Services
Substantive Editing
Structure, logic, and argument strengthened.
I strengthen the structure of your text, working on organisation, clarity of argument, paragraph development, flow, and overall coherence. The result is writing whose ideas land with more force while your authorial voice remains intact.
Structure & section order
Reworking the organisation of sections where needed, so the text unfolds in a clearer and more purposeful order.
Argument flow & transitions
Strengthening the progression of ideas, paragraph logic, and transitions between sections.
Claim clarity & emphasis
Clarifying key claims, sharpening emphasis, and improving reader guidance where the argument needs more direction.
Redundancy & clarity fixes
Reducing repetition, tightening overextended passages, and resolving sections that feel unclear, unfocused, or difficult to follow.
Overall coherence
Checking how the text works as a whole, so the structure, argument, tone, and level of detail feel consistent from beginning to end.
Strategic revision comments
Clear comments to support revision decisions, especially where a passage may need further development, rethinking, or author input.
Deliverables
Tracked changes
All edits visible in red so you can review every change, from sentence-level refinements to broader structural adjustments.
Comments and guidance
I leave clear comments to explain deeper editorial changes, highlight structural, logical, or stylistic issues, and show how the text has been strengthened beyond sentence-level editing.
Delivery
Revised PDF plus a Word/Pages document with tracked changes, comments, and a concise editorial overview of the main changes made.
Best for
Substantive editing is ideal when a text has strong ideas in place but needs deeper work on structure, argument development, paragraph logic, coherence, and expression.
- Theses and monographs
- Journal articles and research proposals
- Novels, screenplays, and other creative work
Managing expectations
Understanding the boundaries of substantive editing.
No ghostwriting
Full copywriting or ghostwriting.
No new research
New research or source gathering.
No submission administration
Journal submission administration.
Understanding Substantive Editing
What substantive editing changes, and when your writing needs deeper structural support.
Ready to strengthen the structure, argument, and coherence of your writing?
Send me a few details about your project and I’ll be in touch.