Services

Editing

Editorial rigour forms the backbone of our company. All our written documents are edited according to the Professional Editorial Standards set by the Editors’ Association of Canada and the French standards, Principes directeurs en revision professionnelle. Each document is reviewed at least twice.

Depending on your time, need, and budget, your document may require one or more levels of edit:

  • Substantive editing involves examining the entire document with an eye to the logic underpinning it and the knowledge of what will work best for the intended audience and medium. A substantive editor can suggest ways in which reorganizing, adding to, or subtracting from the text will improve the document. The editor examines the document for gaps or inconsistencies, and imposes an outline or structure if one is missing. A substantive editor will also check facts, identify inconsistencies in logic, and revise to meet specific length requirements.
  • Stylistic editing involves establishing a consistent style, reading level, and point of view. The stylistic editor imposes or maintains consistency in the headings and captions, and ensures that the document is free of grammatical errors. He or she can also advise on the most appropriate ways of presenting material to support an argument (charts, pictures, etc.).
  • Copy editing involves identifying and correcting errors in spelling, usage, grammar, punctuation, and style. The copy editor ensures that sources are appropriately acknowledged, house style is followed, and facts are checked.
  • Proofreading, often the final stage in the publishing process, involves finding and marking typographical errors, errors in word and page breaks, and widows, orphans, and rivers of white spaces. It also involves checking the layout of a document to ensure consistency and checking cross-references.

Moira and Marine have several decades of experience editing documents, Moira in English and Marine in French. We will liaise with you to ensure that documents adhere to your house style and are suitable for their eventual audience. If no house style has yet been developed, we can design one for you.

Translating and Concordance

Marine Armstrong heads up the translation division of Ubiquitext Communications. A certified translator and a member of the Association of Translators and Interpreters of Ontario, she has an impressive resume of translation projects to her credit and has managed teams of translators for multi-language projects across Canada and in Europe. With sufficient notice, we have access to our network of writers and translators for several other languages as well.

When anything is written in one language and translated into another, concordance is paramount. Our translation services include this step, and thus the assurance that your document has the same meaning in both official languages.

Writing

Providing services in both English and French, our team of writers led by Moira and Marine communicates clearly and effectively to bring your message to the right audience. With your collaboration, we gear each project to your specific outcomes and timelines. We know the best ways to bring your message alive, both in print and electronically.

We are skilled at taking the work of multiple authors to produce documents that read as if they were written by a single hand. Our attention to detail ensures that all parts of your message are clearly communicated.

We have produced government reports, overnight newsletters, conference reports, annual reports, minutes, and corporate communications in both official languages—here in Ottawa, across Canada, and beyond.

Notetaking, conference and meeting reporting

Both Moira and Marine have considerable experience with conference reporting and notetaking for both large and small meetings. We know how to focus on the important details, thus ensuring that the results of your deliberations reach the widest possible audience. We can gear conference publications and meeting reports to your budget, desired outcome, and constituency.

Minutes are produced accurately and efficiently, with the precise level of detail required.

Managing the production process

We understand the production process as it applies to both print and electronic communication. Marine and Moira have experience assembling and working with project teams to ensure that your document is produced on time and on budget.

Training

Moira teaches or co-teaches several editing-related workshops for government and corporate clients and for the Editors’ Association of Canada in Ottawa, Toronto, and Montréal. As well, Moira and Marine have developed and taught specialized workshops for government clients.

Recent courses include the following:

  • Practical Proofreading, a one-day intensive workshop that Moira offers for government employees in Toronto
  • Editing Government Documents, a one-day seminar that Moira co-developed and taught with a colleague for the Editors’ Association of Canada in Ottawa
  • A Systems Approach to Writing and Editing, a two-day workshop that Moira co-developed and taught with a colleague for a corporate client in Ottawa
  • Copy Editing, a one-day seminar that Moira co-developed and taught with a colleague for the Editors’ Association of Canada in Ottawa
  • Copy Editing II: Beyond the basics, a one-day seminar that Moira co-developed and taught with a colleague for the Editors’ Association of Canada in Ottawa and Montréal
  • Styles, Templates, and Formatting, a half-day workshop that Moira and Marine developed and taught for a government client, geared to its specific reporting requirements

Training can be geared to specific topics, needs, or skill sets for your employees and workplace. Please contact Moira White (moira@ubiquitext.ca) for more information.