IB Editorial Services - Proofreading, copy editing, copy writing

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PROOFREADING
COPY EDITING
COPY WRITING
RE-WRITING
INDEXING
FORMATTING
TECHNICAL WRITING

TRANSCRIPTION
MANUSCRIPTS
DISSERTATIONS / THESES
RESEARCH
WORD PROCESSING
PHOTO LIBRARY

ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE

This list is intended as a guideline only as it is difficult to detail the wide variety of tasks we perform on a daily basis. If what you require is not listed, please ask. If we are not capable of providing the service you need we will be happy to refer you to an experienced colleague who can assist you.

Please see Prices page for details of hourly rates or per project fees.

Full business and office support services are available for companies and individuals via
IB Secretarial Services and IB Transcription Services

PROOFREADING Email Us	Copy editing is not the same as proofreading. Ideally, proofreading should come at the end of the process, when the document is ready to go to typesetting or print and well after the copy editing stage. Checking proofs is a tedious but critical task and any mistakes overlooked can be costly to correct at the page proof stage. Modern computer spellcheckers are useful but have their limitations. They are based on US English and are unable to distinguish the correct tense or even whether a word is correct (i.e. they would not pick up the difference between 'where' and 'wear'). We can make corrections to copy on disk or hard copy, or change documents electronically, making use of 'track changes' to highlight editing changes. We can check and correct typos, spelling, punctuation, grammar, and general English errors highlight any format, content, layout, heading or formatting and cross-reference inconsistencies check typographical details and ensure consistency
COPY EDITING Email Us	Being able to write creatively does not necessarily mean an ability to edit. Proof-reading and editing your own writing is notoriously difficult - a fresh pair of eyes and an objective viewpoint is nearly always needed. Depending upon the degree of editing required, we can provide the following options: Option 1 - Light editing correct spelling, punctuation, grammar, syntax, and general English usage check for overall clarity and consistency of style, tone and sentence structure reorganise text or change paragraph order to improve overall clarity and flow highlight inconsistencies in word use, meaning and format check against layout specifications for typesetting suggest improvements in layout and overall presentation Option 2 - Substantive editing All of the above for light editing and proofreading plus where required rewrite to improve the structure and content without changing the original meaning rewrite to improve meaning and vocabulary rewrite confusing, ambiguous or awkward sentences to improve flow of text remove wordiness, inappropriate terms or jargon query conflicting statements, discrepancies or inconsistencies reduce word count to comply with specified length suggest major revisions or identify gaps in content or areas of text which need further development Please note - we reserve the right to limit the editorial service provided for dissertations, theses and manuscripts to 'straightforward' proofreading or light editing if the document contains technical terms or subject matter with which we could not be expected to be automatically familiar. Any unclear, confusing or technical sections will be flagged but will NOT be edited. Students please note that we can help 'tidy' and restructure your original work but we cannot write your thesis for you.
COPY WRITING Email Us	We can assist with copy for advertisements, business brochures, leaflets, instruction manuals, fact sheets, business plans, reports, proposals, newsletters and articles to your specifications from your notes, materials or a rough draft. Where necessary we can also carry out appropriate research via the library or internet (travel or telephone charges will be applied on top of the hourly rate).
RE-WRITING Email Us	If you are dissatisfied with your original text, or have had one rejection slip too many, we can rewrite or restructure your existing manuscript, cutting and pruning where necessary to improve your work. We look at style, clarity, tone and structure. Website Rewriting - We can help construct text for websites which will be search engine friendly. So often websites are full of marketing or PR hype, with barely a keyword to be seen. Websites should be written first for search engines and second, for clients. The fanciest website text is of no use if the search engines can't find the site in the first place. We can write relevant meta tags, title, description and keywords, as well as suggesting relevant 'body text' for your web pages.
INDEXING Email Us	An accurate and comprehensive index is vital for a work of non-fiction, and we can assist with this chore, compiling indexes to the specifications of publishers. We can provide various levels of indexing: Simple - basic terms including names, places, organisations, publications. No cross-reference or sub-entries. Medium - important terms including subject, concepts, themes and ideas. Key cross-references and sub-entries Complex - most terms including all of the above plus most cross references and sub-entries
FORMATTING Email Us	We can change the existing layout and format of a document to match any new typesetting, printing or publisher's requirements to include headings, spacing, indentations, page numbers, margins, paragraphs, quotes, references, endnotes, footnotes.
TECHNICAL WRITING	While IB Editorial Services does not specialise in technical writing, we are pleased to be associated with Iceni Project Consultancy who can meet all your needs. Iceni Project Consultancy is a long established service and IT Training Company, which in November 2001 won the Colchester and District E-Business, Small Company award. The consultants have many years of specialist writing experience covering various business areas. Diane Chapman has been writing technical and bespoke training manuals since 1990, before which she spent a year writing quality manuals. She is a founder member of the Institute of IT Trainers, having proven her abilities in technical authoring. She has worked for many blue chip companies including BT, Glaxo Wellcome, Coopers & Lybrand and the Lord Chancellors Office. John Chapman is a qualified accountant who specialises in writing implementation plans and test scripts for ERP solutions. John is security cleared and has worked for many major clients in the UK, including Burberry, Prudential and P&O Nedlloyd as well as the MOD.
TRANSCRIPTION Email Us	We are equipped to handle all manner of audio typing and dictation, whether a letter, report, meetings, seminars, conferences or interviews. We can transcribe standard audio tapes, micro or mini cassettes, as well as digital DSS or WAV files. Once transcribed, your work can be emailed, faxed or posted. Editing service Rarely does spoken English appear concise and clear, particularly in interviews. It can appear rambling and repetitive (lots of ums and ahs) and can easily become incomprehensible. We can edit the literal transcription into a taut, easily understood text where the speaker's meaning is clear. Please contact us for details of prices. PLEASE NOTE - We invariably speak much faster than we write or type. It is generally accepted that we can speak four times faster than we can type. It is a commonly held misconception that it takes one hour to transcribe one hour of recorded tape. This is incorrect. The industry standard allows ONE hour to transcribe 15 minutes of clearly recorded speech. It can take a MINIMUM of 4 hours to transcribe a 1 hour tape and as much as 6 or 8 hours depending on The quality of the recording The clarity of the voices on the tape The number of people speaking The speed at which they are talking Whether they speak in coherent sentences The degree of native accents The amount of technical terms involved The position and number of microphones used Please see IB Transcription Services for a fuller description of the available services.
MANUSCRIPTS Email Us	This service is available to both writers and publishers. If you need handwritten notes, typed drafts or audio transcription turned into a finished manuscript, we can help with a prompt, efficient, accurate service
DISSERTATIONS & THESES Email Us	Mail, fax or email your handwritten dissertation / thesis and we will produce a laser printed hard copy, plus floppy disk to your specification. Please note that we offer competitive discounts on our prices for all students - please contact us for details.
RESEARCH Email Us	Comprehensive library and internet research service available to academics, writers and business people worldwide. We can research and review Net resources on assigned topics and report the findings in whichever form you prefer.
WORD PROCESSING Email Us	We can help with everything from letters and memos to reports, journals or complete procedure manuals. We are fully conversant with all Windows packages and can supply a professionally finished document on plain paper or your own letterhead. Leave the choice of fonts and layout to us or specify a range of special features, including graphics and desktop publishing options. We can accommodate special layouts such as columns, tables, or charts and a range of styles and colours.
PHOTO LIBRARY Email Us	Irene Boston is a published author of guidebooks and walking books and understands the needs of both writers and publishers. Our Photo Library, with its extensive collection of landscapes, towns and villages of the British Isles, may be of interest to both publishers and writers.
ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE Email Us	IF ENGLISH IS NOT YOUR MOTHER TONGUE we can check your document for spelling errors and ensure it is grammatically correct. We offer everything from a simple read through of your document with handwritten changes and a list of suggestions, to a complete editorial and re-writing service, making alterations where appropriate without changing the original meaning.

AMENDMENTS / REVISIONS - We always hold copies of completed work on our computer for one year. This enables us to make updates or amendments with ease, saving you time and money.

If you would like further information about any of our services or want to discuss an option not mentioned, please call and we will do our best to help. We have access to a network of experienced VAs via the Alliance of UK Virtual Assistants, who between us cover most specialist skills.

Tel/Fax: +44 (0)1485 543746 Boston@ibss.fsnet.co.uk

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This page was last updated 28th August 2004