What is included in your editorial service?
Because we feel there is no acceptable level of error in our clients' writing, each manuscript receives a comprehensive edit that includes substantive editing, proofreading/copyediting, plagiarism detection (to ensure your work is properly referenced), and reference formatting according to AMA style or your target journal. For details about our comprehensive service, please see our Editorial Services page.
The service I need is sold out. What is going on?
Because of the nature of our service, we strive to deliver the highest quality editing possible. This is a double-edged sword because the more exceptional work we do, the more authors and organizations are finding out about our service and requesting projects. We have a small team of editors by design, because every project receives a final review by John Essex, Peak’s owner. An employee or contractor does not have the same level of dependency on quality as an owner, and this will always be reflected in the work. Instead of growing our numbers and allowing for the possibility of dips in quality, we have established rolling two-week periods of service with a set number of projects available every two weeks. We “re-stock” our services every other Monday. If the service you need is sold out, we are sorry about that, but this is what we must do to avoid sacrificing quality in favor of quantity.
What is included in the total word count?
Order prices are based on total word count of materials to be edited. The total word count includes the title, abstract, main text, headings and subheadings, tables and table titles, figure legends, figures primarily composed of text (flow charts, algorithms, etc), and references. Total word count will also include the submission cover letter to the journal editor, if the author wishes for the cover letter to be edited.
Author names and affiliations, and corresponding author information are NOT included in the total word count for editing purposes.
Materials for editing submitted in excess of the word count threshold for the order will be canceled and refunded less a 10% clerical fee. Authors will be notified of the cancellation and encouraged to place a new order of appropriate size. Materials for editing submitted that fall below the minimum word count range of the order will be refunded the overage less a 10% clerical fee.
We encourage authors to avoid withholding parts of text from editing, as all material submitted to journal editors and reviewers should carry the same clear voice and language consistency throughout.
Why do you include plagiarism detection?
There are many details to keep track of when drafting a manuscript, and it has happened more than once that an author has meant to attribute an external source in the manuscript but inadvertently left the citation out for one reason or another. We can catch these inadvertent mistakes before you submit your manuscript to journal editors and prevent any potentially embarrassing or damaging notions of misconduct on your behalf.
Will you really edit my abstract for free?
When the service is available, yes! We are happy to provide a free edit for your abstract (up to 350 words) and we will provide all applicable services available in our full service. Free edits are limited to one abstract per author per year. Student papers are ineligible, and abstract published previously are ineligible. Your edited abstract will be returned within 5 business days.
What about when free abstract edits are suspended?
We are sorry about that. If the service is suspended, that means we are at full capacity. Getting authors published is our top priority, and sometimes that means we cut back on promotions to focus on exceptional editing service. But if you have read this far, you can still get a disc0unt c0de, even when the free abstract service is gone. Just use PeakFAQReader at checkout for 10% off services over $57. Shh. This is our little secret.
Who is actually editing my document?
All Expedited and Rush edits are performed by our full-time medical editor, John Essex. Several other editing services will outsource your document to a stable of part-time medical editors for a meager wage, asking them to find time in their busy schedules to attend to your manuscript when they have a moment.
All edits for Cureus submissions are reviewed and approved by John Essex before returning to the author.
We do not treat your manuscript as a distraction. Your research manuscript is our number one focus. Your draft receives diligent care and attention because our reputation depends on your success.
How much will it cost to edit my article?
Our pricing depends on both the size of the paper/materials for editing and the desired return time. We have three service “speeds”: Traditional, Expedited, and Rush.
To order our service, you can click the links above based on the timing you need and select the word count range that encompasses your materials to be edited, including the abstract, main text, tables, figure legends, and references (and any supplemental materials and/or cover letters if desired). The price will update based on the size category selected.
If the service you need is sold out, we are at maximum capacity for this service period. Orders open twice per month, every other Monday at noon (US Eastern time).
One option that some authors have done is purchase a larger sized word count range than they need. Per our policy, they are refunded the overage less a 10% administration fee. While this was not the original intention of our policy, it has allowed authors to pursue a service bracket despite its "sold out" status for a small extra fee.
What kind of experience do you have?
We have edited hundreds of manuscripts for submission to peer-reviewed journals as well as a few textbooks for medical students and nursing students. See our Select Bibliography* for a list of published articles our medical editor has edited.
*Please note that due to the volume of articles we have edited that have been accepted for publication and our primary focus on editing, we do not update the Select Bibliography page as often as we should. However, an updated list of articles published is available throughout our Twitter feed.
I need third-party editing to submit to the Cureus Journal of Medical Science. I am from a low-income country. Can you waive my fees?
For authors submitting to Cureus, use the code CUREUS at checkout for 10% off the price of editing orders over $57. All other authors can use PeakFAQReader at checkout for 10% off editing orders over $57. Unfortunately, due to the current queue of paid work to edit papers for submission to many journals, including Cureus, and due to multiple past troubles with making special arrangements regarding pricing, we can no longer provide deeper discounts on editing work beyond the 10% discounts offered.
What types of files do you accept?
We can accept .doc, .docx, .rtf, .ppt, and .pptx. For figures, tables, and graphs, we can also accept .pdfs if necessary.
How does it work?
After you decide on our traditional, expedited or rush service, select the appropriate word count for your article (including references), click "Purchase" and complete the checkout. You will receive a confirmation email with an order number. Materials for editing submitted in excess of the word count threshold for the order will be canceled and refunded less a 10% clerical fee. Authors will be notified of the cancellation and encouraged to place a new order of appropriate size. Materials for editing submitted that fall below the minimum word count range of the order will be refunded the overage less a 10% clerical fee.
Simply reply to the confirmation email and attach your documents to be edited. We will confirm receipt of your documents and provide a date by which your edited documents will be returned. We accept .doc, .docx, .rtf, and .pdf files. Graphics, tables, and figures may be embedded in the text or attached as separate files. Combined total file size is limited to 20 MB per email. Please contact us for information if you require a file transfer larger than 20 MB.
We will return an edited document using the Track Changes tool in Microsoft Word. We recommend a careful review of all changes in the tracked change document to ensure your original message has been preserved and unaltered by editorial changes.
Edits Until You Are Satisfied With The Content: If you disagree with any corrections or suggestions and would like us to perform an additional edit, please add your own comments using the “Track Changes” tool and return the document to us via email. We will provide another round of revisions at no additional charge, taking your new comments or changes into account. We will also reformat the manuscript for one additional journal if you change your mind about your initial target journal.
Each purchase receives our comprehensive scientific editing service as detailed here and summarized below:
Substantive Editing: Where appropriate, Peak will provide constructive recommendations for revisions and suggested re-wording; restructure paragraphs for improved flow; condense materials if necessary; and remove redundancy.
Copyediting/Proofreading: Peak will correct any grammatical errors; check for accuracy in scientific rhetoric expressions and language use; indicate preferred medical usage; check consistency throughout the document; check for faulty parallelism and provide suggested revisions; and correct any spelling, punctuation, or capitalization errors.
Proper Formatting: Peak will format your text, abstract, references, tables, figures, and legends per the requirements of your target journal.
Plagiarism Check: Peak will use robust plagiarism detection software to check the manuscript against an index of over 8 billion pages of online literature to ensure all work is properly cited and attributed to external sources.
Publication-Ready References: Peak will review all reference information for citation accuracy and proper formatting. Peak will also verify all in-text citations against the list of references to ensure each citation also appears in the references list, and that all references in the references list appear in the text as appropriate.
How do I pay?
You have several ways to pay! Credit card payments are made via Stripe, a trusted global payment management company. Stripe is a quick and secure way to accept credit card and debit card payments online. Learn more at www.stripe.com. You may also pay via PayPal, the leading online payment method trusted by millions of people around the world. Learn more at www.paypal.com.
For documents larger than 16,000 words, we use Intuit Quickbooks electronic invoices. Invoice payments are made using the “Pay Now” button in the electronic invoice itself. We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express, along with ACH Bank transfers.
Are payments secure?
Yes. Paypal and Stripe exceed the most stringent industry standards for security. Click here to learn more about the technical details of Stripe's secure infrastructure. Click here to learn more about PayPal's robust purchase security. The invoice system we use for special projects, Intuit Quickbooks Payments, uses bank-level security protocols and security systems.
Can you guarantee my manuscript will be accepted?
We understand your desire for assurance when submitting to peer-reviewed journals. However, it's important to note that the final decision lies with the journal's editors. While our services at Peak Medical Editing are designed to maximize your manuscript's chances, we cannot guarantee publication.
We stand behind our work and promise a full refund if your article is deferred due to errors we overlooked. Our aim is to ensure your satisfaction, but the final responsibility for the article's content rests with you, the author. This includes addressing flagged errors and managing any changes after our final review.
Over the past five years, we've seen a 93% acceptance rate for the articles we've edited. With over 1000 articles under our belt, we've issued only 5 full refunds due to our own errors. Please be aware that we cannot be responsible for errors introduced by the author or a third party after our review. Our goal is to support your journey to publication, providing the best service possible.
Can you help me write my manuscript?
At this time, we currently offer writing services for Case Reports only. You will receive a 1,000 to 2,500-word case report based on your data and consultation. All case reports also received our comprehensive scientific editing service and our recommendations for 3 carefully selected journal targets. You retain submitting authorship role. Writing service is ineligible for discounts. Once you select the appropriate timeline for your writing project (30 or 45 business days), click "Purchase" and complete the checkout. You will receive a confirmation email with an order number. Simply reply to the confirmation email and attach your required files. We will confirm receipt of your files and provide a date by which your case report will be returned.
We will need the following information from the author: References (up to 15 maximum), case notes, history, treatment, outcomes, images (optional), conclusions/key takeaways, and target journal (optional).
If you disagree with any corrections or suggestions and would like us to perform revisions, please add your own comments using the “Track Changes” tool and return the document to us via email. We will provide another round of revisions at no additional charge, taking your new comments or changes into account.
I would like to work for you as a medical editor. Are you hiring?
We are a small shop, and at this time we are not hiring medical editors. If you are interested in working for us, you may send us your resume and CV (via an email to hello@peakmedicalediting[dot]com) and we will keep you in mind should the need arise to expand our staff.