Proofreading | Copyediting | Typesetting | Layout | Web

You’ve written something important and noticed that the written language is like nuclear physics – but 37% more complicated?

And now you need someone to have a look at it?

To check the apostrophes are behaving themselves and that your shift key isn’t stuck?

I also take care of the typographical conventions they don’t teach you at school or university. Perfect if you don’t know your en dash or your ellipsis from your elbow.

All the while, your words and your message remain your own.

I’m calling it proofreading here, but this word has about a million meanings. In this case: “Hey, check my text and fix my spelling and grammar where you need to, but don’t go overboard with changing stuff.”

You need someone to dig deeper?

To shuffle words about, replace some and ditch others, so your text flows like your choc ice in the heatwave? To ensure your text does its job?

That’s copyediting. (Although a lot of people call this “proofreading” too.)

And if I’m doing all that, I check and sort out the spelling and grammar as well. Otherwise it would be like you renovating your house and then refitting the green bathroom suite.

What’s a house cost?

See the problem?

Texts are just as different.

Once I know what you want from me and what’s involved, I’ll tell you how much.

Hard to say at the moment. I’ve been zapping rogue apostrophes, untangling tapeworm sentences and bringing order to textual chaos for 30 years – but as part of my work as a design/layout/web person.

Thousands of texts. Not just online stuff, but loads of printed things too, including a few books.

But I’ve only recently decided to specifically train as a proofreader and copyeditor.

Now, I could sit here all day in my room, conjuring up ingenious combinations of services that nobody’s interested in.

Or I could find out what you all want from me. Yep, that’s what I’m going to do.

Then I’ll be clearer what I’m offering.