How to choose an editor

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You’ve made it! The document is written, and it’s time to get it cleaned up and submitted.

Has your advisor mentioned that you might need an editor?

Factors to consider when choosing a thesis or dissertation editor

Efficacy of your editor
The most important consideration when choosing an editor is to ensure they provide an ethical service and don’t overstep their mandate. Most editing companies and freelancers will comply with the various guidelines regulating academic editing for Masters and Ph.D. students, but there will always be a few outliers. Some services may offer to re-write, or even write, your thesis. Avoid these services as if they have the bubonic plague. They’ll get you in serious trouble with your university if you are found out!

Affordability
The affordability of editing options can vary quite substantially. The market sets the rate editors can charge, and as with the economy in general, the market price differs between each service provider. Editing is time-consuming and an academic editor should be highly educated, so as a general rule you won’t be able to pay them peanuts. However, some options are more affordable than others, so it’s up to you to do your research and find one that’s in your price range.

Capability of your editor
Editors are humans and edit subjectively. So, it’s important that you do your research and learn about the editor you hire. The following are key questions that you need to have answered: 

  • Is your editor an academic editor or are they merely a generalist with a limited understanding of academic conventions? (We specialize in social science, primarily education and the humanities)
  • Does your editor have a strong understanding of your specific referencing style? (APA 6)
  • What is the education background of your editor? (Our editors all hold earned doctorates from accredited R1 institutions)
  • Do they have a history of successful thesis and dissertation editing? (we have many many happy clients, and work closely with faculty at a number of institutions)

Turn around time
This may be a crucial issue for those students who have left professional editing to the last minute. Thesis and dissertation editing is a time-consuming process, and it’s unrealistic for a 60,000-word thesis to be competently edited in a day. However, some editing companies and freelancers can accommodate a relatively short turn around, and may not charge you extra for it, depending on their current workload. Other providers are more rigid in their approach and will charge extra for a tight return date. (We don’t charge any extra if the deadline is outside 72 hours)

We would love to help you with your edits or help you find an editor that would be the best fit (even if that happens to not be us!) Contact us today to find out how we can best serve you, and remember FIRST LOOK IS FREE!