your preferred reference manual.
Some reference manuals I use include:
- The Chicago Manual of Style, 17th edition
- The Associated Press Stylebook, 49th edition
- Oxford A-Z Grammar
- Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary
- The Anvil Guide to Research Paper Writing
- The Best Punctuation Book, Period
2. Editing
Right after we’ve agreed on our terms, I will begin the editing process right away in the timeframe I indicated using the method you specified.
For your reference, these are what I use for editing:
- Microsoft Word – I enable the track changes feature so you can accept or reject my edits.
- Google Docs – Suggesting mode is turned on so you can see the edits in real time.
- In-app Annotation – For clients who prefer to work with a PDF format, I annotate these files using note-taking apps. I highlight the errors in yellow and put my comments in bold red text.
3. Consultation
At the end of the editing process, I will email you your documents depending on your chosen editing method.
Note that if you’re submitting critical documents and require a safe and secure file transfer, I will upload these documents on a private drive that has password protection enabled. You may still consult with me for up to 14 days after I’ve sent you your invoice.
For questions about standard billing, refunds, and rush jobs, please visit my FAQ page.
Ready to get rid of those lingering errors?
You can finally focus on being creative while I focus on making you look good.