English Finish copy-editing and language editing

Introduction

What is English Finish*?
An agency that has been providing copy-editing and proofreading services to professional writers worldwide for over a decade. We take pride in achieving 100% positive feedback from our clients to date, and in our clients' reporting overwhelmingly positive feedback from their publishers.

We specialise in language-editing for non-native speakers who choose or have to write in English and want to feel as confident about the quality of their work as when they write in their own language.

Why would you need a copy editor or a proofreader?
Most of us write from some sort of 'script' in our heads. When we go back to read what we've written, our brain anticipates the vocabulary we've chosen and the structure we've devised for our text. Because our work is so familiar to us, we normally lack not only the critical distance from which gaps and mistakes become clearly visible, but also the fresh eye that will spot them. For that reason, most copy editors and proofreaders won't correct texts written by themselves.

A professional copy editor or proofreader will bring that fresh eye to your written work, plus a toolkit of skills and techniques for repairing any problems that crop up.

Copy-editing or proofreading?
While there is an overlap between the two, the terms are not synonymous. When you submit a manuscript for publication it is first copy-edited, then proofread. In the process, the copy editor will overhaul your manuscript so that the proofreader can run the final check and eliminate any remaining errors before your work is sent to the printer.

Find out more about the copy-editing and proofreading services offered by English Finish to decide which service you need.

Important!
Please take time to read 'the small print'. When you hire English Finish, it will be assumed that you have read, understood, and accepted our terms & conditions, as stipulated in the contract.

Our Clients

Our clients, whether native speakers or ESL writers, include:

academic writers, management consultants (University of Zurich – Switzerland; Ludwig-Maximilians University – Munich, Germany; Freie Universit�t Berlin – Germany; Copenhagen Business School – Denmark; Witten/Herdecke University – Germany; University of Oldenburg – Germany; German Research Center for Environmental Health – Neuherberg, Germany; Psychiatric Hospital of Ludwig-Maximilians University – Munich, Germany; Rouen Business School – France; Institute for Mediterranean Studies – Rethymno, Greece; University of Linz – Austria; Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam; Universit� du Qu�bec � Montr�al – Canada; London School of Economics – UK; Lund University – Sweden)
scriptwriters, journalists, critics (film critics; literary critics; art critics; the Greek Film Archive – Athens, Greece; the Greek Film Center – Athens, Greece)
postdoctoral researchers (film studies; business studies)
freelance writers (short stories; non-fiction)

Our Subject Areas
	Our subject areas include: corporate social responsibility (CSR) social anthropology business management (theory and practice) history psychology psychiatry neurology genetics epidemiology film theory and criticism screenplays, synopses art reviews literary criticism general non-fiction (e.g. websites, self-help guides, travel guides)

To ensure a high standard of service offered to our clients we follow best-practice guidelines as set by the Society for Editors and Proofreaders' (Sfep) Code of Practice.

The million-dollar tip for authors: plan realistically, not optimistically.

It may not be quite a million, but this tip certainly translates into saving time & money for everyone involved. Experience shows that many authors are overoptimistic about the time it'll take them to complete their manuscript.

To avoid unnecessary frustration, opt for realistic, as opposed to ideal, deadlines.

Remember that copy editors, proofreaders, and publishers often work to very tight schedules that can only absorb limited delays. To make sure that you can deliver your manuscript in time, and get it back in time, it pays to plan realistically.

Also remember that it isn't always possible for a copy editor to find other work if you cancel at short notice, so please don't book with a view to cancelling if e.g. your hypotheses are not confirmed, your models don't work, or your research has gaps.

NEW! Workshops on academic writing skills for non-native English speakers

Contact Us
	You can e-mail English Finish for a free quotation. Before you do so, you might like to consult our list of practical tips for authors, our additional tips for non-native speakers, as well as the checklist for authors, which we hope you will find helpful. You may also wish to have a look at our general terms & conditions.

web address: www.englishfinish.co.uk e-mail address: info@englishfinish.co.uk you can also contact us at: englishfinish@gmail.com

*Literally? 'English Finish' is a term used in the print industry to describe a 'smooth finish on uncoated book paper; smoother than eggshell, rougher than smooth'.

Website design and graphics by A. Gause. This website has been developed for English Finish Editing Services � and is hosted by Awardspace.com.
Copyright � Artemis Gause 2006, 2009; last updated May 2013.

Testimonials
	Here are a few screenshots of client feedback, which we always appreciate: