We can provide editing services and suggest resources to help you get your draft ready for peer review. We provide, as a free service, light and medium editing for NIH- and HHS-related work. As the writer, you have the option to accept or reject our editing suggestions. In order to serve all eligible staff who request editing assistance, we leave it to you to perform in-depth editing and to make all revisions.
Please allow a minimum of 7–10 business days for completion of editing suggestions. Use the Request Editing form for more information about editing, including plagiarism checking (iThenticate reports) and in-depth editing options.
Light Editing includes:
- Identifying needed corrections in spelling, word usage, grammar, and punctuation
- Cross-checking text with elements such as tables and figures for correct association
- Reviewing text to suggest changes that could improve consistency
Medium Editing includes:
- Suggesting text and heading changes that create parallel structure
- Ensuring consistency of a journal style according to the publisher's instructions to authors
- Noting where passive voice might be changed to active voice
- Flagging writing that could be made clearer for the reader
We provide assistance when preparing documents for reporting or presentation, such as:
- Manuscripts
- Book chapters
- Protocols
- Case studies
- Posters
- PowerPoint slides
We are unable to edit the following types of documents:
- Alien of Extraordinary Ability, "green card" application letters
- Congressional reports
- Grant applications
- Job applications
- Manuscripts written for non-NIH related work(other agencies or academia)
- Medical/graduate school personal statements
- Resumes or CVs
- Theses or dissertations
- Whole books
Writing-related reference books are available to answer many of your questions about grammar and punctuation or formatting of resumes/CVs, etc. The books are located in the Reference Collection on the lower level of the NIH Library. NIH and HHS staff may photocopy relevant pages for personal use at the copier located on the main level of the Library, across from the Information Desk.
Additional Editing Support
Fellows and students have access to other formal writing and editing programs.
Fellows have the option to submit ready-for-publication manuscripts to the Fellows Editorial Board. Submissions are accepted electronically and require a ten-day turn-around. This is a comprehensive editing service provided by volunteer scientific editors.
NIDA-Baltimore Editing Service
Researchers, fellows, and other NIDA staff located in the Intramural Research Program, in Baltimore, may contact Mary Pfeiffer, editor/writer, for assistance editing manuscripts and work-related documents. Contact Mary Pfeiffer via email or call 443-740-2447.
Office of Intramural Training Education (OITE)
Postdoctoral fellows, postbacs, and summer interns have writing classes and career counseling support available through the OITE. NIH staff wishing to receive help editing medical school applications, please contact OITE.