When something can be read without effort, great effort has gone into its writing. – Enrique Jardiel Poncela
Welcome to my editing and proofreading website. I specialise in plain English, from basic error correction to extensive rewrites. If you have any questions that aren’t answered here, or comments you’d like to make, don’t hesitate to get in touch.
It takes time and proficiency to create clear, effective prose. For many people it’s more a case of getting the facts and ideas down, connecting them somehow, and expecting that readers will infer the intended sense and structure. Unfortunately, this can result in substandard prose that slows communication, frustrates readers, and damages credibility.
The converse is also true: when writing is carefully proofread and precisely edited, it flows from the page or screen, exceeds expectations, and stands out from the ordinary. Editing not only strengthens a writer’s points, it also shows respect for readers’ time and attention.
As a lifelong writer, experienced editor, and qualified scientist and teacher, I understand the importance of lucid prose, the properties that underline it, and the problems that undermine it. Clear communication is central to my work, and I take pleasure in bringing this quality to people’s writing. For example, I can:
• remove typos
• fix misspellings
• ensure proper punctuation
• correct grammatical mistakes
• assess word choice
• check logical structure
• rearrange awkward syntax
• ensure consistency of style and formatting
• reduce or remove abstraction and jargon
• eliminate gobbledegook.
For a sense of what my editing and proofreading could mean for your writing, you can read some of my clients’ testimonials; for more about what’s involved, please see the FAQ. Thank you for visiting.
