Manuscript Proofreading
Your contribution to medical literature is an opportunity to present accurate original researched work.
Quality and complete reporting can be accurate without time constraints, long and irregular working hours. Proofreading is a confidential service helping you to correct grammatical errors, adhere to format and avoid plagiarism. Avoid errors and missing data. Documents can be proofread and corrected in electronic format with MS Word, Adobe or proofreading marks by hand.
The work is governed by the 'Australian Standards for Editing Practice', as set by the Institute of Professional Editors Limited (IPEd). These core standards aspire to use a range of skills and knowledge in meeting good outcomes.
Medical Presentations aims to be clear about the services in editing the work of research students’ theses and dissertations. IPEd and the Australian Council of Graduate Research Inc (ACGR) developed 'Guidelines for editing research theses’, to give legal scope and limitations for editing services.
Process for agreeing on variations
The processing of the services is clear, simple and easy. It is designed to enable relationship building opportunities, negotiation of timelines, workload management, content analysis, interactive updates/discussions, services, optimisation and approval of the final version.
Choices are offered for the text to be:
a) Marked up electronically and emailed in PDF format.
b) Handwritten edited with proofreading marks and emailed in PDF format.
c) Edited and errors identified in a summary (page, section, line).
d) Combinations of the above.
Diligent editing and proofreading of your manuscript to a quality standard.
Editing
Presenting core and disciplined ideas
Structure & Layout
Clear design
Navigation, hierarchy, sections
Concise storytelling with narratives
Logical and chronological order
Titles, headings and subheadings
TEEL paragraph formula
Adheres to length
Formatting
Organised and themed
Header and footer
Margins
Alignment and spacing
Page numbering
Line spacing of text
Line breaks
Indenting of quotes
Distinctive paragraphs
Specified colour
Preferred typeface and size
Kerning and tracking
Emphasis with bold, italics and underline
Correct display of numbers, currency, time
24 hr notation, date, decades and centuries
Digital functions linked and working
Style
Tone
Stylish alignment
Complies with guidelines (format, writing style, citation, clear language, inclusivity,
accessibility and legal writing.
Specific submission recommendations
Cohesion
Repetition of nouns
Parallelism
Reference
Transition connecting phrases
Sequencing
Variety of sentence structure
Consequences
Cause/effect relationships
Contrast
Coherency
Clear concise sentences
Choice of words (Australian English, Medical
English and Scientific English)
Repetition of ideas
Transitional expressions
Pronouns
Synonyms
Parallelism
Prepositions
Connectives
Adverbs
Comparatives
Correction of typography
Syntax
Prepositions
Verb tense
Pronouns
Punctuation (commas, colons, semicolons, question marks, commas and full stops)
Appropriate use of ampersand
Proofreading
Original writing with correct English
Clarity
Active voice in writing
Clear titles, headings and subheadings
Reduces lengthy sentences
Concise and descriptive narrations with keywords and correct terminology
Clear explanations
Consistent verb tense, pronouns, acronyms, use of names and titles
Removes redundant expressions, jargon,
colloquial language, slang, emotional,
exaggerated, discriminating and dramatic
language
Sentence stress
Formatted dot-points
Accurate captions, citations, footnotes and references to literature
Introduces abbreviations
Grammar
Active voice Appropriate use of nouns, determinants,
pronouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs,
propositions and conjunctions Compound sentences
Use of punctuation and capitalisation
Completion of dependant clauses
Direct and indirect objects
Terminology
Abbreviation adherence to style
Objective descriptions
Avoidance of:
- acronyms in abstract and conclusion
- contractions
- words dating the information
- judgemental adjectives
- personal beliefs
Spelling
Consistent English language choice
(Australian/British/American/ international)
Punctuation
Correct use of colons, semi-colons, commas,
apostrophes, capitalisation, quotation marks, double quotations, ampersands, hyphens, dashes, periods, exclamation points, parentheses, question marks and ellipse.
Plagiarism check
Direct quotes when paraphrasing is
inappropriate
Paraphrasing
References for tables, charts, diagrams and
images from other sources
End text reference list of citations in order
Fact-checking
Details
Terminology
Citations, accurate details in footnotes, references, bibliography,
Contemporary guidelines and laws
Date, time, amount, designation, institution and contact details.
Graphic Design
Interesting and clear designs
Colour
Theming relevancy
Spacial
Contrast
Background, graphs, images
Design readability
Line thickness
Relevant to room lighting
Format
Balanced
Consistency of titles
Captions
Visually guided placement
Images
Real life
Simple 2D or 3D illustrations
Shapes used to theme or contain text
Industry standard quality of resolution
Plain English
Easy to understand
Simplifying
Logical and chronological order
Clear and short headings
Simplifying questions, statements and topic
sentences
Answering the questions they want to know
shorter words, sentences and paragraphs
More explanations
Present tense
Consistent use of terms
Verb centred sentences
Main idea before exceptions and conditions
Transitions with pointing word, echo links
and connectives
Lists
Avoiding slashes (and/or)
Simple tables and images
Voice strength and words
Active voice
Directive and co-ordinative language
Written in second person ('you' and 'we')
Strong positive words
Gender neutral
Use of pronouns to speak directly to the audience
Familiar language and real-life tone
Clarity
Words with visual imagery
Minimised abbreviations and acronyms
Shorter explanations and definitions
Avoiding jargon and technical language
Avoidance of homonyms, homophones,
Real life descriptions of situations and
images
Readability
Sentences with higher ranking readability using Flesch-Kincaid Grade and Flesch Reading Ease
Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG)
2.0 at Level AAA
