It’s a rare writer who can write and wholly edit his or her own paper. Most of us need help at some stage of the pre-publishing, whether it’s in grammar and mechanics or with garnering a comprehensive overview of the text. This is particularly true in the field of science, when the final manuscript is complex, long, and has been through an arduous, time-consuming process to get to the finished script.

However, unlike the typical writer, a researcher can’t hire a general editor to assist them in their publishing preparation. Much of the content in an academic manuscript has to be evaluated for things like rigor, replicability, and applicability, which requires someone with extensive training. That’s why investing in a scientific editor is a good idea for every academic researcher.

What a Scientific Editor Does

Any editor you hire should have substantial expertise in the language you’re writing in. As an academic writer, this is most likely English. English is a complicated language, even for native speakers, so when you find an editor who excels in publishing requirements, you want to keep them as a professional partner.

But if they’re not versed in scientific editing, they could miss a lot of essential factors in your manuscript. Scientific editors have a special skill set: They have a background in science and understand academic rigor at the level of higher institutions, often as far up to the doctoral level. 

The primary job of a scientific editor is to work on submissions sent to science journals. So, an editor at this stage focuses on more than the grammatic and mechanical setup of your paper. They go deep into the content, looking for the paper’s requirements to ensure your work meets them.

In addition to the background in science and English, the editor has already submitted and received acceptance to publications in scientific journals, so they know the entire process thoroughly. They have a complete understanding of what the science or medical journal wants in an accepted manuscript, and they can help you adjust your writing to meet those specifications.

Of course, your article must also be in the correct format, which can be overwhelming for writers. It’s hard enough to do the research and put it in a comprehensive text that includes all the rigor and transparency necessary. But adjusting it for formatting is often the straw that breaks the camel’s back. When you hire a scientific editor, that aspect is taken care of for you.

The Scientific Editing Process

When you make the step to hire a scientific editor, here is what you can expect with that partnership. As long as you’ve hired them for a full scope of services, every aspect of your editing needs is considered.

To start, you’ll submit your manuscript to the editor. They’ll look for typos and grammatical or mechanical corrections as though they were doing basic proofreading. They’ll offer suggestions for clarity and comprehension, restructuring sections for better flow, and analysis of images, figures, and tables. They’ll also look for appropriate citations and referencing, verify that your calculations are correct, double-check your links, and ensure your data is appropriately sourced.

Should you opt for the top tier of scientific editing services, the editor can make changes to your text, rewriting it to keep the same concepts, but making them clearer. They can adapt the work you have to ensure it meets the highest levels of rigor. It may be more expensive, but it’s a significant time-saver and stress-relieving opportunity.

Find Your Editor Through the Impactio Network

Finding a scientific editor to work with doesn’t have to be difficult. Reach out to your network of peers on Impactio to see who they recommend, or put the word out that you’re looking for someone to partner with. Some journals offer this service to all academic researchers. However, you want the person working with you to be reputable and experienced, and not a new hire off the street.

Impactio can help you make other connections, too. If you’re trying to build a team of skilled researchers for your next project, spread the word about your latest publication, or check the impact level of your manuscript, Impactio is the platform for you. Use Impactio’s scientific research tools to take your career to the next level and set up an academic profile today.