No one should edit his or her own work!

No matter how skillful a writer you are, it's nearly impossible to pick up all the errors—THE MISSPELLINGS, GRAMMAR AND PUNCTUATION MISTAKES, ERRORS IN SYNTAX—all the problems that contribute to a lack of clarity and polish in the final version of the written piece. Our eyes often see what we mean to say, rather than what's actually on the paper, especially after the second or third revision.

This is where POSITIVE PROOF EDITING comes in!

At the copyediting stage, I will find and correct the errors. I will check for uniformity of terms, abbreviations, and word usage. I will be reading your work for general understanding, so I can alert you to any sentences or sections that may be unclear.

At the proofreading stage, just before the distribution copies are printed, I will find the inconsistencies that arise when the written work goes from the computer document or manuscript stage to its final typeset form.

Some of these inconsistencies include: incorrect pagination, font, placement of text and insertions of picture captions. Additionally, I check for consistency between the table of contents and the chapters or sections and the heading titles on each page.

I also still read all the contents, so if there are any remaining errors in spelling, grammar, or punctuation, I correct these, too.

• Thesis and dissertation writing is a long process, usually taking place over a period of months or years. It involves extensive research that must be cited individually, synthesized with other pieces of research, and then commented on at different stages of the writing. Additional problem areas may arise due to the necessity of referring to this material in other sections perhaps months or years later. There may be inconsistencies in the citations or there may be unnecessary repetition of text. I will be looking for all these potential problems.
• Editing this kind of work also requires a working understanding of the material so that the meaning of the text remains after the corrections have been made. I make it a point to spend time going over the editing with my clients if there is some question as to the intended meaning of the text.
• I work well with students who are non-native English writers and also with students who have learning disabilities that center around their writing habits or skills.
• When my work as a copyeditor or proofreader is complete, you can feel confident that your work as a writer has been enhanced.

Please contact me as early in your project as possible so that together, we can plan out the best strategy for getting your work edited and back to you as quickly as possible.

UMass references are available.