Guide to Editing and Proofreading Before Submitting a Manuscript

Editing and proofreading your manuscript is an important step before submitting it to peer-review journals. In this guide, we will go through the step-by-step process of editing and proofreading before your manuscript gets submission-ready.

29.05.2021

Guide to Editing and Proofreading Before Submitting a Manuscript

Wanting to publish your manuscript is a big dream where your views and ideas are acknowledged by experts and presented to the public eye. However, the bigger the dream, the harder the way to achieve it. We are not saying it is an impossible task to have your manuscript published, but the procedures are detailed and do not favor any mistakes. 

One of the big mistakes is grammatical inaccuracy. No matter what your content is, you would want your manuscript to be free of grammatical errors. This makes a good impression in front of your reviewers. It is not possible to be perfect, so one or two mistakes here and there are acceptable. However, too many mistakes can weaken the impact of your manuscript, decreasing its importance to the reviewers. 

Therefore, editing and proofreading your manuscript is an important step before submitting it to peer-review journals. In this guide, we will go through the step-by-step process of editing and proofreading before your manuscript gets submission-ready. Let us begin! Why are editing and proofreading important?

It is quite common to wonder about the importance of editing and proofreading. However, before that, let us be clear about what editing is and what proofreading is. Editing is a broader term and includes detailed checking of the content. This may include changing the writing styles, editing the content, looking for grammatical errors, or altering the structure of the content. However, proofreading is the last checking done, specifically looking for last-minute grammatical errors. It is the last step in the procedure and is a general checking of the entire document. 

With that said, you can now have an understanding of why these two services are important. For starters, it helps emphasize the effectiveness and increases the clarity of what you are trying to convey. Also, of course, it helps you eliminate any grammatical errors and improves the usage of your language.

Editing the manuscript

The process of editing is essential and should not be breezed over. Take your time to review and edit your manuscript. It is preferred if the editing is done more than once. Here are the key areas that you should be focusing on: 

  • Organizing your content

The first thing to do is to ensure that you have a strong introduction and a good conclusion. Make sure that you structure the paragraphs well— make the transitions between paragraphs prominent, and each paragraph should be clear about the main idea it is trying to convey. 

  • Focusing on the main concept

Your manuscript is all about your main topic. Therefore, make sure that there is a clear main statement that has enough evidence to prove it. Only then will it be credible and worth it.

  • Straightforward and precise

A manuscript can be a complex structure; however, it is your job to make it as clear as possible. Therefore, make sure you define matters wherever required and support them with enough evidence. Using the right technical jargon is important, and so is avoiding repeating words.

Editing and Proofreading

Proofreading the manuscript

Once you are done with the editing process, it is now time to jump into the proofreading phase. Here are the few main areas that should be your main focus:

  • Be patient with your manuscript

Proofreading may seem easier, but it is not. One read-through will not be enough. Therefore, make sure you take the time to read the manuscript multiple times. You may also read it out loud for better effect.

  • Divide and conquer

The manuscript is a big document. Taking it all in can be overwhelming and too much of a task. Therefore, it is suggested that you divide your manuscript into various sections and proofread one section at a time.

  • Keep an eye out for common mistakes

Knowing your common mistakes can be beneficial for proofreading your future documents as well. Therefore, while going through your manuscript, keep an eye out for common mistakes.

For your editing and proofreading processes, you might find the following articles helpful:

Editing and Proofreading

On an ending note, for editing and proofreading

So that is all you need to know about editing and proofreading a manuscript. Of course, there are other things that one should keep in mind, but these are the basics. You can edit and proofread on your own, but for a professional touch, you can hire excellent editing and proofreading services.

Do you need an expert to review and edit your manuscript?

Have you completed writing your manuscript? Do you want someone to review the entire article and make necessary changes if required? If yes, we bring the most trusted and efficient editing and proofreading services near you. At Best Edit & Proof, our experts will edit and proofread your papers to make necessary changes. 

Best Edit & Proof expert editors and proofreaders focus on offering manuscripts with proper tone, content, and style of academic writing and also provide an upscale editing and proofreading service for you. If you consider our pieces of advice, you will witness a notable increase in the chance for your research manuscript to be accepted by the publishers. We work together as an academic writing style guide by bestowing subject-area editing and proofreading around several categorized styles of writing. With the group of our expert editors, you will always find us all set to help you identify the tone and style that your manuscript needs to get a nod from the publishers.

English manuscript formatting service

You can also avail of our assistance if you are looking for editors who can format your manuscript, or just check on the particular styles for the formatting task as per the guidelines provided to you, e.g., APA, MLA, or Chicago/Turabian styles. Best Edit & Proof editors and proofreaders provide all sorts of academic writing help, including editing and proofreading services, using our user-friendly website, and a streamlined ordering process.

Get a free quote for editing and proofreading now!

Kindly visit our order page if you want our subject-area editors or language experts to work on your manuscript to improve its tone and style and give it a perfect academic tone and style through proper editing and proofreading. The process of submitting a paper is very easy and quick. Click here to find out how it works.

Our pricing is based on the type of service you avail of here, be it editing or proofreading. We charge on the basis of the word count of your manuscript that you submit for editing and proofreading and the turnaround time it takes to get it done. If you want to get an instant price quote for your project, copy and paste your document or enter your word count into our pricing calculator.

Editing and Proofreading services

24/7 customer support | Live support

If you need support for editing and proofreading services, contact us. You can also e-mail us or use the 24/7 live chat module to get direct support. We have a 24/7 active live chat mode to offer you direct support along with qualified editors to refine and furbish your manuscript. Alternatively, you can text us through our WhatsApp business support line.

Editing and Proofreading services

Stay tuned for updated information about editing and proofreading services!

Follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and Medium.

For more posts, click here.

Do you like this article? Make sure to share and subscribe!

This handout provides a quick guide to editing and proofreading services before submitting a manuscript. To give you an opportunity to practice proofreading, we have left a few spelling, punctuation, or grammatical errors in the text. See if you can spot them! If you spot the errors correctly, you will be entitled to a 10% discount. 

They Also Read

Editing & Proofreading Editing Proofreading
Editing or Proofreading? Which Service Should I Choose?
29.05.2021

Although they can be used interchangeably, editing and proofreading services are two different stages of the revision process. Each service requires close and careful reading but uses different methods and focuses on different aspects of the manuscript. Both services produce different outcomes for writers, and therefore, our potential clients must be aware of what they do.

Continue Reading
Editing & Proofreading Editing Proofreading
Understanding Academic Proofreading — A Thorough Guide
29.05.2021

Everyone in the academic field encountered editing and proofreading services in some way. Be it before submissions or publishing, editing and proofreading your work is an essential part of the writing process that you must adhere to. However, some researchers and students get confused over what exactly happens under this part of the writing, especially under proofreading. In this article, we will go through a step-by-step process to help you understand what exactly happens in academic proofreading.

Continue Reading
Editing & Proofreading Editing Proofreading
How to Choose a Dissertation Editor in 3 Steps
29.05.2021

The benefits of leveraging the services of a dissertation editor are far and wide. They augment the quality of a dissertation by a significant margin, are reliable, and take from scholars the stress of editing. But, when it comes to choosing the right editor(s), the process can prove difficult and complex. Hence, to hire excellent editors for their purpose(s) without wasting much time, scholars should observe the aforementioned tips meticulously.

Continue Reading