Shearson Editorial scientific editing service

Carlotta Shearson, a BELS-certified editor in the life sciences, provides substantive editing, copyediting, and proofreading services. She specializes in presubmission language editing of scientific articles by authors for whom English is a second language (ESL editing).

Content areas include

Chemistry: organic, medicinal, environmental
Biochemistry, chemical biology, molecular biology
Medicine
Paleontology
Ornithology
General science
History of science
Quilting, knitting and crochet, weaving, soap-making, basketry, and other handicrafts

Scientific Editing Services

When you submit a scientific journal article to Shearson Editorial Services for language editing, Carlotta will

Revise so that the writing is grammatically correct and idiomatic—paying particular attention to punctuation, spelling, capitalization, word usage, agreement, parallelism, pronoun antecedents, modifier placement, and use of scientific terminology.

Point out unclear or excessively wordy passages and suggest alternative wording, where possible. Point out and, if possible, suggest ways to fix problems with paragraph organization and focus.

Conform the article to a style manual (e.g., The ACS Style Guide, AMA Manual of Style, Scientific Style and Format).

Reconcile the reference list with the reference citations in the text, tables, and illustrations. (I do not edit or format references.)

Edit figure captions and table titles and impose consistency between captions, titles, and contents. Check figure and table numbering sequences, including cross-references.

Edit words in figures and tables, if specifically requested (these words will be included in the word count).

Check numbering sequences for equations and chemical compounds, including cross-references.

Check headings for logical structure, parallelism, and consistent styling. Check heading number sequence, if applicable.

Confirm that the target journal’s instructions for authors have been followed correctly, if the target journal is specified.

Answer questions that you may have during your review of the editing. Work with you to address any remaining inconsistencies and confusing passages after your review.

Testimonials

On behalf of all of the editors, I want to thank you for the excellent and conscientious work that you've done for us over the past three years. From the comments that we receive, we know that the journal's readership has definitely taken notice.
—Cheri Hadley, former managing editor, Journal of Organic Chemistry

Thanks for your excellent revisions (as always) and many pertinent comments to the author.
—Robert Freeman, Editor

Thank you for your extra careful reading of the [author name] manuscript. You raised some valid scientific points which I'm sure will add to the clarity and accuracy of the published work.
—J.A.M., Senior Editor

Again I'm shown the depth of your skills. Much appreciated, Carlotta!
—Stacy Chamness, C&T Publishing

I just wanted to give the copyeditor Carlotta Shearson "mad props," as the kids say. I was too familiar with the book and looked past the omissions in the projects. Carlotta's editing was precise, well thought out, and EXTREMELY helpful.
—Stacy Chamness, C&T Publishing
Blog: The Scientist’s English

Carlotta Shearson's Recent Tweets
- J. McPhee in the 4/29 New Yorker: "The adulating portrait of the perfect writer who never blots a line comes express mail from fairyland." 2 weeks ago
- RT @BELS_editors: RT @AMAManual: What's the significance of "significant"? http://t.co/Jk3XQMCjyD 2 weeks ago
- @stuartcantrill @sharmanedit My word choice may have incorrectly implied presubmission editing is required; that wasn't speaker's contention 2 weeks ago
View more tweets

Selected Projects

Su and Wen, Bioactive cembrane-based diterpenoids from the soft coral Sinularia triangular. Mar. Drugs 2011 9, 944–951.

Zhu et al. Enantioselective copper-catalyzed intramolecular O−H insertion. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2010, 132, 16374-16376.

Nadir et al. Unusual cycloaddition reactions of substituted-N-(arylsulfonyl)aziridines with aryl and alkyl isothiocyanates in the presence of sodium iodide as catalyst. J. Org. Chem. 1995, 60, 1458–1460.

Ihara et al. Asymmetric total synthesis of tacamonine pseudovincamone I) via radical cyclization J. Org. Chem. 1994, 59, 5317–5323.

Hirao et al. A novel system consisting of low valent vanadium and diethyl phosphonate or triethyl phosphite for the highly stereoselective reduction of gem-dibromocyclopropanes. J. Org. Chem. 1993, 58, 6529–6530.

Fernandez et al. Asymmetric synthesis of alkane- and arenesulfinates of diacetone-D-glucose (DAG). J. Org. Chem. 1992, 57, 6789-6796.

Downie, N.A. Ink Sandwiches, Electric Worms, and 36 Other Experiments for Saturday Science. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins, 2003.

Hough, S.E. Earth-Shaking Science: What We Know (and Don’t Know) about Earthquakes. Princeton: Princeton, 2002.

Johnsgard, P.A. Trogons and Quetzals of the World: Their Biology, Behavior, and Natural History. Washington: Smithsonian Institution, 2000.

Paul, G.S. Dinosaurs of the Air: The Evolution and Loss of Flight in Dinosaurs and Birds. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins, 2002.

Shearson Editorial Services

Copyediting and Substantive Editing since 1991, BELS Certified

Scientific Editing Services

Testimonials

Blog: The Scientist’s English

Carlotta Shearson's Recent Tweets

Selected Projects

Shearson Editorial Services