The article should also be checked for the correct transmission of meaning, correct use of scientific terms.
Proofreading and editing
These concepts are different from each other. Proofreading means correcting typographical errors; editing is checking and correcting punctuation, spelling, and content. Editing is a broader concept. Proofreading is part of it.
A universal translator is not suitable for such tasks. The specialist must not only know English well, but also understand the topic of the work, have experience in writing such texts.
Therefore, it is better to entrust such work to professionals in this field - organisations that provide services for proofreading, formatting of scientific articles for placement in international journals. On the website of such companies you can find out the cost of proofreading services in English and approximate deadlines.
Tips for improving the text
In English articles, first of all, typos, grammatical errors are checked. In scientific papers it is inadmissible to use jargons - words and phrases that are understood by workers only in a certain sphere.
Tips for improving the text:
- Read aloud to gain a new perspective on the article. Speaking the text engages parts of the brain that are inactive at the time of writing. This method allows you to ‘hear’ inaccuracies.
- Editing is better to start on a fresh head, without being distracted by other activities.
- Use King's rule of ten per cent. When editing on your own, the writer recommends reducing the text by 10 per cent. If it has 10,000 characters, he advises reducing it to 9,000.
An academic paper should be formatted and preferably several times. This is due to the fact that academic papers have different requirements regarding style, font size, highlighting of quotations. Formatting includes checking for double spaces, proper use of inverted commas.
Long sentences are best avoided as they confuse the reader. Complex sentences should be broken down into several simple ones.
It should be remembered that a good text is one in which everything is written in substance, without an overabundance of adjectives.
