Explain the project
Share your role, specialty, study type, current stage, word count and deadline. Identify the task: language, structure, formatting, reporting review or submission preparation. Avoid including patient-identifying data in the first message.
Agree the scope
Review a written description of deliverables, exclusions, turnaround, revision terms and payment conditions. Confirm relevant expertise and discuss the file-sharing method before sending research documents.
Review the proposed changes
Work from an identified document version. Read comments and resolve questions that require scientific judgment. Corrections to facts, data or interpretation must come from the author and the underlying research record.
Approve the final files
Check that the agreed deliverables are present and that the final manuscript reflects your decisions. Complete any required acknowledgement or disclosure of assistance. Keep the approved files and correspondence together for your records.
One coordinated process across disciplines
Begin with your field and stage: proposal, literature, data, thesis, manuscript or peer review. We agree the tasks, required expertise, deliverables and revision allowance, then keep questions and approvals traceable to the current document. Interdisciplinary projects should identify each method that needs review.
Questions about how it works
- What happens when the scope changes?
- Agree the additional work and any cost or timeline change before it proceeds. New analysis or substantial new text is not automatically a routine revision.
- Can you work to my deadline?
- Share the date during scoping. A deadline is agreed only after the work and availability have been assessed.