Definitions

In these presents, “gig” shall mean any editing and or proofreading job, including briefs and any custom offer made to you, that you requested me to perform through this website or any other medium.

“Me”, “us”, “our”, and “I” shall mean Robert Reddin of 58, EX2 8GW, UK.

Email: editor@robertreddin.co.uk

Copy editing:

What is copyediting?

In traditional print-based publishing, the editing process consisted of two stages. The first stage, called copy editing, involved reviewing a draft document to correct issues with formatting, spelling, grammar, and minor errors, such as typos, before the typescript was laid out for print. This was called a ‘proof’. The second stage was to review the proof. With the advent of self-publishing, these functions have been combined.

In these presents, the term ‘copy editing’, which includes proofreading, refers to reviewing a draft document to correct any issues with formatting, spelling, grammar, and minor errors, such as typos. Although these issues do not reflect the quality of your ideas, they may affect the clarity of your writing and could irritate your reader.

Copy editing helps you to show your work in its best light and demonstrate your attention to detail.

The service level I offer is described below:

Copy editing

Proofreading is included in copy editing.

Copy editing includes checking and correcting spelling, grammar, syntax, and usage mistakes, and pointing out infelicities as follows:

• UK, US, Australian, Canadian, or Indian English.
• Documents in Word/ODT/Google documents format only.
• Correcting all indisputable errors in grammar, syntax, and usage, but ignoring any locution that is not an obvious error.
• A minimum of three passes through the text, and as many as required.
• Point out wordiness.
• Point out clunky transitions and suggest alternative wording.
• Confusing syntax.
• Point out sentences or paragraphs that seem egregiously wordy or convoluted and suggest alternative wording.
• Point out problematic or misused words and suggest an alternative word.
• Homophones.
• Seek clarification of terms that are likely to be new to readers.
• Querying facts, names, etc., that seem incorrect.
• Querying faulty organisation and gaps in logic.
• Make light revisions to the text.
• One revision is included in the price.

Delivery time is specified in the job description or as agreed in writing between the buyer and me.

When the job has been completed, I will upload:

1. The original document for reference.
2. The edit composite document. This is an amalgamation of all proofreading and editing passes. As the author, you must decide which suggested changes to accept. This document may contain comments, and
3. A clean copy (edit final) incorporating the suggested changes as if you have accepted them.

The edited composite document shows the differences between the original and clean (edited final) copies.

Delivery time is specified in the job description or as agreed in writing between the buyer and me.

Service level

The service I offer is as defined above. Please remember that I can only work with what you give me. Delivery times will be as specified in the job description you ordered.

The delivery date will be calculated from the date you upload the document/file and may be extended by mutual agreement.

I work with the following document formats:

• doc
• docx
• ODT
• Google Documents

If your text is in LaTeX format, you must convert it to one of the above formats at your own expense before I can edit it.

Hourly charging rate

All prices and charges are in US$. For non-fixed-rate jobs, my hourly charging rate is $45, with a minimum charge of one hour.

The time spent on each job is recorded in units of six minutes, equivalent to one-tenth of an hour.

Working hours

My working hours are 9 am to 5.30 pm, Monday to Friday, excluding all UK public holidays. All working times are based on London time.

Ordering and payment

Orders shall be placed through the Store page or your custom offer page. Full payment may be made by credit or debit card at the time of order through the PayPal payment portal or by bank transfer. Work will not commence until payment has been made, unless otherwise agreed upon and confirmed in writing.

We do not store your credit or debit card details.

Depending on where you live, the value of your order, and whether you are paying with your PayPal account (instead of a credit or debit card, or by bank transfer), you may have the option to use PayPal’s Pay3 or Pay4 to pay in three or four equal instalments. If this option is available, it will be displayed at checkout. This is an unlicensed credit agreement between you and PayPal. I am not a party to any such contract.

Payment on invoice

If your requirements do not fit any of the standard gigs shown on the Store page, and if I agree, payment may be made on invoice. A deposit of 50% of the agreed fee shall be paid before any work commences, with the balance payable in full and without deduction within seven days of the date of delivery. A custom offer page will be created to facilitate payment of the deposit and the final payment.

Late payment

A late payment fee of $15 per day shall be payable by the buyer for each day after the due date that payment is made.

Currencies

You may pay in either US dollars ($) or GB Pounds Sterling (£).

Request for the job to be done outside of my working hours

Don’t hesitate to get in touch with me before requesting work to confirm my availability. If I am available, a $45 supplement shall be payable.

Custom offers

If you have a requirement that does not fit one of my standard services, I can create a custom offer tailored to your specific needs. Please use the uploader contact form and specify your requirements in the comments box. If I can assist you, I will create a password-protected custom offer page and email you the link and password.

Custom offers will be open for acceptance for 14 days from the date and time the offer was made.

Custom offers are based on an hourly rate of $45. The price I offer is based on:

• The work that is to be done,
• The time required to do the work, and
• The completion date.

A counteroffer is a rejection of the custom offer. I am not obligated to accept your counteroffer, revise the custom offer, or make any other offer to you.

Full payment may be made by credit or debit card at the time of order through the PayPal payment portal or by using your PayPal account. Work shall not commence until payment has been made, unless otherwise agreed upon and confirmed in writing. For jobs costing more than $250, if agreed, payment may be made in stages, provided the initial payment is at least half the job’s total cost.

Revisions

• One revision is included in the copyediting price.

doc, docx, and ODT files

I will supply two documents for each file uploaded for copyediting, as follows:

• A composite edited and or proofread file, which is an amalgamation of all the proofreading passes;
• A clean copy for information and read-only use, showing all the suggested alterations as if they had been accepted.

One revision is included in the price. A charge will be made for all and any additional revisions. For non-fixed-price jobs, the charge for each additional revision shall be $40.

Google Documents files

Please ensure the file is NOT locked for editing. Please send me the link to the document using the main contact form. Do not use the file upload page.

Google Docs files are edited by making suggestions and comments on the document. You may be asked to review the suggestions and comments after each pass through the document.

One revision is included in the price. A charge will be made for all and any additional revisions. For fixed-price jobs, the charge for each additional revision shall be $40.

Academic proofreading

This service is by custom offer only.

The service level for academic writing is copyediting as defined above, but without any rewriting. AI, plagiarism, and fact-checking are also included. Please provide a comprehensive list of all your references, including your referencing style (e.g., APA/MLA, Chicago, Harvard, Oxford, etc.) and the writing style used. One revision is included in the price.

There are ethical considerations and additional checks required for proofreading academic writing. If your university or college has a proofreading policy, it is your responsibility to provide me with a copy or a link to the webpage where it is available. I shall follow that policy. You should familiarise yourself with the policy so you do not request me to do something it does not permit. Alternatively, if there is no such policy, you should confirm that your university or college does not have a proofreading policy; in this case, I will proofread your text according to the code of practice issued by the Chartered Institute of Editors and Proofreaders.

A “clean copy” incorporating the suggested changes is not provided. As the author, it is your responsibility to ensure that the document’s content, style, and structure, including the correct use of the recommended citation method, are accurate.

You are responsible for deciding which suggested edits are accepted.

For jobs costing more than $250, if agreed, payment may be made in stages, provided that the initial payment is not less than half of the job’s total cost.

Please supply your document in MS Word, ODT, or Google Docs formats only. A Google Docs document will be downloaded as an MS Word document. If your text is in LaTeX format, you must convert it to one of the above formats at your own expense before I can edit it.

Custom offers for proofreading academic writing will be open for acceptance for 14 days from the date and time the offer was made. There may be a countdown timer on your custom offer page.

Legal Proofreading

This service is by custom offer only.

A “clean copy” incorporating the suggested changes is not provided. You are responsible for deciding which suggested edits are accepted.

For jobs costing more than $250, if agreed, payment may be made in stages, provided that the initial payment is not less than half of the job’s total cost.

Please supply your document in MS Word, ODT, or Google Docs formats only. A Google Docs document will be downloaded as an MS Word document.

Custom offers for proofreading legal writing will be open for acceptance for 14 days from the date and time the offer was made. There may be a countdown timer on your custom offer page.

Reviews

You may request a modification or revision to a text document (i.e., .doc, .docx, ODT, and Google Docs formats only) within 48 hours of the initial delivery. All such modifications will be completed as soon as possible, with a target delivery time of 48 hours.

Any subsequent revisions beyond those included in the standard gig or custom offer shall be charged at $45.

Briefs

General

In these presents, a “brief” means a request to perform agreed-upon work within an agreed-upon timescale and for an agreed-upon price.

There is no obligation for me to accept any brief offered.

I may also decline the brief if your requirements are not sufficiently precise to enable me to determine what needs to be done, how long it will take, how much it will cost, or if I do not do that type of work

A brief, if accepted, shall be subject to these terms and conditions, and the document must be in one of the following formats:

• doc
• docx
• ODT
• Google Docs

Briefs will not be accepted in any of the following formats:

• LaTeX
• PDF
• ppt
• pptx
• xls
• xlxs

or their open-source counterparts.

If a brief is accepted, a custom offer page will be created for you to place your order. The custom offer may be withdrawn at any time before the buyer has accepted it.

A counteroffer is a rejection of the custom offer. I shall be under no obligation to accept your counteroffer or to revise or reoffer the custom offer made to you.

Payment

Work shall not commence until payment has been made, unless otherwise agreed upon and confirmed in writing. For jobs costing more than $250, if agreed, payment may be made in stages, provided that the initial payment is not less than half of the job’s total cost. Notwithstanding that payment may be made in stages, the full amount is due and payable upon order.

Payment is made by credit or debit card through the PayPal payment portal. We do not store your credit or debit card details.

Documents/files requiring excessive editing

Fortunately, these events are rare, but when they occur, the work will be charged at $45 per hour. Any payment you have made for the work will be applied as a credit against the total cost.

I will email you to advise on the requirement for excessive editing and to provide an estimate of the total cost. Alternatively, we can agree on a time limit for any additional work required and the timeframe for its completion. This will allow you to cover the cost in stages and complete the job in sections.

Should it be necessary to invoke these terms, no revisions will be included in the price.

This service is not suitable for academic writing, as the document must be entirely your own work.

Large files

There is a limit on the file size that can be received using the file uploader and sent using the delivery email account. A Google Docs or Office 365 link may be sent for files that exceed these limits. When the work is completed, the link will be emailed to the buyer. When sending me a link to a large document, please use the contact form.

General:

Copyright and intellectual property rights

I own the copyright and all other intellectual property rights in my work. No copyright or intellectual property rights shall pass to the buyer until the work is approved and full payment has been made. No copyright or other intellectual property rights shall pass to the buyer on milestone payments.

Data Protection and Privacy Policy

You agree to me holding and processing, both electronically and manually, personal data about you (including special personal data as defined in the Data Protection Act 2018) to operate, manage, secure, and administer my editing and proofreading business, and to comply with applicable laws, regulations, and procedures. You further agree that your data, including special personal data, may be processed outside the United Kingdom or the European Union.

Our data protection and privacy policy can be found here and forms part of these terms and conditions.

Questions or if there is a problem

If you have any questions or encounter any problems with the work I have done for you, please contact me as soon as possible using this contact form. Please give me as much information as possible, and I will endeavour to resolve the issue promptly.

No warranty or guarantee

Notwithstanding my best endeavours, skill, knowledge, and judgment, no warranty or guarantee is given that the services provided under these terms and conditions will detect or identify, and rectify all errors in your document or, in the case of academic proofreading, that the final document meets the standards of or satisfies all the requirements of your educational institution or the editor of the journal to which it is submitted for publication.

Updates and amendments

These terms and conditions are subject to change or amendment as necessary.

Limits on liability

Save for death or personal injury caused by my negligence in the performance of the gig, my liability to you under these terms and conditions for all other causes of action shall be limited to the price you paid.

Severability

The various provisions of these presents are severable. If any provision or identifiable part thereof is held invalid or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, then such invalidity or unenforceability shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions or identifiable parts.

Rights of third parties

No third party shall have any rights under these terms and conditions.

Governing law and jurisdiction

These Terms and Conditions shall be exclusively governed by and construed under the laws of England and Wales.

Version date: December 2025