Guidelines

Submission Guidelines: Read Carefully

Send your very best effort to LOL Editing.

The idea is to help you go at least one step further. If you do not self-edit and leave us to do a basic clean-up, that is what you will get. If you give us your best, we can concentrate on focusing on finer detail.

Making sure of the following will ensure no delays:

  1. Be very clear what referencing system to use. Include a guide if your university provides one.
  2. Send MSWord files: Usually .docx format, but we can work in the old .doc format as well.
  3. If using a template, keep your document in your template: only way formatting checks can be done accurately.

If you only want a portion of your document checked, advisable to send the whole document, template and all. When submitting, just be very clear in the comment box about what needs to be edited. State page numbers, chapters or section headings. Avoid unnecessary emails for clarification.

All universities and colleges have style preferences: submit style documents. Also include checklists, feedback from your supervisor, or committee feedback along with your document: only way we can know what is required over and above a standard format and accepted academic English. Many universities actually provide a style sheet for editors. The less information you send from your university, the harder it is for your editor to know the parameters.

The document you want edited, needs to be a clean document with no tracking or comments from anyone else. We will ask for a clean document. This causes unnecessary delays.

Payment pointers:

Page count:

  • Every page you include for editing or reviewing needs to be counted: be it a front page, text, or back page. State your page count or equivalent page count clearly in your submission. Miscounts mean emails and delays.
  • All paid-for pages will be checked thoroughly, and a number of crosschecks will be performed.
  • If you want the TOC and figure and table lists checked for linking, include them and pay for them.
  • It is recommended that the Table of Contents and the References/Bibliography be included for review and payment: be it a chapter, a proposal, a thesis, or a dissertation.
  • A number of important crosschecks take place between the text and the Table of Contents and the References: so best to include them in payment.
  • A reminder that an average double-spaced text page is approximately 250-275 words. This is what LOL defines as a page. If you are using a 10-point single-spaced font, you could be looking at up to 600 words. Simply work out the equivalent page numbers and pay accordingly. Or better still, send it to LOL to do the calculations before paying. LOL reserves the right to double check the word count if concerned about the length.
    • Again, avoid recount delays.
  • Also wise not to upset your editor by trying to squeeze in some free editing. Respect your editor.
    • If you are unsure how to calculate an equivalent page count, simply send your document to LOL and we will calculate the equivalent page rate for you.
    • We will calculate an average of 275 words per text page. Tables and Figures and front and back pages added as is.

Actual payment:

  1. Internet transfer and email the proof of payment.
    • Payment at bank and proof of payment emailed.
    • No hidden costs: a simple per-page rate based on the 250-275 words per page rate: R42 per page.
  2. No work will commence prior to confirmation of payment.
  3. Time: to edit your paper depends on the length. Important to allow us the time to do good work for you!
    • Add 1 day to total for administration
    • 10 pages per day up to 100 pages (max 10 days)
    • Thereafter, add 1 day per 15 pages

Your expectations versus reality:

Writing is a dynamic process. Constant changes mean new errors; thus, constant checking is a reality.

It is unlikely that one edit is going to sort out everything. There are always going to be more changes. No publishing house would ever risk their reputation on one edit: why should you?

The best results are achieved where we work together long term: where you submit as you progress–can be chapters and/or proposal, later chapters and/or the full thesis/dissertation–and resubmission after the many people involved in your work have had input.

Of course, we understand that repeated submissions are finance and time driven: but be realistic and do not expect one edit to be the magic bullet.

Rest assured that all information is confidential.