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Many Liberty University departments have a list of potential editors you can hire. These lists can often be found in the various departments’ doctoral communities in Canvas or by writing to the department’s dissertation secretary. These lists are for your convenience and don’t imply an endorsement of the individuals. The Online Writing Center does not edit dissertations or any “end of program” projects such as capstone projects or master’s theses.
• Proofreading involves checking for minor surface-level issues such as grammar, punctuation, spelling, and formatting.
- Example: Fixing a missing comma or correcting “their” to “there.”
• Editing is more involved and may include reorganizing sentences, improving word choice, enhancing clarity, and ensuring consistency.
- Example: Rewording a paragraph to improve flow or reduce redundancy.
Tip: Make sure your expectations align with what the editor offers—some editors do both editing and proofreading, while others specialize in one area.
• A good editor can refine your writing, reduce wordiness, and improve logical flow, but should not rewrite your work to the extent that it no longer sounds like you.
• Editors should preserve your academic voice, not replace it. This is especially important in a dissertation, where your original contributions are being evaluated.
• Dissertation editing policies vary by institution and department:
- Some require an editor at the proposal stage (Chapters 1–3).
- Others wait until the entire dissertation is complete (Chapters 1–5).
- Some departments recommend editors but do not require one.
• Always consult your dissertation chair or handbook for editing expectations.
• Has experience editing dissertations in your field (e.g., education, counseling, theology).
• Is proficient in the citation style required by your department (APA 7th edition, Turabian, etc.).
• Has strong skills in Microsoft Word, especially with using:
- Styles for headings (to auto-generate TOC)
- Track Changes and Comments
- Captioning for tables and figures
• Ideally is familiar with your university’s formatting preferences.
Tip: Ask to see a sample of their work or testimonials from past clients—especially from students at your university or in your field.
• Editors charge in different ways:
- Per page
- Per hour
- Per project
• Some editors will ask to review a writing sample and then provide a customized quote based on:
- The quality of the writing
- Length and complexity
- Formatting needs and turnaround time
• Your department’s dissertation handbook (for style guidance and structure).
• The Microsoft Word template, if available.
• Any special formatting instructions from your chair or department documentation or template.
Tip: For instance, different departments have different preferences for whether headings (e.g., CHAPTER ONE) should be in ALL CAPS or Title Case.
• Most Liberty departments use APA, but some (most Divinity degrees, Music, and History) require Turabian Notes/Bibliography. Confirm your required style.
• Make sure:
- Headings are correctly styled using Word’s built-in heading levels.
- Tables and figures are properly captioned.
- References or Bibliography entries are complete, consistent, and properly formatted.
• Your editor should check:
- That every reference listed has a corresponding in-text citation or footnote.
- That every in-text citation or footnote is matched with a full entry.
- That each entry is complete and follows your style guide precisely.
• Ask your chair:
- Whether they want you to keep Track Changes and Comments visible.
- Or if they expect you to clean the document before submitting.
• Communicate this preference to your editor.
• Ask for a written agreement or contract outlining:
- Scope of work
- Deadlines
- Payment terms
• Plan ahead—quality editing takes time.
• Stay involved: Read through the edits to ensure accuracy and that nothing was misunderstood.
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