Editing

Services to help you communicate in English

Choose this service to correct and improve all kinds of writing, by native and non-native speakers of English.

What is the service?

The purpose of editing is to help a text serve its intended purpose. Practically, this means checking for errors, inconsistencies, and problems with style and usage. There are several levels of editing, ranging from light corrections to extensive adjustments. I review a text according to its purpose and the author’s needs, and provide corrections and suggestions to make it ready for presentation to the world.

For post-editing of a machine translation from Japanese, see Cross Check.

What is it for?

I offer a full range of editing services for all kinds of writing. My copy editing services are often used for academic papers before submission to a journal, as well as for research reports, web content, presentations, and so on. I also work with authors in developmental editing of books and articles for publication. (Note that for post-editing of a machine translation, a cross check is necessary.)

Rates

Minimum charge: ¥3,000

Basic editing: ¥5 per word

Advanced editing: ¥8 to ¥10 per word

Project-based billing is available for projects with multiple documents over a longer period of time (such as a book or multiple forms).

Delivery

I usually estimate editing at one business day per 1,000 words, but this is a rough guide that varies according to your needs and my schedule. Please feel free to specify your preferred delivery date when you submit a request for a quotation or order.

Some documents take longer depending on the content.

In some circumstances express delivery may be possible.

Business days are Monday to Friday, excluding national holidays.

Business hours are from 09:00 to 18:00 JST.

Technical details

In most cases, I receive a Microsoft Word file (or multiple files) with the text to be edited. I return the edited text as a Microsoft Word file with revision tracking (if you are unfamiliar with revision tracking, Microsoft has a training document here). I can also work with Excel and PowerPoint files. Because they do not have revision tracking, I can indicate changes using highlighting or different colors.

Work flow

For corporate clients

Inquiry

Estimate

Confirm estimate

Approve estimate

Work

Delivery

Invoicing

Payment

Payment can be made online, or by domestic Japanese bank transfer.

We will send you an invoice and payment information according to the method you choose.

Payment is due by the last business day of the month following the invoice date (for online payments, within 30 days).

Please let us know if your accounting section has any particular requirements, such as specific invoice forms.

For individual clients

Inquiry

Estimate

Confirm estimate

Approve estimate

Invoicing

Payment

Work

Delivery

Payment can be made online, or by domestic Japanese bank transfer.

We will send you an invoice and payment information according to the method you choose.

For first-time individual clients, payment is required before work begins. Your delivery date will be calculated from the date we confirm receipt of your payment.

For repeat individual clients, you have the option of advance payment or payment by invoice after delivery of the finished work. In the case of payment by invoice, payment is due by the last business day of the month following the invoice date (for online payments, within 30 days).

We reply to inquiries by the end of the next business day.

Business days are Monday to Friday, excluding national holidays.

Business hours are from 09:00 to 18:00 JST.

Thank you! Let’s get to work!

Chris Ryal

Full-time support for English communication

I have been a freelance editor for 30 years, and a full-time freelancer in Japan for the past 20 years. In my long-term relationships with major translation agencies, translators, private companies, and individuals, I have worked on thousands of translations from Japanese to English, as well as English-language documents written by native speakers of Japanese. I typically take on more than 300 assignments a year, ranging from a single business document to an entire website, and from research papers to hospital admissions packages.

I specialise in translations from Japanese to English, and in English-language writing by native speakers of Japanese.