Professional editing is much more effective than self-editing at improving your research paper’s chances of acceptance and publication. In this blogpost, we’ll explore the benefits of each type of editing, and how to maximize your chances of publication.
What are the benefits of self-editing?
Editing your own research paper has some benefits such as
- Cost-effective: you save the fees of a professional editor.
- Flexible: you can edit your paper at your own pace, any time.
- Ownership: you have total control over your work
- Data security: your research paper and your data are always with you (unless you upload them onto an online tool)
What are the benefits of professional editing?
Having your paper edited by a professional English editing service is usually the best option for researchers because
Increased clarity and coherence
Professional editors who are subject matter experts (like those at Editage) can identify places where your intended meaning isn’t clear, sentences that could have multiple meanings, or portions where the logic of your argument isn’t evident.
Eliminating basic errors
Professional editors approach your paper with a fresh pair of eyes, so they are more likely to spot errors in grammar, punctuation, spelling, or format. You may miss these errors because you’re already so familiar with your paper and therefore tend to “skim” while reading.
Better adherence to journal requirements
Professional editors have years of experience and have worked with a variety of journals. Therefore they can easily understand journal Instructions to Authors and apply them to your paper as necessary.
Impartial feedback
Professional editors look at your paper with unbiased eyes and can tell you if essential information is missing, whether there are gaps in your logic, etc.
Better figures and tables
Professional editors not just correct errors like typos in figures and tables but can also alert you to missing keys, unclear legends, undefined abbreviations, etc.
Increased flow and readability
Professional editors approach your paper from the viewpoint of the reader. They focus on making the text easier to read and understand, by editing for fluency, flow, and coherence.
Better title, abstract, and keywords
Professional editors can sharpen and refine your title, abstract, and keywords to make sure they’re accurately capturing the essence of your study. They can also make sure these elements conform to any word or character limits set by your target journal.
Adherence to word limits
Professional editors can make your paper crisper and more concise, helping you stick to the word limits set by your journal. They can also flag for you irrelevant or repetitive sections that you can delete to reduce the word/character count further.
Does self-editing improve acceptance rates?
Self-editing may improve your chances of acceptance if
- You are a native English speaker with strong writing skills
- You have ample time to proofread your work thoroughly
- Your earlier research papers have been published without additional language assistance
Does professional editing improve acceptance rates?
Professional editing definitely improves acceptance rates, especially if
- English is not your first language or you’ve limited experience writing in English
- You have limited time to do a line-by-line read of your entire paper
- You find journal instructions to authors confusing or difficult to follow
- You’re juggling multiple tasks or projects
How to combine self-editing and professional editing
The ideal combination of self-editing and professional editing is
- One round of self-editing (optional, do this only if you’ve time)
- One round of professional editing
- Getting any further revisions checked by the editor prior to submission
- You take one last look at the paper before submission, to make sure all information in the paper has been approved by you
Self-editing vs professional editing
| Aspect | Self-Editing (Academic Research) | Professional Editing (Academic Research) |
| Done By | Researcher revises their own manuscript for clarity, accuracy, and completeness | Professional editor refines the manuscript for language, structure, and publication readiness |
| Subject Knowledge | Strong domain expertise (e.g., specialist in CHIP angioplasty) | Familiar with broad subject area (e.g., cardiology); often combines language expertise with academic editing experience |
| Objectivity | Limited: the author may be too close to the work to spot gaps or unclear arguments | High: the editor identifies unclear logic, assumptions, and reader comprehension issues |
| Language Quality | Depends on the author’s proficiency in academic English | Improves grammar, syntax, tone, and discipline-specific phrasing |
| Clarity of Argument | Author may assume reader knowledge; key points may be under-explained | Ensures arguments are explicit, logically structured, and easy to follow |
| Adherence to Journal Guidelines | May overlook journal-specific formatting or style requirements | Experience ensures that manuscript is aligned with journal guidelines (e.g., formatting, referencing style) |
| Technical Accuracy | Strong: author ensures correctness of data, methods, and conclusions | Does not alter scientific meaning but may flag inconsistencies or ambiguities |
| Consistency (Terminology & Style) | May have inconsistencies across sections | Ensures uniform terminology, abbreviations, and style throughout |
| Handling Reviewer Expectations | May struggle to anticipate reviewer concerns | Helps pre-empt common reviewer criticisms (clarity, structure, completeness) |
| Ethical & Reporting Standards | May not be fully familiar with reporting guidelines | Can check for adherence and completeness (e.g., missing sections, unclear disclosures) |
| Time Efficiency | Time-intensive, especially after multiple revisions | Saves time during final stages before submission |
| Cost | Free | Paid service, varies by level of editing (copyediting, substantive editing, etc.) |
| Best Use Case | Early drafts, internal revisions, refining notes | Pre-submission polishing or when writing in a second language |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does professional editing cost?
Professional editing services usually cost between USD 0.04 to 0.06 per word. Some services go as low as USD 0.01 per word, but these usually involve very superficial checks and not substantive editing by subject matter experts.
Can I use AI tools like ChatGPT to edit my research paper?
All-purpose large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT are not suitable for editing a research paper because
- They are prone to hallucinations (making up false information that looks true at first glance)
- They may not fully follow the conventions of scientific writing.
- They may not handle complex or highly specific technical terms accurately.
- They are prone to creating fabricated citations and references.
- Your data can be used to train the model (i.e., your data is no longer secure and confidential)
How can I choose a good professional editing service?
In order to choose a professional editing service that delivers high-quality editing, look for
- Subject matter expertise: how many editors work with the service and what are their qualifications? Editage, for example, has 3000+ editors, most of whom hold a Master’s, PhD, or MD.
- Reputation: If an editing service has partnered with reputable journals, publishers, and universities, it’s a sign that they are trustworthy and consistently deliver high quality. For example, Editage has partnered with BMJ Group, Taylor & Francis Group, Wiley, Sage, and Science.
- Samples: Look at samples posted on their website. Many editing services are also happy to deliver a free sample edit on a small portion of your manuscript for you to judge how much they can do for your paper.
- Speed and price: Beware of services that offer ridiculously fast speeds (e.g., 10,000 words in 3 hours) or extremely low prices. Many of these may run your paper through a free AI tool like ChatGPT, without any human expertise.
Is my data secure if I opt for professional editing?
Yes, professional editing services implement rigorous measures to make sure your research paper and your data are kept secure and confidential. Editage, for example, has a 100% confidentiality guarantee for authors, and ISO/IEC 27001:2022–certified IT security management systems. Manuscripts are always routed through a secure, password-protected online job management system.
