Christopher T
Bristol, United Kingdom
“Apostrophes are my superpower!”
Specialist subjects:
Editing formats:
Education:
BA in Film and Video
University of Wales, Newport
2001–2005
Favorite referencing style
APA is my favorite. It's the one I have the most experience with, but I'm happy to adapt to others.
Why I became an editor
I studied film at university, but while I was there, I got involved with editing work, including proofreading a 10,000 word dissertation. At each job I’ve had since then, I have always been the English language expert. I spent a decade in HR at a major telecommunications company, where I wrote internal communications for the department and heavily proofread and edited the monthly newsletter and any presentations that were to be given to the teams. This became my favorite part of the job.
Background and experience
I have worked in HR roles in the private and public sectors. During my most recent role, I was the editor of the department newsletter. I volunteered for this role, as I really enjoy correcting spelling, grammar, and punctuation. It's because of this practice that I chose to pursue proofreading as a career. I found it more rewarding than the HR duties in the large company I worked for.
Why I love proofreading and editing
I love making sense of people's words, figuring out what they intended to say, and making words work for them. I can spot a misused or absent apostrophe a mile away. I have a background working for a large corporation, so I am well versed in formal and informal business communications. I also have a background in film. I’ve read a lot about film criticism and theory, and I have written essays and a dissertation on the topic.
Favorite book:
Nineteen eighty-four by George Orwell is my favorite book.
Hobbies:
I love films and good television. I watch a lot of films, and I make short films with friends in my spare time.
Editing tips:
I work through the document first without a critical eye for style, just to pick out anything obvious. Then I work on sentence structure and syntax while preserving the voice of the author.
