Process of scientific editing explained
Scientific editing is the process that results in improvement and clarification of a manuscript through the work of a qualified and experienced editor.
This is important for people who have written research papers or scripts they intend to publish in academic journals or books. Use of poor or improper English may impact not just on the experiment but also the profile of the writer. Using a professional editing service provider for the purpose of editing is highly recommended.
Why hire the services of a scientific editor?
Editing is a systematic process best undertaken by a specialist. No matter how many times you read your own documents, you will not be able to spot all the errors or provide the level of overview that a professional editor can provide. This is why it is always better to hire an editor to check your document. Professionals edit a document on a number of levels, attending to structure and clarity as well as grammar, sentence structure and flow, spelling errors etc.
What are the different levels of editing?
- The first reader has a PhD in a relevant discipline. If not a PhD, an editor extremely experienced in reviewing and editing for international journals is appointed.
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- The second edit is entrusted to a person with strong background of language use. Every minute detail in the document is scanned by the language specialist for its appropriateness.
- Once the document is read and re-read for the technical and grammar aptness it is evaluated by the editor responsible for the quality of the document.
Who are the editors?
The editors are experienced and qualified people with an exceptional understanding of the topic who are also experts in the use of language. The primary motivational factor for scientific editing people is to make the document readable and grammatically correct. Spellings are cross-verified and the documents are made clear, maintaining subject discipline terms. It is not an easy task, or one that can be done too quickly. A lot of time is invested in editing a document. Editors are equipped with skills and technical finesse along with experience to offer their qualitative services.
What changes are made to the document?
- The editors remove errors to make the meaning of all sentences clear.
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- If any statements are difficult to understand editors revise the sentences.
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- The editors modify the expressions of certain terminology to make sure they are suitable.
The editors take the responsibility for sentence structure but the integrity of the content is maintained. There are no modifications made to the logic of the documents. Good editors respect the original writing style of the author.