How to commission article editing in Australia: a clear brief and review process

Prepare an article-editing brief covering audience, sources, copyediting level, terminology, revision limits and version-controlled delivery.

Decide which kind of editing you need

Editing can mean reorganising an argument, improving sentences, checking consistency or checking claims against supplied evidence. These are different scopes. Before approaching an editor, identify the intended reader, publication format and whether the draft's structure is settled. In Australian English, spelling and house style may differ from US usage, but local convention should be specified rather than assumed. Tell the editor whether headings, links, quotations and captions can be rewritten, and what must remain unchanged.

Supply an adequate source package

Provide a clean draft, its objective, the publication's style guide if one exists and a list of source materials. Mark figures, quotes and claims that require checking; indicate who has responsibility for fact verification and any subject-matter sign-off. If files contain private client details, share them only through an agreed secure method and remove unnecessary identifiers from samples. An editor cannot verify a claim merely because it appears polished. Label each source with a date or version so obsolete references do not quietly survive.

Agree the style and technical limits

State the desired tone, reading level and approximate length, together with words or terms that must be used consistently. Specify whether search keywords are informational guidance or strict editorial requirements; awkward repetition should not override clarity. Agree heading levels, links, tables, accessibility of captions and final output type. For an Australian audience, provide approved spelling preferences and examples rather than asking the editor to 'make it local'. Clarify whether reference formatting and publication-system upload are included.

Use tracked revisions and purposeful feedback

Work from a single master document with tracked changes or a reviewable version history. Separate factual corrections from taste-based suggestions and ask the editor to flag uncertain passages instead of inventing missing details. Agree a round for structural feedback and a later one for copy polish if the draft needs substantial changes. A shared comment such as 'check this statistic against the original report' is actionable; 'make it better' is not. Avoid several people editing the same paragraph in uncoordinated copies.

Compare editors on outputs rather than claims

Give candidates a representative paragraph and ask how they would approach the stated scope, without demanding extensive unpaid samples. Request the pricing basis, turnaround, included revision rounds, file formats and whether substantive rewriting is charged separately. Look for relevant experience with the document type, not simply a long general portfolio. Ensure any sample used for comparison is one you have permission to share. Ask about the handling of citations and how unclear factual assertions are escalated.

Accept the final text against a checklist

Read the revised article in the context of its publication: verify the headline, section flow, captions, links, references, names and numbers. Check that edits did not alter intended meaning, especially in quotations or technical descriptions. Retain the marked-up version, a clean final version and a short unresolved-issues list. An effective brief can state: 'Audience [...], purpose [...], length [...], style [...], supplied sources [...], scope [...], deadline [...] and review contact [...]'. This gives both sides a practical definition of completion.

Connect directly, without assuming local coverage

Match2Go is a geosocial service for people to describe what they need or offer and to contact one another directly. Availability, participating users and suitable offers in your area are not guaranteed; check the live service before relying on it. You can describe the requirements and compare any responses independently at https://match2go.tech/. Match2Go grows through people's recommendations rather than purchased advertising. If this approach is useful, please share it with friends and colleagues, without spamming.

Prepared with AI assistance; independent human editorial review has not been confirmed.