Line Editing

What it is

Ask six editors and you’ll get six definitions of line editing. But typically, we can all agree that line editing happens at the sentence level and is about style, clarity, and readability.

So what does that mean in practice?

When it comes to academic line editing, that means that I edit your text with an eye toward both personal transparency and scholarly authority. Gone are the days of long-winded sentences, nominalizations, and excessive jargon. Enter the days of vibrant academic manuscripts that speak with clear and invested expertise, value a challenging but pleasurable reading experience, and resonate with audiences both inside and outside the ivory tower.

This service includes one read through where I build my understanding of your subject matter, goals, voice, and intentions, and then a following read through where I edit to focus and amplify all of those things.

What it’s not

Some line editors are also mechanical copy-editors, which means they can guarantee their grammatical perfection, cross-check your citations, format your bibliography/references, and build a style sheet to help with continuity across the text when it comes to typesetting and proofreading.

I am not that line editor. My grammar is excellent, but my focus is on style, voice, authority, and bringing out joy in the work.

So, if you’re looking for someone who can do it all, check out the Editorial Freelance Association pages for your perfect match, or shoot me an email for a referral.

When it’s helpful

This service is almost always best purchased when you have all the developmental pieces in place and your text is as good as you can make it on your own, ready for professional polish.

How much it costs

$250 + $.04-$.08/wd after 5k words

The range per word reflects the variety of texts I look at, whether or not they use my particular fields of expertise, what shape they’re in, and whether an author is paying out of pocket or through their institution. I also use that range to affect a sliding scale based on academic rank and access to research pools.

Let’s work Together