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Publishing scientific research in peer-reviewed journals is a challenging process, particularly for non-native English speakers. Clarity, coherence, and grammatical accuracy are critical in scientific writing, as they allow researchers to communicate their findings effectively to a global audience. For this reason, increasingly, top journals require manuscripts to be edited professionally prior to submission. In response, many researchers use English language editing services. This post explores the top English language editing services for scientific manuscripts in 2024, helping you decided which one best fits your needs.

Why English Language Editing is Valuable for Scientific Papers

Many leading journals emphasize clear, well-organized, and grammatically accurate writing, as even minor language issues can lead to misinterpretation or rejection. English language editing helps ensure that a manuscript meets these standards, allowing the science to stand out without the potential for misinterpretation. This is especially important for researchers who are non-native English speakers but beneficial for any author aiming to elevate the professionalism and readability of their work. Although one might think responsibility for writing quality should fall onto the journals themselves (there is a peer review and editorial review after all), from a cost perspective, this is not acceptable to the publishers.

Types of English Language Editing Services

Before diving into the top services, it’s useful to understand the types of editing available:

1. Basic Proofreading: Addresses grammatical, spelling, and punctuation errors without changing the paper's structure or meaning.
2. Substantive Editing: A more detailed review that ensures clarity, logical flow, and coherence, which may involve rephrasing sentences for readability.
3. Scientific Editing: Tailored specifically for scientific manuscripts, focusing on technical terminology and field-specific style, ensuring alignment with disciplinary standards. This may include feedback on methodology and best reporting practices.
4. Journal Submission Packages: Comprehensive services that include manuscript formatting, cover letter assistance, and sometimes even submission support, often customized to meet specific journal guidelines.

Key Factors to Consider When Choosing an Editing Service

Choosing an editing service depends on several key factors:

• Expertise in Scientific Writing: Editors with a background in scientific fields ensure that technical terminology is accurately used and that the manuscript aligns with the norms of scientific writing.
• Journal-Specific Experience: Some services are familiar with the requirements of specific journals, helping authors meet exacting submission standards.
• Turnaround Time: Turn around time is a crucial consideration – one word of caution, posted turn around times on editor websites can be misleading as they will often require multiple rounds of edits back and forth with authors which can take weeks.
• Pricing and Cost Models: Consider options based on your budget, including whether per-word, per-page, or subscription-based makes the most sense. Unfortunately, language editing services aren’t cheap.

Top English Language Editing Services for Scientific Papers in 2024

Here is a list of some of the top editing services for scientific manuscripts, each offering unique features and advantages:

Editage

• Overview: A global leader in scientific editing, providing a range of editing and translation services.
• Types of Editing: Basic, Advanced, and Premium Editing, tailored for different levels of review.
• AI Features: Editage’s AI writing tool Paperpal can help draft manuscripts from scratch using AI.
• Pricing: Per word pricing varying per package level
• Notable Features: AI-driven editing checks, personalized editing suggestions, and expedited turnaround options.

American Journal Experts (AJE)

• Overview: A service renowned for its high-quality editing, particularly for researchers in academia.
• Types of Editing: Standard, Premium, and Plus packages with options for formatting and translation.
• AI Features: AJE has a new AI writing tool Curie that helps researchers create manuscripts from scratch.  
• Pricing: Per-word pricing varying per package level
• Notable Features: Journal formatting, cover letter assistance, and dedicated support for non-native English speakers.

Enago

• Overview: Specializes in manuscript editing for academic and scientific writing.
• Types of Editing: Offers substantive and premium scientific editing with journal submission packages.
• Pricing: Per-word pricing varying per package level
• Notable Features: Journal-specific editing, free re-editing in case of rejection, and detailed editor feedback.

Wiley Editing Services

• Overview: Part of Wiley Publishing, this service has a deep understanding of journal requirements.
• Types of Editing: Basic to advanced editing, including scientific editing tailored for different disciplines.
• Pricing: Per-word pricing (quote required)
• Notable Features: Focus on formatting for Wiley journals,.

Elsevier’s Language Editing Services

• Overview: Affiliated with Elsevier, this service provides editing and translation for manuscripts targeting Elsevier journals.
• Types of Editing: Language editing, journal selection assistance, and peer review support.
• Pricing: Tiered pricing based on word count and editing depth.
• Notable Features: Integration into Elsevier journal submission processes

Comparison of Different English Editing Services

Tips for Getting the Most Out of an Editing Service

• Preparing Your Manuscript: Before sending your manuscript, ensure it’s formatted according to the service’s guidelines, with figures and tables clearly labeled.
• Communicating with the Editor: Provide clear instructions, including any journal guidelines. Mention any specific areas where you seek extra attention.
• Understanding Feedback: Be open to editor suggestions and take time to review feedback closely. Editing is not just about grammar but enhancing the manuscript’s clarity and readability.

Resub: A Low-Cost, High-Accuracy Alternative for Manuscript Formatting

For researchers looking to simplify the manuscript submission process without breaking the bank, Resub offers an innovative and cost-effective solution. Unlike traditional editing services that focus primarily on language refinement, Resub automates the complex task of formatting manuscripts to meet the specific requirements of any journal, reducing the time and hassle of manual adjustments.

Here’s why Resub stands out as an alternative:

1. Affordable and Unlimited Use: Most editing services charge several hundred US dollars per manuscript format. Resub’s pricing includes multiple submissions (and resubmissions) into a convenient pricing plan. This flexibility makes Resub a highly economical choice for active researchers or institutions where manuscript submissions are frequent.
2. High Accuracy for Journal-Specific Requirements: Resub’s technology is built to understand the precise requirements of thousands of journals, from formatting styles to specific sectioning and citation rules. This makes it a reliable tool for ensuring manuscripts meet journal standards for submission, reducing the risk of format-based desk rejections.
3. Optimized Workflow for Researchers: Resub’s simple and intuitive workflow is designed to save researchers hours of manual reformatting work (it takes only 5 minutes per manuscript). By automating journal-specific adjustments, Resub allows authors to focus more on the scientific content of their work rather than tedious formatting details.
4. Subscription-Based Model for Scalability: Resub’s subscription-based model allows users to reformat many manuscripts as needed under a single plan. This scalability is ideal for researchers or teams that produce multiple publications each year, offering a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to traditional per-paper editing fees.
5. Easy Submission-Ready Outputs: Beyond just formatting, Resub creates a submission-ready package with a checklist of everything needed to submit into the journal. This includes any additional forms that will be required, cover letter considerations, and detailed instructions for figures and tables. This end-to-end process ensures that the manuscript is fully compliant with the journal’s expectations upon submission.
6. Continuing Medical Education Credits: Resub is ACGME accredited to provide Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits for submitted manuscripts. This gives you recognition for your work and allows you to pay for the service using discretionary CME funds.

For researchers whose manuscripts are already language-polished, Resub can provide all the necessary formatting adjustments at a much lower cost than existing editing services, making it a versatile tool in the publication process.

Conclusion

Selecting the right editing service can significantly impact a manuscript's quality and acceptance chances. By investing in professional language editing, researchers can improve the clarity and professionalism of their work, facilitating the communication of complex scientific concepts. Consider your research area, budget, and time constraints to choose the best service for your needs.

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