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Editorial ServicesFor Authors

At Catalyst Editorial, we provide a range of editorial services for authors. We work with researchers from the biological and biomedical research community on their research manuscripts, grant proposals, reports, policy documents, review articles, and books to ensure their findings and ideas are communicated clearly and effectively.

We use our editorial expertise to advise you at all steps of the editorial and publishing process. Researchers can select from a range of editorial services that we provide.

Our fees are calculated for each client, based on your needs, the extent and nature of the work involved, and the time required.

Please contact us to discuss how we can help you.

The services we offer include:

Manuscript assessment

We provide initial feedback in the form of a report that outlines our assessment of the manuscript and that provides guidance on how the manuscript or document can be revised to strengthen it and address any issues raised. The report is then returned to authors for their consideration; this step might entail additional revisions being made to an article or document before it is submitted to us for text editing. If your article lies outside of the biological sciences, we are happy to advise authors of other editorial organisations to approach for advice.

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We will critically assess your manuscript, grant proposal or document for the following types of issues:

  • Does it provide a clearly stated aim or central message
  • Is it logically organised with a coherent narrative
  • Is the central message or key finding well explained and its importance set into a broader context
  • For research articles, are findings placed in the context of the existing literature in the field
  • Is sufficient evidence provided to substantiate the key claims being made
  • Where appropriate, have reporting guidelines (for example, on reproducibility, data availability, materials and reagents) been met

Manuscript editing

We will edit your manuscript’s text to improve its organisation and language and to ensure it provides a clear, coherent and understandable account of your work. Our editorial process will thus help to maximise your work’s reach and potential, and it could involve the copyediting of your text or more substantive editing.

All edits are tracked in word for authors to check and accept, as are any related comments that explain the rationale for our suggested edits or any queries relating to them. This ensures that authors retain complete control over changes made to their text.

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Copy editing typically involves:

  • Correcting the text for language and grammar errors to ensure it is easy to read and to understand
  • Flagging unclear or ambiguous sentences for attention
  • Checking that abbreviations and technical terms are accurately defined
  • Suggesting the addition or removal of text for clarification
  • Cross checking reference citations and citations to display items (figures, tables, etc)
  • Checking journal house style is adhered to (if required)
  • Checking that reporting guidelines and standards are adhered to (if required)

Substantive (developmental) editing typically involves:

  • Rearranging the organisation of the text to improve its structure, coherence and flow
  • Amending or rewriting the abstract or summary
  • Amending or rewriting titles, headings and subheadings
  • Suggestions for the removal of text to improve flow, to reduce length or to remove repetition
  • Suggestions for the addition of text to provide background information or to improve the coherence, clarity or flow of the text
  • Suggestions for revisions to display items (figures, tables, etc) and to their captions
  • Suggestions for new display items

Cover letter feedback

If you plan to submit your research manuscript to a selective journal, your cover letter is of vital importance because it will help a journal editor to make an informed decision as to whether your work falls within the journal’s remit and meets its criteria for further consideration and peer review.

Our editorial expertise can ensure that your cover letter achieves these key goals, making a strong case for consideration. We can also advise on potential journals to target for submission.

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A cover letter should ideally explain succinctly, clearly and without hype:

  • what your article is about
  • your key findings and the evidence that supports them
  • the novelty and impact of your work (relative to what is already known)
  • the broader implications of your findings

Decision advice

At Catalyst Editorial, our editorial expertise can extend throughout the later stages of the editorial and publishing process, once your work has been submitted.

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We can provide:

  • guidance on interpreting an editorial decision
  • strategic options for how to respond
  • feedback on your response to reviewer and editorial comments
  • editing of your revised manuscript

Ongoing editorial support

At Catalyst Editorial, we develop longstanding working relationships with researchers and community members, and have worked with many authors over the years to bring clarity to their research manuscripts and to ensure that their research results are reported in accordance with community guidelines and standards.

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At Catalyst Editorial, we can help you to improve:

  • Your knowledge of the community standards that apply to the reporting of research results
  • Your understanding of the responsibilties that come with authorship
  • Your own writing skills

For examples of our editorial work, please visit our Case Studies page.