Welcome! I provide high-quality proofreading and copyediting services to publishers, authors, businesses and students. Please read on to see how I can help make your writing shine!
Proofreading vs Copyediting – what’s the difference?
Proofreading
Proofreading is a detailed check of a document for any errors before it goes on to the next stage in its journey. But when I proofread a document I’m not just looking for misplaced apostrophes or typos – I’m checking that the entire document ‘makes sense’. That means looking for incorrect word usage, checking the grammar and punctuation, making sure formatting is consistent, checking references, and many other things besides. Proofreading costs £12 per 2500 words (£10 for students/charities).
Copyediting
In addition to ‘sense checking’ the document as above, when I copyedit a document I’m looking to see how the text could be improved. It’s not about making wholesale changes to your work, but rather looking to remove things like unnecessary repetition or inconsistency, or looking for ways to help the text ‘flow’ better by suggesting changes to the structure. It’s a collaborative ‘back and forth’ process in which I make suggestions for you to review. Copyediting costs £15 per 2500 words (£12 for students or charities).
If you’re not sure which service you need, the handy infographic below might help. And if you’re still unsure, I offer a free, no obligation proof or edit of 2,500 words from your book – get in touch via the contact form to learn more!
“You are a joy to work with and great at what you do, I highly recommend you Gary and will definitely be back to work with you again! Thank you for all your hard work and support!”
Jemme MD Art, author “We Are All A Beautiful Mess”
Who I work with
I work in collaboration with businesses of all sizes and people from all walks of life such as publishers, authors, technical writers, bloggers, marketers, and students. And the size of the document doesn’t matter, either – whether it’s 1 or 100 pages long, I’m here to work with you to make your work the best it can be. This collaborative way of working is more fulfilling and less frustrating, and typically leads to a higher quality of document than when working alone.
In today’s busy environment not everyone has time to spend poring over their work to make sure it is free from errors, but sometimes even the tiniest error can lead to a loss of business, rejection from a publisher, or lower grades in academic work.
Having your documents proofed or edited to help them shine can increase trust in your business, improve your academic standing, or even help you land a book deal!
“The detail and care taken greatly improved the quality of my PhD thesis. I really appreciated the constructive approach in explaining the points that needed changing.”
Dr Vipavinee Artpradid, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Coventry University
Security
When you send me work, it’s important to know that your data will be kept safe and secure. All electronic files are securely stored on OneDrive, whilst all physical media is stored in locked file drawers. Sensitive data is stored in the OneDrive Personal Vault or a fireproof safe if you need an extra level of security. No data is copied to flash drives or taken off-site without your express permission. I have a standard confidentiality agreement which will need to be accepted before any work is undertaken, or I can work with your own agreements if you have them.
Pricing
Copyediting is charged at £15 per 2500 words and proofreading at £12 per 2500 words, but discounts are available for students and charities; see the rates page for full details. Once the job is complete you will be sent an invoice detailing the document(s) on which I’ve worked and the total price.
Payment terms are 30 days from the date of the invoice and I can accept payment via BACS/bank transfer. Consolidated invoicing is available for those sending lots of smaller documents over a month.
If you are interested in using my services then please get in touch via e-mail or the contact form and let me know the type of document you want me to look at (including a word count) and if it needs proofing or editing. I’ll get in touch as soon as possible to review your requirements with you.
Once we’ve discussed your needs I will give you a fixed price and timescale for the job so you know exactly what it will cost. There are no upfront or hidden charges, and any voice/video calls we have to discuss your project are included in the price.
“Gary has done a really professional job proofreading our new book and met the timescales with no problems at all. Working with Gary has been a really smooth process and we are extremely happy with his proofreading work.”
Abbe Wheeler, Executive Assistant, Cactus & Agencynomics
About me
First, the technical stuff. I have a BA (Hons) in English from the Open University and have a real passion for language and literature. It was this passion for English that lead me to study with the OU, from where I graduated in 2018. I’m a member of the Chartered Institute of Editors and Proofreaders (CIEP) and here’s my LinkedIN profile if you’d like to connect professionally. I’ve completed a number of courses on proofreading and copyediting, including one from Chapterhouse. I subscribe to the OED so you can be sure my dictionaries are as up-to-date as possible!
Over the years I’ve worked in myriad industry sectors, and each of my roles has involved proofing and editing documents in some fashion, be they technical instruction manuals, sales proposals, web blogs, or reviews. Some examples of my proofediting work can be found here.
On a lighter note, I’m a big fan of modern boardgames and regularly visit boardgame cafés in the Midlands as well as hosting game nights with friends. My boardgame blog can be found here. I also love films, music, eating out, and the odd bit of creative/copy writing. I’m also a bookworm and average around 40 books a year (if you’re interested in seeing my bookshelves, here’s my Goodreads page).
“Neat and well-presented work, clear use of [proofreading] symbols.”
Chapterhouse Publishing
Get in Touch
Gary Jukes Proofreading & Copyediting
e: gary@garyjukesproofreading.com
m: 07906 823015
Send Me a Message
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