Carolina A
United States
““Everything that can be said, can be said clearly.” Ludwig Wittgenstein”
Specialist subjects:
Editing formats:
Education:
BA in Spanish
Abilene Christian University
2006–2008
MA in Spanish Linguistics
New Mexico State University
2011–2013
PhD in Spanish Linguistics
Texas Tech University
2015–2021
Favorite referencing style
My favorite referencing style is APA. I completed both my MA and PhD following this style, so I am very familiar with it.
Why I became an editor
I have always had a love for languages and for the correct use of them in written expression. This led me to pursue an academic career in teaching language and a freelance career in translation. Three years of working for a newspaper as a proofreader strengthened my love for using language to communicate thoughts and ideas clearly and efficiently. Proofreading allows me to contribute positively to the interests of others, while providing personal satisfaction from doing what I love.
Background and experience
For three years, I worked as a proofreader for a newspaper, editing every section and occasionally writing articles. I have been working as a freelance English–Spanish translator since 1988, which has taught me how to communicate effectively in more than one language, as well as understand the most common errors made by non-native English speakers. I have taught Spanish at the college level since 2015, with a focus on phonetics/phonology, sociolinguistics, and second language acquisition.
Why I love proofreading and editing
I love that a job I enjoy so much has also allowed me to learn more about a wide variety of subjects. Besides the satisfaction of helping someone express themself clearly and flawlessly, I get to enter their world and gain knowledge that I would not otherwise have easy access to.
Favorite book:
My favorite book is Platero y Yo by Spaniard Juan Ramón Jiménez, a literary genius of the 1898 Generation of Writers. It is about a man and his beloved donkey in the Spanish countryside.
Hobbies:
I love to cook, clean, organize closets and drawers, and watch movies with my family.
Editing tips:
A useful technique is to read a sentence backward while looking for spelling mistakes. I also read the whole document first to get a sense of tone, audience, and purpose.
