Express Edit

Do you have an unerring eye for detail? Are you an expert grammarian?

If not, then you need Express Edit...

Editing is a specialised job. At Express Edit we are skilled in spotting errors, and just as importantly in suggesting changes to text to make it clearer, plainer and easier for the reader to understand. What's more, we offer fast turn-around at competitive rates, so the project is kept under budget and the material goes out on time.

What we edit

We proofread, edit and polish all types of business and corporate communication, including:

          correspondence

          speeches

          press releases

          articles

          annual reports

          prospectuses

          promotional material such as advertisements, brochures, leaflets and fliers

          proposals and tenders

          briefing papers

          conference papers

          information packages

          technical reports

          instruction manuals

          training manuals

          digital presentations

          website content

          manuscripts (fiction, non-fiction and educational)

Types of edits

Express Edit  

Full Edit  

An Express Edit is a fast though thorough document check that seeks out and destroys gremlins that may have insinuated themselves into your writing while you weren't looking. These may include:

     incorrect grammar and punctuation;

 

     incorrect spelling and word usage;

 

     incorrect noun-verb agreement and noun-pronoun agreement;

 

     inappropriately used words;

 

     incorrect or clumsy sentence structure;

 

     tautology;

 

     unclear or ambiguous expression;

 

     inconsistent paragraphing.

A Full Edit includes all the features of an Express Edit. In addition, the editor will look more closely at your writing and make suggestions about higher order aspects of your writing, such as those listed below.

    Is the tone and vocabulary suitable for the intended audience?

 

    Can the text be improved by re-organising the content, making substantial changes to its structure and language?

 

    Does the text need to be re-written using Plain English?

 

    Are there any mixed metaphors?

 

    Are there any split infinitives? (We will consult you on this: once editors tended to studiously root out split infinitives, but they are no longer seen as serious mistakes in everyday English usage. In fact many people would not recognise a split infinitive even if they were to accidentally trip over it!)

What it costs

Express Edit

Full Edit

Basic handling fee per document: $25  

plus

8 cents per word for documents up to 1000 words (maximum fee of $85 including handling fee)

 

$60 per 1000 words (or part of 1000 words) for documents from 1001 words to 5000 words

 

$300 plus $40 per 1000 words (or part of 1000 words) for documents from 5001 to 10 000 words

 

$500 plus $30 per 1000 words (or part of 1000 words) for documents more than 10 000 words

Basic handling fee per document: $25  

plus

12 cents per word for documents up to 1000 words (maximum fee of $115 including handling fee)

 

$90 per 1000 words (or part of 1000 words) for documents from 1001 words to 5000 words

 

$450 plus $60 per 1000 words (or part of 1000 words) for documents from 5001 to 10 000 words

 

$750 plus $45 per 1000 words (or part of 1000 words) for documents more than 10 000 words  

How to order

Here's how it works. For small and medium jobs (up to 10 000 words) you simply email the work to Express Edit, and we will send a return email with the original and corrected versions. We can use a variety of methods- either a completely new document with changes tracked, suggestions in comments boxes, or we can simply work on the original document. We can also do hard-copy edits.

Fees are based on the number of words. A typical 1000 word brochure will cost as little as $85 for an Express Edit. This is a small price to pay for the certainty that your words say what you want them to say, and the reader gains a positive impression of your organisation. Contact us to find out more.

How long does it take?

Express Edit is a fast-turnaround service. We want you to have your edited work back with you as quickly as we possibly can. Here is a guide to our usual turn-around times. Full edits may take a little longer.

documents up to 1000 words

 

documents from 1001 words to 5000 words

 

documents from 5001 to 10 000 words

 

documents more than 10 000 words

24 hours

 

2 days

 

3 days

 

we aim to have everything returned within 4 to 5 days

Why use Express Edit?

A problem of image

You know the basic secret of a successful business. In business, marketing is everything. Without clients there is no business.

Businesses use the written word to get their message across. Print and display advertisements, brochures, fliers, business cards and signs establish a business in the market. The quality and correctness of these vital business tools cannot be underestimated.

This, unfortunately, is the downfall for many businesses and organisations. It’s not just the information in your message that attracts customers. There is another powerful message in the way those words are written. Just one grammatical, spelling or usage error can destroy the image you are trying to create. One badly phrased or confusing sentence can make a busy potential customer throw your material in the round out-tray. And the next piece of paper that potential paying client reads could well be from your main competitor.

Mistakes and clumsy wording can distract from the message, no matter how minor. They give the impression that your business is not an authoritative, careful, dependable one that pays attention to detail.

And yet mistakes so easily creep into correspondence, brochures, instruction booklets, fliers and advertisements. How many times have you picked up a ‘typo’ or a badly phrased sentence while reading promotional material or correspondence? Other people may be finding similar mistakes in your organisation's documentation..

Self-editing does not always work!

No matter how much we read and re-read the words we have written, some mistakes will slip through. The person who writes something knows exactly what they mean, and can easily miss double meanings, confusing phrases, grammatical errors and distracting layout.

But what about spell check and grammar check?

Spell check will pick up most spelling errors, but will not detect an incorrect homonym (such as ‘their’ or ‘there’), incorrect usage (such as ‘practice’ or ‘practise’) or a typo which happens to be a real word (such as typing ‘form’ instead of ‘from). Grammar check is at best an inexact tool. A skilled human will out-edit a computer any day!

The team

The Express Edit team have nearly ten years experience in the publishing industry. They have jointly written 140 books, including fiction, non-fiction and English texts for Primary and Secondary schools. This number includes 50 books on English Grammar, Punctuation, Spelling, Vocabulary and Reading. They understand the importance of plain English in business communication to make meaning clear and to create a positive impression in the mind of the reader- the potential or current client.

Our particular areas of expertise are educational works (including text books) and children's fiction and non-fiction, but we are able to access expertise in most areas of writing. We offer excellent results at a competitive price.

We write as well

Ask us also about the Express Edit writing service. We have extensive experience in writing educational works and in children’s fiction and non-fiction, and have access to skilled writers in many other fields.

Phone

          Australia-         02 4385 3505

          International-   61 2 4385 3505
Mail
Express Edit,
          60 Hastings Road,
Terrigal
          NSW    2260
AUSTRALIA
            
E-mail
john@expressedit.com

         

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