HOME: What I Do

I make you look good

When I work on your copy, the nuts and bolts of my editing task is always this:

• Correcting text. I’m fast and neat at fixing awkward sentence structure, mistakes in syntax, muddled organization, improper grammar, poor usage, and errors in spelling and punctuation.

But I bring many other skills to your project as well:

• Tightening work. I make every word count. I cut, synthesize, smooth transitions, and take out any empty phrases or repetition.
• Ensuring consistency. I check that language (and layout) is used consistently. I either follow the style guide you provide, or else create one for you.
• Reorganizing material. If material is illogically organized, I suggest ways of arranging it to better effect.
• Substituting “plain language.” I make sure that your document reads like good plain English, free from jargon, buzzwords or "bureaucratese." When appropriate, I rewrite dry language to make it more readable and interesting.
• Noting omissions. Sometimes, noticing what’s not in the text is as important as correcting what is there. I’m always alert for missing material.
• Checking translated material. When text is translated from French to English, often important nuances can get lost, and the prose can sound stiff and unnatural. I check your translation against the original, and correct any problems.
• Recognizing ambiguity. Writers may think their material is quite clear, when in fact it leaves readers puzzled. I’m adept at noting muddled or confusing sections, and proposing alternatives.
• Considering audience. I always make sure that the material is tailored to your target audience, in terms of style, readability, and comprehension level.
• Preserving original meaning. When I modify and rewrite text, I take great care not to make any changes that would alter its original meaning or tone.
• Acknowledging sources. When text is imported from other sources, such as interviews or published material, I make sure it’s properly credited.