For scholars, both emerging and established.
Meticulous, personalized editing to convey your original research in clear and compelling academic English.
We are English Academic Editing, a small, scholar-run editing house established by Dr Simon Ferdinand.
Our close, substantive editing ensures that academic writing is not just grammatically correct but flowing and nuanced too.
In this way, we can help you meet the high expectations for writing in the humanities and social sciences.
When writing stands in the way of research
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Many scholars find that their writing doesn’t reflect the clarity, depth, and significance of their research contributions.
For non-native English speakers, the need to write fluently in English can be an unwelcome burden, slowing their progress.
Generic proofreading services, which correct errors but leave ideas awkwardly expressed, can lessen your work's competitive edge.
Writing is held to exceptionally high standards in the humanities and social sciences, which can hold back even accomplished researchers.
My experience with English Academic Editing has been truly positive. I worked with Simon, who is an excellent editor, on several articles and a funding proposal. He attends to the text very carefully, considering every little detail while also keeping an eye on the logic of the whole piece, the genre-related expectations etc.
He is open to questions, always ready to explain edits and discuss the nuances of the meaning. He is reliable in communication and perfectly clear in his advice.
Dr Anna Nikolaeva
Assistant professor in urban planning,
University of Amsterdam
How we do it
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Substantive editing that not only corrects outright errors but addresses meaning, flow, and readability.
How we do it
◦ PhD researchers preparing dissertations for submission.
◦ Scholars writing articles and books for publication.
◦ Researchers drafting competitive funding proposals.
For whom
What we do
English Academic Editing helps scholars express complex ideas in fluent and engaging writing, so that you don't lose valuable research time addressing writing frustrations.
Academically informed changes, drawing on our backgrounds in the humanities and social sciences.
Responsive communication to tailor our approach to your project and situation.
Resulting in
Smooth, cogent writing that communicates your research effectively and improves peer engagement.
Confidence in your writing's quality and robustness.
Increased likelihood of publication, successful dissertation submission, or securing research funding.
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Time saved by having us address problems of expression.
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Over the years, English Academic Editing has provided invaluable support for several of my articles, as well as my book, published by Oxford University Press. Simon and his colleagues are respectful, insightful, and very detailed in their editing. Their comments and editorial changes elevate any text to a higher level.
Dr Melle Kromhout
Postdoctoral research fellow in music,
University of Cambridge
The editing process
Step 1
Initial consultation
Step 2
Comprehensive editing
Step 3
Your feedback
Step 4
Final refinements
To assess how best to support you, we ask you to send a sample for personalized evaluation. We will then provide a timeframe and fee proposal.
We'll also discuss any specific concerns on which you'd like us to focus. Schedules permitting, the text will be allocated to the editor in our three-person team whose background is most aligned with your topic.
In this first round of work, we'll conduct a rigorous, line-by-line edit of your text.
We will check spelling and grammar, restructure sentences, and rework syntax to ensure that your points are clear and engaging.
All edits and comments will be tracked. To ensure transparency, when we return your edited manuscript, we'll explain any decisions we took regarding grammar and style.
Once the first round of editing is complete, you'll have the opportunity to review the edits, pose questions, and refine your manuscript in response to our changes.
Crucially, this step allows for a collaborative exchange between editor and author, in which we will identify any discrepancies in your writing's perceived meaning.
To finalize the manuscript, we will review your revisions, answer your questions, resolve any lingering uncertainties, and generally fine-tune the text.
At this point, your writing will be honed and ready to face the scrutiny of journal reviewers, funding bodies, or dissertation committees.
We prioritize open communication at every stage; you’ll never be left wondering about progress.
About us
Established in Amsterdam by Dr Simon Ferdinand in 2018, English Academic Editing is dedicated to realizing the power and possibilities of academic prose through thoughtful revision.
Having long helped friends and colleagues with draft essays and grant proposals, Simon began the business out of a desire to engage deeply with the craft of scholarly writing. In an editing landscape dominated by basic proofreading services and now generative AI, this close, immersive approach prioritizes the flow and integrity of scholarly prose.
After six years of growth, we are now a team of three highly practiced editors. All originally from the United Kingdom, we can draw on a broad grasp of terms and trends in the humanities and social sciences.
Dr Simon Ferdinand is an interdisciplinary scholar and editor, specializing in the environmental humanities and visual culture. He earned his MRes (with distinction) in theater studies from the University of Warwick and PhD (cum laude) in cultural analysis from the University of Amsterdam. The recipient of numerous awards and research grants, Simon has published many articles and books, of which Mapping Beyond Measure (Nebraska UP, 2019) won especial critical praise. Alongside editing, Simon is currently a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Amsterdam, funded by a prestigious Veni grant from the Dutch Research Council. For more, visit www.simonferdinand.com.
Dr Gwilym Lawrence received a BA in theatre studies with first-class honors from the University of Warwick, where he won the Theatre Studies Prize for his dissertation, and an MA in advanced theater practice from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama. Funded by the UK's Arts and Humanities Research Council, his PhD from the University of Manchester was in drama and geography and he has published in theatre studies and the social sciences. Gwilym is now an academic editor at the open-access publisher MDPI, where he draws on his broad experience across the creative arts and social sciences to help authors refine their manuscripts for publication.
Joe Edwardes-Evans holds a BA in french studies from the University of Manchester, where he graduated with first-class honors and won the Wadsworth Prize for Best Overall Performance in French Studies. He completed an MA, also in french studies, at the University of Sheffield, where his dissertation earned him the School of Languages and Cultures Dissertation Prize. Since 2022, Joe has been assistant editor at the independent arts publisher Ma Bibliothèque, where he develops and meticulously edits new work across the areas of fiction, non-fiction, experimental writing, essays, and poetry.
Given that each editing project is distinct, we offer bespoke quotes based on submitted samples.
Although we offer basic proofreading, most of our work involves deeper engagement, including close work on sense, syntax, flow, and clarity of expression. While exact prices vary, we typically charge between €45 and €65 per 1,000 source words. (That's roughly equivalent to $50–70 and £38–55.)
For more precise pricing, submit a sample for review and receive a personalized quote. For clients with institutional support, we're used to tailoring invoices to meet the requirements of universities and funding bodies.
Pricing
Download a free sample
To give you a concrete sense of the quality and depth of our work, we offer a downloadable sample that showcases our approach to editing. This document features tracked changes and in-text comments, which explain the rationale behind specific edits.
What our previous clients have said
I've known Simon for some years. He has a lot of experience in editing and supervising all kinds of academic texts and he has helped me to raise the academic quality of my own writing. I highly recommend Simon as an academic editor, he is always quick to reply and provides incisive feedback
Dr Andrés Ibarra Cordero, Assistant professor, Universidad de La Serena
Simon Ferdinand is an excellent editor. He works with the text very carefully, paying attention to every little detail while also keeping an eye on the logic of the whole piece, the genre-related expectations etc. He is open to questions, always ready to explain the edits and discuss the nuances of the meaning with you. He is reliable in communication and perfectly clear in his advice
Dr Anna Nikolaeva, Assistant professor in urban planning, University of Amsterdam
Simon has edited various types of texts for me (book chapters, articles and even cover letters), and I have always been happy with the results. He is very fast, accessible and professional, not only checking grammar but also improving style. He even took time to do a little research on my field and target readership. I enthusiastically recommend his services as an English editor!
Dr Irene Villaescusa Illán, Assistant professor in literary and cultural analysis, University of Amsterdam
Simon's keen editorial eye and thoughtful feedback on my essays were extremely useful to me when I was an undergraduate studying literature. He has my full recommendation
Dr Annabella Massey, British Academy postdoctoral fellow at The Courtauld Institute of Art
Simon provided me with thorough and insightful comments on my successful application for PhD funding from the NWO (Dutch Research Council), improving both the grammar and writing style. My application's clarity and readability benefited significantly
Dr Nathan van Kleij, Lecturer in history, University of Amsterdam
Simon is a talented scholar, whose speech and writing demonstrate his absolute mastery of the English language and its finesses, as well as how to build an academic argument
Dr Judith Naeff, Assistant professor in cultures of the Middle East, University of Leiden
Simon has helped me out by editing and proofreading my work on a number of occasions during my PhD. I not only benefited from his careful and precise editing, but also learned from it. Simon is a fabulous author himself – check out his work – and applies his expertise to your writing without hesitation. He is always quick to respond to requests and punctual in delivering on his promises. He treats your text with care and yourself with respect
Dr Pedram Dibazar, Lecturer, Amsterdam University College
Simon helped me with the final editing of my proposal for a PhD scholarship from the NWO (Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research). I had chance to sit beside him while he was working on my text, and could see his enthusiasm for editing. He reads each sentence carefully. Like a jeweller measuring every gem, he weighs each word in the sentence, removing some and replacing others, before putting them together. He polishes the shape of your sentences and sharpens your expression, while preserving the soul and meaning of the text. He is a resourceful editor
Peyman Amiri, PhD researcher, and tutor in politics, University of Amsterdam
Simon Ferdinand did a very good job on two chapters of my forthcoming book. He was punctual and efficient, and very pleasant to work with. I am sure to use his services again
Dr Hava Aldouby, Senior lecturer in literature, language, and the arts, Open University of Israel
Simon helped me with a journal manuscript. It has been a great experience. In addition to the thorough and good-quality edits, Simon was also patient with the questions I had on the changes he made. I benefited tremendously from our interactions – they not only improved the manuscript, but also increased my experiences to write a better article
Dr Shuaishuai Wang, Lecturer in Digital Media, University of Manchester
Simon Ferdinand is a very fast, reliable, and concise (copy)editor. Owing to his extraordinary feeling for language, my essay has profited immensely from his edits and suggestions for rephrasing certain sentences. I thank Simon Ferdinand for his excellent work!
Dr Andreas Weber, Assistant professor in history, University of Twente
Simon is one of the very best editors I have worked with: he is very accurate, and takes a lot of time and efforts to help non-native writers produce the best possible prose
Prof. Chiara de Cesari, Professor in heritage and memory studies, University of Amsterdam
I'm very pleased with Simon's editing work. His attention to detail, his social science and humanities knowledge, and his understanding of both the text's key message and individual sentences, have all strengthened my work considerably. I would highly recommend his editing services. As for me, I have found my editor from now on!
Dr Beatriz Pineda Revilla, Research fellow and innovation advisor, REMIT Europe
Simon did a beautiful and careful job of editing an article that needed revision for its language. The blow to our ego was considerably softened by Simon’s work!
Dr Joke Hermes, Lecturer in media, culture, and citizenship, Inholland University and University of Amsterdam
My friend recommended Simon to me. Simon is very professional and responsible. I had a very limited word count available and Simon tried hard to edit my essay into a beautiful and concise one. I had a close deadline and we communicated a couple of rounds. Simon is very efficient and replied swiftly. This eased my stress a lot! Thank you!
PhD researcher in biology, University of Oxford
English Academic Editing are dedicated professionals; I've had very good experiences with their reviews of my texts
Dr Paulo Nunes, Lecturer in engineering, Federal University of Itajuba, Brazil
It is my pleasure to recommend the brilliant editor, Simon Ferdinand. Simon edited my book proposal within a very short time, in a professional way while being always open for dialogue. I’m sure that we will continue to collaborate in the future.
Dr Yael Munk, Senior lecturer in literature, language and the arts, Open University of Israel.
Simon is a truly excellent editor. He works diligently and responds promptly when being asked questions. His work is of impressive quality. I strongly recommend him as editor
Fellow at the Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford
Simon is a very thorough editor who pays close attention to the smallest details. I highly recommend his services
Timea Andrea Lelik, PhD researcher in the history of art, University of Amsterdam
I used English Academic Editing for checking the content of a major publishing contract, and found Simon's insights into both legal and language aspects greatly helpful
Dr Ronald Vonk, Editor-in-chief, Contributions to Zoology, University of Leiden.
Simon offered excellent edits for my PhD dissertation, which definitely impressed my supervisor and committee members. He helped me to express my opinions in a smart and accurate way. When you need a reliable, professional proofreader, ask Simon
PhD Researcher in film and literary studies, Leiden University Centre for the Arts in Society
I reached out to Simon after hearing about him from a former university lecturer, because I needed some help with shaping my dissertation. I was blown away by his skill and sharp eye, my writing improved significantly. His tips and comments were relevant and educational. It was a relief to have made such progress and, as a result, I submitted my thesis on time. I'd happily reach out again or recommend his services to another student in need
Tatiana Miranda, MA student in Literary Studies, University of Amsterdam
Interested?
• Fluent writing that effectively articulates your ideas
• Confidence in the quality and clarity of your writing
• Increased likelihood of publication, funding, or graduation
• Time saved and frustration avoided by delegating writing issues
English Academic Editing made my article and funding proposal (which succeeded) pleasant to read, and tried to grasp what I struggled to put into words. They definitely contributed to the article's acceptance and proposal's success.
Dr Matthias de Groof
Assistant professor in film studies & Marie Curie fellow,
University of Antwerp
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