When commissioning professional editing, it’s natural to expect a polished, error-free document. Many people assume that editing means every typo, inconsistency or minor mistake will be eliminated. In reality, even the most experienced professional editors cannot guarantee a 100% error-free text. This is not a reflection of poor practice or lack of care. Instead, it reflects the nature of language, the complexity of specialist writing and the limits of editorial review – part

Why vague editing requests can lead to problems in medical and medico-legal content Getting medical editing right depends on more than technical skill – it starts with clear instructions. In medical and medico-legal editing, requests such as ‘a quick proofread’ or ‘a light edit’ are common, but they can mean very different things to different people. Without clarification, assumptions can easily creep in, increasing the risk of a final document that doesn’t fully meet its pur

In medical and medico-legal writing, consistency is not just a stylistic preference. Even small inconsistencies can have significant consequences for interpretation, credibility and usability. Seemingly minor variations can confuse readers, slow comprehension or raise doubts about the reliability of the document, especially when the content is reviewed by regulatory bodies, legal professionals or clinicians. How small inconsistencies can create big problems Even subtle incons

Many people assume that medical editing is simply correcting spelling mistakes or tidying grammar. In reality, the role is much broader – and much more nuanced – than that. At its core, a medical editor’s job is to refine medical documents so they are accurate, clear, consistent and suitable for their intended audience. But achieving that involves far more than surface-level corrections. Beyond spelling and grammar: the scope of medical editing While correct spelling and punc

Why clients worry about losing their voice One of the most common concerns I hear from clients is this: ‘ I’m worried editing will change my intended meaning .’ It’s an understandable concern. Medical and medico-legal documents are often the product of years of training, experience and professional judgement. Authors quite rightly want their expertise, reasoning and conclusions to remain intact. This is where an important distinction comes in – the difference between checking