Editing and proofreading

Whether you are a publishing company outsourcing editorial work or a business looking to make your publication
more professional, I can help.

Proofreading – I can check your document for spelling, grammar, punctuation and formatting errors, and ensure
that the layout is correct before it goes to print.

Editing – I can edit your material in whatever format is most convenient for you, whether it be on hard copy, using
the British Standards Institution (BSI) correction symbols (BS 5261C: 2005), or on screen, using tracked changes.
I have both Mac and PC systems, thus avoiding the problems with file translation that can often occur. As well as amending spelling and grammar errors, editing can include checking for consistency in style, usage and plot, improving sentence structure, ensuring writing is clear and concise, and even checking for factual errors.

There are many reasons why editing and proofreading are so important. Here are just a few examples:
• It is very hard to pick up mistakes in your own writing – you are so close to the material that your brain
- automatically reads what you meant to say.
• Writing that is unclear or littered with errors will make your company look unprofessional, and may put off
- potential customers.
• When a document is worked on by more than one author, it can seem fragmented and lack an overall writing style.
• Computer spell checkers can’t pick up errors where the word typed is also in the dictionary, such as ‘form’
- instead of ‘from’ or ‘your’ instead of ‘you’re’.
• Computer grammar checkers are not reliable and can’t pick up inconsistencies in content or style.
• The content of your writing is your area of expertise; language is mine.
• I can ensure that your publication adheres to the style and ethos of your business.
• If errors are missed, it can cost a lot of time and money to fix them after the publication has been printed.