Let’s be honest – while conducting academic research is a huge undertaking, the journey rarely ever ends there. The path to publication is a feat of its own, one that requires determination, countless hours of work, and in many cases, professional help.
Having one’s research published in an academic journal isn’t only about presenting your work to the world. It’s about describing it in a way that is coherent, grammatically correct, factually accurate, immersive, and in line with the journal’s publishing standards.
In other words, a researcher who goes through the publication process becomes so much more than that. They turn into a writer.
But even writers need help, especially in the realm of academia where every single argument and fact matter a great deal. This is where professional academic editors come in.
5 Benefits of Professional Academic Editing
Before you choose to collaborate with a professional editor on your academic manuscript, you’ve got to figure out 1) what it is you need help with and 2) what the potential benefits of this collaboration would be.
Professional editors generally ensure:
- Better grammar, punctuation, and spelling: From catching typos you may have missed to improving your syntax structure and removing commas from sentences where they have no business being, editors can polish your manuscript in a way that will make it sound professional and clean, thereby increasing your credibility.
- Elevated language and style: Academic language is quite specific, and what’s more, it differs based on which field you do your scholarly work in. If you feel unsure about the terminology you need to use in your work or whether your language is in line with academic standards, a professional editor can point you in the right direction and help you make the necessary changes.
- Enhanced clarity of arguments: Your arguments are the foundation of your work, and it is therefore vital that your readers understand every single point you make and see the links between one argument and the next. A professional editor will tell you whether your sentences are too long or too convoluted, help erase redundant words, and ensure logical flow.
- Improved structure: Academic writing usually adheres to very specific guidelines, from the way a certain type of work ought to be structured overall (a literature review often comes before a methodology section, for example) to paragraph consistency (each paragraph should make a point and tie it to the overarching argument). Professional academic editors can help with this.
- Perfected formatting and referencing: Citation styles, sub-sections, and general formatting are very important in academic work, especially if you’re trying to get your research published in a respected journal. From helping you choose which referencing style suits your needs to pointing out the ways in which you should change your formatting, an academic editor will aim to elevate your manuscript to a publishable standard.
How to Choose the Right Academic Editor
Finding the right editor isn’t an easy task – after all, you’re meant to put your trust in this person and hope that they will not only review but also improve your manuscript in the most professional way possible.
These are just 5 of the factors you should consider when looking for an academic editor:
- Expertise: A fiction editor will specialize in something completely different than what you require. What’s more, finding an academic editor isn’t enough as there are many various academic fields, and each comes with its own terminology, writing style, and requirements. In short, always try to find an academic editor who has experience in your field of expertise so that they can assist you effectively.
- Communication skills: In order to maximize the effectiveness of the editing process, it’s important that you and your editor communicate openly and ensure you’re on the same page, from the type of editing you need to deadlines, updates, and other forms of communication. Remember that you should have a clear idea of what’s going on – if you’re not sure, ask.
- Budget requirements: High-quality academic editing doesn’t come cheap as it requires a specialized skillset, extensive academic knowledge, and general editing skills on top of that. However, editing services do come at different prices depending on what it is you seek and where you look for it. Whatever your budget requirements, try to find something that suits your needs without compromising quality.
- Client testimonials: The best way to find out whether a professional editor is good at what they do is to read the testimonials on their website or the platform where they provide their services. Client feedback tells you a great deal about who this editor is and if they’d be a good match for you.
- Sample edit: Some editors will provide you with a sample edit, which is an edit of a short piece of your work. This way, you get to see if their approach and working style fit your requirements. It’s the quickest and easiest path to a smooth collaboration.
Conclusion
The academic publication process is not an easy one, and when you add high linguistic standards to the equation, it becomes a real headache. Fortunately, there are people who specialize in professional academic editing – people who can help you sculpt your manuscript into something solid, concrete, and structured.
Want to find out more? Reach out to FirstEditing.
