Paul C

England, United Kingdom

“When it comes to the accuracy, clarity, fluency and presentation of a text, the pursuit of excellence is always worth the effort.”

Specialist subjects:

Education Music TESOL

Editing formats:

Education:

BA in Educational Studies, with Music and French

University of Exeter

1993–1997

Favorite referencing style

During my own academic past, I have always used Harvard referencing, so it would be easy to answer that; but I have to say that during my proofreading training, I particularly enjoyed working in APA.

Why I became an editor

I have always been passionate about three things: music, language and education. My 23-year teaching career happily combined all three. All of my jobs involved elements of proofreading, most notably my role as headteacher. I found myself responsible for fine-tuning everything from newsletters and web copy to pupil reports, appraisal statements and even the school calendar. I soon discovered that, blessed with an instinctively pedantic nature and a little splash of OCD, I loved such work.

Background and experience

My fascination with the structure of language came with studying several foreign languages. Making connections between what I was learning and my native language helped me develop a significantly better understanding of English grammar. Skimming a French language workbook for six-year-olds, I was surprised to discover references to tenses, antonyms and articles, and I was determined to develop my knowledge of grammar and punctuation. My ability to proofread and edit was changed forever.

Why I love proofreading and editing

I love the satisfaction of seeing the amended text emerge. Reading the finished copy with increased accuracy, fluency and clarity is unrivalled. I have always enjoyed receiving feedback on my own writing and hope to share a little of the joy you feel when you see the subtle changes and edits that ameliorate your work. I have a professional and personal interest in editing anything on education, music and, more broadly, the arts. My experience also covers promotional materials and web copy.

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Favorite book:

‘The Book of Dave’ by Will Self.

Hobbies:

I am happiest when gin and good food are involved!

Editing tips:

It is imperative to get a sense of the document's shape and content before making any edits. After that, never underestimate how many times you need to read through carefully to catch everything.

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