Professional Copy Editing Services for a Polished Manuscript

professional copy editing services manuscript language polish

My professional copy editing services get down to the nuts and bolts of language. I apply thirty-eight years of expertise along with the relevant style guide for your project.

If the details below don’t describe the type of professional editing services or analysis you think your manuscript might need at this stage, consult my other service definition pages for manuscript evaluation, substantive editing, line editing, and proofreading.

If you’re still unsure or would just like to see how I can be of help, contact me and we’ll determine your next best steps together. No more time and energy wasted second-guessing. I’ll show you what to fix and how.


My professional copy editing services include:

  • editing for grammar, spelling, punctuation,
    and other mechanics of style; 
  • general fact-checking and ensuring internal consistency of facts; 
  • marking head levels and approximate placement of art; and
  • notifying the designer of any unusual production requirements.

They may also include:

  • applying Canadian, American, or British style;
  • applying Imperial or metric weights and measures;
  • providing or changing a citation system;
  • writing or editing captions, credit lines, and running heads;
  • listing permissions; and 
  • adding designer-written specifications for the typesetter or formatter.
Rated 5 out of 5
“Heather Sangster has been the primary copy editor of my work for the past 31 years and my publications owe a great deal to her services. She is meticulously thorough and thoroughly professional.”

“Many thanks are due to...Heather Sangster of Strong Finish, the demon copy editor who picks every nit, including those yet unhatched.”~Acknowledgements,
The Testaments
Book cover of Book of Lives: A Memoir of Sorts by Margaret Atwood showing her making a shhh sign with her finger over her smiling lips.
~ Margaret Atwood
Internationally bestselling, multi-award-winning author
Rated 5 out of 5
“A big thank you, Heather. I wanted to say how much we all appreciated your work. It wasn't just the copy editing itself, which was both observant and sensitive, but the level of attention you brought to everything around it...You caught issues none of us would ever have noticed. This was Sayoshi Books’ eleventh publication, and I have no hesitation in saying that you’re the best editor I’ve ever worked with, especially as you were working in British English. I certainly want to collaborate again on future projects. In fact, I know what they are already—but one thing at a time. As the Americans say, ‘I’ll be back!’”
Oran Kivity author
~ Oran Kivity
Acupuncturist, publisher of Sayoshi Books, and co-author of Manaka Made Simple, among others
Rated 5 out of 5
“Heather Sangster has an exceptional talent for pairing concise copy-editing skills with an uncanny ability for comprehending the true scope of a novel. This is a tremendous asset for the writer wanting to uncover every aspect of their writing, expose all the rough edges so they can be sanded down for a finer reading experience. For those looking for an editor with a discerning eye, and a flare for the literary, look no further. Heather’s inspired editorial contribution helped shape my work into the novel that caught my publisher’s attention.”
Pamela Korgemagi, author
~ Pamela Korgemagi
The Hunter and the Old Woman
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