A valuable service
The technological revolution means that English is increasingly the international language of the academic world. Whether we like or not, it is becoming increasingly clear that academics must be published in prestigious international English-language journals if they are to progress in their academic careers. It is also apparent that many able people are presently being held back by the simple fact that English is not their first language and they are therefore prevented from expressing their otherwise admirable work in attractive and fluent English prose suitable for an academic readership. It is such a pity if these authors are prevented from sharing their expertise simply because their written expression does not reflect the otherwise excellent nature of their work
    Journals also suffer if they cannot accept such work because it is 'not quite right'. Journals do not have the facilities for editing this work to an acceptable standard and are often forced, reluctantly, to reject the submission. Journals thus lose valuable contributors and fail to expand their readership into markets where they might otherwise find a genuine following.
    Contributors and journals alike thus have a real interest in a professional editorial service tailored specifically for contributors whose first language is not English.

My own background in brief
I am an experienced editor of book manuscripts for international publishing houses such as Oxford University Press, Pearson Education, and Simon & Schuster. I hold academic and professional qualifications in medicine, history, theology, and education from Monash and Oxford universities, but my interests are extremely wide-ranging. In recent years I have tended to do a great deal of work in the fields of management theory and practice, especially as it relates to the provision of services.
    Although the bulk of my work comes from editing manuscripts for books, I am attempting to alter the balance of my work somewhat by concentrating more on the editing of academic papers—especially for persons whose first language is not English. In all humility, I believe that this sort of work requires particular expertise. The editor must be experienced in the academic world, must have a 'feel' for the special requirements of academic papers, and must know how to edit papers effectively without interfering unnecessarily and inappropriately. In short, the papers must be handled with sensitivity and professionalism.
    I can provide warm endorsements of the excellence of my service from many academics for whom I have done this sort of work.

Style of work
I aim to retain the essential 'voice' of the author at all times. That is, I do not presume to change or restructure the work in any significant way. I merely 'tidy up' grammar, syntax, and modes of expression in an attempt to allow authors to express themselves fluently, effectively, and impressively to publishers and readers. The work therefore remains the intellectual property of the author in every respect, both ethically and legally.
    I also check that the paper is in accordance with the broad requirements of academic journals. That is, I check that all reference citations are present, that papers are set out in accordance with the usual requirements of designers, that tables and figures are present, numbered, and cross-referenced appropriately, and so on. (I cannot, however, undertake to satisfy the detailed submission requirements of every journal. Every journal has its own particular requirements regarding styling of references, double spacing of text, and so on, and authors must attend to these detailed matters in consultation with the journal involved.)
    In summary, I aim to ensure that the paper to be submitted reads well, contains no grammatical and spelling errors, is in accordance with the usual styling requirements of designers, and communicates the author's intentions with impressive clarity and style.
    My aim is to allow the author to speak with his or her own 'voice', but with clarity and style in well-expressed English that is suitable for academic publication and readership.

Method of work
I receive papers as Word attachments to emails. I edit (and style) these papers onscreen and return promptly in two versions. The first version shows all proposed corrections ('tracker facility') so the author can see what is proposed to be done. The second version shows the final paper if all corrections are accepted. If all suggestions in the first version are acceptable, the author has the second version as a final edited paper available for immediate submission to journals, referees, or examiners.
    This method allows the author to judge (on the first version) which changes, if any, he or she wishes to accept. This also acts as a 'self-teaching' exercise in allowing the author to note what sorts of problems are occurring in the work, and what is required to set these matters right. Often the changes are not so much a question of the original work being definitely 'wrong'. Often it is a question of forms of expression being 'not quite right'. If the author agrees with my suggestions, the second version is virtually 'ready to go'.
    I also include scattered 'editor's notes' to alert the author to any matters requiring attention. These might be missing reference citations, problems with ambiguity, suggestions for improvement, and so on. These 'editor's notes' are kept to a minimum, and aim to be helpful without being intrusive.
    I have broadband ADSL Internet access to provide permanent, fast Internet and email communication at all times.

Charges and method of payment
From personal experience, I am aware that academics and students are not wealthy people. I therefore aim for low-fee, high-volume work in supplying this service. I combine this with fast turnaround and personalised service.
    I charge AUD$60 per hour (plus GST for Australian clients, but not for international clients). For payment, I require credit card details (Visa or MasterCard, name on card, number, exp date) and an agreement to charge against that credit card at the time of return of the edited documents. These credit card details are kept secure. No charge will ever be made against a credit card without the client's knowledge or authorisation. I make a charge only at the time of returning the edited documents. I am happy to supply itemised invoices and/or receipts by email if this is required for accounting purposes.
    The amount charged varies depending upon the length of the paper and the amount of editing work required.
    I reiterate that I am aware that academics and students are not wealthy people. I am aware that there will be no market for my services if I overcharge. I must develop a reputation for quality work at reasonable cost. I can therefore assure you that I will, if anything, undercharge for my services, and that I will provide a professional service that offers good value for money. If I do not do so, I will simply lose my clientele!

Ethics and confidentiality
Authors can be quite confident that the material which they submit to me will be handled ethically in every respect. The confidentiality of the author and papers will be respected at every stage. I am an experienced professional editor of academic textbooks and papers, I have a strong academic background myself (Monash and Oxford universities), and I am used to handling submitted materials with due respect for the intellectual and moral property of the author at all times.

Contacting me
I trust that this information is helpful. If so, I look forward to hearing from you. You can contact me, or send your manuscripts, via the following address.