1. Proofreading, copyediting, and developmental copyediting
Even within the publishing industry, these terms can mean different things to different people. Let’s untangle them here.
Proofreading
Proofreading involves checking your text to remedy any grammatical errors, ensuring the language used is appropriate for your audience, and, if necessary, bringing the work in line with the relevant style guide. This does not mean sweeping edits and cuts; rather, you will receive a polished version of your original text.
This option is particularly useful when you are in the final stages of preparing a paper for publication or peer review; if you are publishing a blog or a short piece of writing online; or if you are a native or near-native speaker and simply want a fresh pair of eyes on your essay before turning it in.
I generally charge an hourly rate of €35 for proofreading. I don’t charge for meetings or emails; you’ll only pay for the editing itself. You can find out more about my pricing here.
Copyediting
Like proofreading, copyediting involves checking grammar, syntax, and punctuation. However, it also entails a deeper dive into your text. I will ensure that the language is idiomatic and fluent, and, if requested, make suggestions about rearranging certain paragraphs or sections to improve the flow of the work, as well as flagging points that appear inconsistent or that require more elaboration.
This service sees us work together to strengthen both the language and, in some cases, the structure of the text. It is particularly helpful when you are finishing the first draft stage of your thesis, are revising your dissertation for publication, or if you are a non-native speaker and want to ensure your work reads smoothly.
I generally charge an hourly rate of €35 for copyediting. I don’t charge for meetings or emails; you’ll only pay for the editing itself. You can find out more about my pricing here.
Developmental copyediting
Developmental copyediting is copyediting’s big sister. This sees us work closely together to strengthen your text. I can provide you with feedback on the overall coherence of the text, suggest ideas for its improvement, and assist you with its structure and formatting. It may involve you rewriting sections, us moving paragraphs and/or chapters around, and meetings in which we discuss the argument, direction, and target audience. Of course, it also involves a final proofread in which I will check the grammar, syntax, and punctuation.
This service sees us work together to make your text and argument the strongest it can be. It is particularly helpful when you have just finished drafting your thesis, are planning to significantly revise your dissertation for publication (e.g. splitting it into multiple books or chapters, or preparing it for a broader audience), or are finding it difficult to move past the draft stage of an article.
I generally charge an hourly rate of €35 for developmental copyediting. The first two meetings (up to 40 min each) and any email correspondence are not included. You can find out more about my pricing here.
Breaking it down…
Perhaps you’re amazing at formatting references, and you just want me to check your language; or maybe you want feedback on the structure of your paper, but time or budget constraints don’t allow for a proofread alongside this? The blocks below show the level of intervention that each type of edit involves, but you can also pick and choose from these modules as needed.
2. German->English translation
As an English native speaker with a high proficiency in German, I will provide you with a polished English translation of your original German text.
Aside from academia, I specialise in blog posts, marketing, and tourism. However, I am always happy to take on texts from other creative areas (e.g. newsletters, subtitles, comics, websites)—you name it!
I charge an hourly rate of 40€ for translation. I charge per hour rather than per page because some texts (e.g. newsletters) take much less time than others (e.g. academic manuscripts). I will be able to offer you a quote based on a sample of your work.
3. Testimonials
Dr Cathrine Bublatzky,
Visual and Media Anthropologist at the University of Tübingen
“Mhairi Montgomery has been an indispensable support to me and my publication duties as an anthropologist. My articles, book chapters, and special issues in the field of visual and media anthropology and diaspora studies received a high-quality linguistic polish.
No matter how urgent the situation, Mhairi responded to all of my requests with a great deal of kindness, patience, and responsibility.
I highly recommend Mhairi Montgomery as an English copyeditor and proofreader.”
Queeres Zentrum Mannheim (Queer Centre in Mannheim)
“Mhairi Montgomery translates texts from German into English on a voluntary basis for our non-profit association. She has, for example, worked on our monthly newsletter and website text. We are extremely satisfied with her careful and fast work, and we hope that Mhairi stays with us for a long time yet, so that she may continue to help us reach interested English-speaking parties with her apt translations.”
Dr Matthias Schumann, Institute of Sinology, University of Heidelberg
“Mhairi was recommended to me by colleagues at Heidelberg University and I am very happy that she agreed to help with proofreading and copy-editing a number of book chapters as well as a variety of academic articles for peer-reviewed journals. Even though the topics were quite diverse (ranging from urban ecology to Chinese religious history), she never failed to make excellent suggestions for how to improve both form and content of the chapters and articles, all of this with a speed that was quite astonishing. All my writings have profited tremendously from her interventions and I can warmly recommend her services to anyone looking for someone with a keen eye for detail but also a great feeling for the overall composition of a text.”
Copyediting, proofreading, and translation services. 