Editing for postgraduate students

Capstone Editing strictly adheres to the ‘Guidelines for Editing Research Theses’ when editing documents for postgraduate students. Every academic editor on our team has completed a comprehensive training program to ensure they understand the Guidelines and possess the knowledge and skills required to apply them in their editing practice.

In accordance with the Guidelines, Capstone Editing’s services as they pertain to postgraduate students are restricted to copyediting and proofreading, as outlined in parts D and E of the Australian Standards for Editing Practice.

The Guidelines state, ‘in relation to matters of substance and structure (Part C), the professional editor may draw attention to problems, but should not provide solutions. Examples may be offered in order to guide the student in resolving problems’.

Professional editors must not provide students with substantive editing (also known as structural editing). Substantive editing is editing that interferes with the content of the thesis, such as the ideas, arguments, information or research, or that interferes with the language to the extent that it is considered rewriting.

Upon submitting a document for editing, all clients agree to be bound by our terms and conditions, which dictate that students must follow these Guidelines. Students are responsible for following the Guidelines. This includes, but is not limited to, seeking the permission of their supervisor to have their thesis professionally edited and ensuring such editing is correctly acknowledged in their thesis.

Plagiarism and academic integrity

Capstone Editing will not edit any document or section of a document that we believe to be plagiarised. This is outlined in our terms and conditions.

Further, Capstone Editing will not provide services that we believe may assist an individual to plagiarise, such as by editing a document or section of a document that has been written by someone other than the student or by rewording direct quotations.

No refunds will be given for sections or documents not edited due to plagiarism. The client is responsible for ensuring the originality of all material submitted to Capstone Editing.

Editing for students other than postgraduates

Capstone Editing does not provide editing services to non-postgraduate students unless permission has been obtained by the individual assessing their work, such as a lecturer, tutor, teacher or instructor.

Some circumstances where special permission may be granted include cases in which a student speaks English as an Additional Language (EAL) or English as a Second Language (ESL)* ESL (English as a Second Language) is the most commonly used term, but we prefer EAL (English as an Additional Language)—and we’d like to explain why! We believe (and many agree with us) that ‘additional language’ is more respectful than ‘second language’ because it avoids implying a hierarchy of different languages or that a person might be less fluent in any particular language. Also, ‘second language’ might be factually incorrect if you speak three or more languages! and their language skills are not being assessed, cases in which an assessor who would usually provide feedback is unable to, or any other case in which professional editing would not have a negative impact on a student’s learning outcomes. In these circumstances, assessors may prefer to see a copy of the document both before and after editing.

At Capstone Editing, our services for students are designed to help students achieve the best learning outcomes possible for their course of study.

Editing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander authors and research from or about those communities

Capstone Editing recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the traditional and rightful custodians and owners of the land of Australia. We recognise their continuing connection to the land, water and community. We pay respect to all Elders, past, present and emerging.

Capstone Editing follows the ‘Guidelines for the Ethical Publishing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Authors and Research from those Communities’ developed by Aboriginal Studies Press (Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies) and the ‘Language and Terminology Guide’ developed by Australians Together.

All documents authored by or on the subject of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are assigned to academic editors who have undergone specialist training to ensure that their work is ethical, respectful and culturally appropriate.

IPEd and the CSE

Capstone Editing proudly supports both the Institute of Professional Editors (IPEd) and the Canberra Society of Editors (CSE) and all their aims, activities and initiatives.

We endorse IPEd’s central aim ‘to advance the profession of editing, by planning and implementing activities that support its members’.

IPEd is also responsible for the national accreditation scheme, which offers editors in Australia and New Zealand a means to demonstrate their editorial competence and provides employers with a framework for assessing editors’ skills.Learn more on the IPEd website.

We also support the goals of the CSE, which are to:

• Promote contact between editors
• Encourage the exchange of ideas
• Maintain editorial standards
• Promote the use of editorial services
• Cooperate with other societies of editors and related bodies

Additionally, the CSE initiated a national mentoring program, which allows editors to develop and grow their professional skills through feedback, support and guidance from experienced editors.

You can learn more about the CSE on their website.

The majority of Capstone Editing’s team of world-class editors are Accredited Editors and Professional Members of IPEd. We strongly encourage our editors to join IPEd (and the CSE if they are located in Canberra) and—if they are not already accredited—to sit the IPEd accreditation exam at their earliest opportunity (noting that it is only offered every two years and only in capital cities in Australia).

Our editors

Our team of industry-leading editors is the key to our success. Their work allows us to provide high-quality editing services consistently to our clients worldwide.

That’s why we make it our mission to maintain a friendly and collaborative team environment in which our editors can enjoy job security, flexibility and satisfaction.

We always treat our editors fairly and with respect. We also ensure they enjoy excellent working conditions and the highest rates of pay in the industry.

Additionally, we provide ongoing training and professional development opportunities to ensure our team has the support they need to grow and perform at the highest levels of their profession.