Academic Copy Editing for Research Writing

University of Alberta Students, Staff, and Faculty

1. Once you have determined that your document fits the criteria for our service, please submit your request using the link below, uploading the file when prompted within the request form. Your file should be a double-spaced WORD document and follow the naming format LAST NAME_EDITING REQUEST. Include your supervisor's name and email address.'
2. One of our writing advisors will look over your document, the type and number of errors, and make a determination of suitability - whether the writing is at a level that does not require major rewriting but would benefit from some revision and correction.
3. If the document does fit the criteria, we will send you fee and time estimates. If the document does not fit our editing service, we will recommend other options to help you move forward with your writing.
4. Once you have agreed to the fee and confirmed that you would like us to proceed, we will send your supervisor a brief note informing them of our intent to work with you.
5. We will make revisions and corrections, transparently tracking them in the document for your acceptance or rejection. We will also make comments indicating confusion, ambiguity, or a teaching point. If we have concerns with the writing level or encounter more significant problems than expected, we will contact you and suggest options.
6. You will be sent the document to look over and accept or reject the changes and consider our suggestions as you see fit.
7. If your document is over 25 pages, our writing advisor will meet with you, if desired, for a 45-minute post-evaluation:
   1. to explain and answer questions
   2. to clarify comments if necessary
   3. to recommend further support/study

• While our expertise is in writing, editing, and preparing academic papers, we are not experts in your particular discipline. We will not address issues of content other than as to how they relate to clear communication.
• We focus on grammatical and punctuation errors, logical and conceptual inconsistencies, and unclear communication.
• We will help develop your work, but we are not making your document publication-ready. We are also not rewriting your document. In all likelihood, you will have to do more polishing work on your document when we return it to you. If you are submitting a document for publication, we are certainly willing to be more intrusive and make more significant changes as per your request.
• We will help you improve your document, but always remember it is your work and you are responsible for it.
• Please be aware that we are not ensuring that your document adheres to the Code of Student Behaviour or FGSR formatting. In both cases, that is your job. However, we are willing to discuss issues of citation and source use as they arise or specifically at your request.