Editing
When you use plain language you put information into language everyone can understand.
How we can help
We’ve yet to come across a document we couldn’t edit. Of course, it helps that we have a wealth of experience working with scientific data and statistics too.
So, whether your editing is light-touch or full-on, straightforward or technical, we’ve got you covered.
Proofreading is different from editing; it’s usually the last job before publishing and mainly involves spotting typos and other minor errors. We are pleased to offer this service too.
What you get
A revised document –
- That has been edited according to plain language principles.
- That’s tailored to your purpose, audience and content.
- In which correct grammar, spelling and punctuation come as standard.
A ‘tracked changes’ version so that you can review all our edits.
A document explaining what we’ve done and why, plus tips and advice.
If you’d like more information or to talk to someone, email me, Emma, at emma@phewx.co.uk or call me on +44 (0)7879 608504.
Case study
Because Plain English is clear and concise it allows your readers to focus on what you’re saying rather than be distracted by how you’re saying it. When your message could save lives and livelihoods, that ability takes on even greater importance.
That’s something Scotland’s Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) understands well. We worked with SEPA’s Flooding team to update its guidance on managing surface-water flood risk.
As well as carrying out standard editing and proofing, we were asked to help improve the readability of its guidance by applying plain English principles.
‘We no longer had in-house support to help us with our Plain English writing, so it was great to be able to turn to you for help. Thank you.’ – Lorna
Can’t see the wood for the trees
The Royal Mail’s old ‘Redirection of Mail’ form was so unclear that it cost the organisation more than £10,000 a week dealing with customer complaints and reprocessing incorrect forms.
When it eventually re-wrote its forms, errors and customer support calls fell dramatically—so much so that in just nine months it saved £500,000.
Joseph Kimble, Writing for Dollars
Light at the end of the tunnel
As part of its Plain English programme, Alberta’s Department of Agriculture re-drafted 92 forms which it sent out to more than one million people every year.
It estimated that each new form saved departmental staff at least 10 minutes in processing time—the equivalent in monetary terms of up to Canadian $3.5 million in savings a year.
Joseph Kimble, Writing for Dollars
