FAQ

Here are answers to some common questions.

☘ How do I know if you are professional? Am I in safe hands?

As a member of the UK Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (CIEP), I’m bound by its Code of Practice, which ensures its members act professionally and abide by certain industry standards.

For example, I will

• give a true and fair representation of my qualifications, experience and skills (3.1.4)
• not accept any job that I believe I cannot carry out to an acceptable standard (3.1.5)
• work with you to clearly define the terms of the work at the outset and agree on it in writing (e.g., in an email) (3.2.3)
• make the best use of my time for a job and make an effort to complete it to the required standard and schedule (3.1.6)
• keep you informed of my progress and respond to your emails in a timely manner (3.1.10, 3.1.11)
• take all reasonable precautions to ensure that the files you entrust to me are safe (3.1.9)
• respect confidentiality at all times (3.4)

☘ How do I work with you? What’s the workflow?

Here’s the usual process I have with my clients:

1. You contact me with your requirements. Please tell me:
   • Type of document (e.g., journal article, research report, web article, etc.) and topic
   • Approximate word count
   • Type of work (e.g., line editing/copyediting/proofreading/presentation)
   • Style, if any (e.g., Chicago, United Nations, EU, house style)
   • Deadline for me
   • Other details (useful information that you can provide beforehand)
2. I provide a quotation and we discuss whether we are a good match.
   • If you need a per-word estimate, please send me your document first.
   • You can also request sample edit. If you decide to hire me, the time I spent on the sample edit will be added to the cost of the whole project.
3. We agree on clear terms (e.g., the timeline of deliverables, payment schedule). For larger projects, you make an upfront deposit (up to 50% of the quote).
4. If we’ve agreed on two rounds of edits, I submit a draft for review, which you check.
5. I finalize the document and return it to you with the invoice.
6. You make the final payment (and submit a testimonial too please!). Project complete 🙂

☘ What is your rate? How much will this cost?

My clients have told me that I exceeded their expectations and many have come back as repeat clients.

• My base rate is EUR35 per hour.
• I can quote a rate per 1,000 words, but I need to first see your draft.
• The minimum charge for a project is EUR35.
• Reviewing references will be charged by the hour.

For copyediting of reasonably clear text, I go through around 1,200 words in an hour—but this is not a guarantee. My speed depends on your document and what you want me to do.

This means the quotation and final price will depend on your project.

My rate is based on industry standards suggested by the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA) and the Chartered Institute for Editing and Proofreading (UK).

☘ How do I make payment?

You can pay in USD, EUR, and JPY via bank transfer. (Please ask about THB payments.)

For USD and EUR, I recommend you use Wise (formerly Transferwise)—it’s often the cheapest transfer option (if you sign up via this link, you’ll get a free transfer).

☘ How do I know which editing service I should request?

It depends on what stage your work is at. Here’s a guide—but if you’re still not sure, you’re welcome to ask 🙂

If you’re a multi-language author (“English as a foreign language” or EFL writer), you may want to opt for line editing (it’s more intensive than copyediting) to make sure that you are also following the logical structure required by English writing.

Read more: What do you need? Copyediting vs. proofreading to understand the differences between those two services. The CIEP also has a very helpful free guide you can download.

☘ What file formats do you work with?

Other questions?

Feel free to contact me with other questions.