Diana D
Missoula, United States
“Good proofreading is invisible.”
Specialist subjects:
Editing formats:
Education:
MA in English
University of New Hampshire
1993–1996
Favorite referencing style
MLA referencing is my specialty. It is ingrained in me because I used it as a student for so many years. I appreciate that it's based on gathering puzzle pieces and putting them together in logical order.
Why I became an editor
I studied English, art, and literary analysis at the University of New Hampshire, and I got my first editing job while in graduate school there. It was in that position as an editorial assistant that I learned from professional writers, copy editors, and proofreaders about the editing and publishing process. I had found my niche, and I was hooked. All of my work since then has involved crafting words in some way.
Background and experience
I have nine years of full time experience in a corporate environment proofreading educational assessments, curriculum materials, and marketing materials. I have another 10 years of experience with copy editing educational content across the curriculum, both in-house and as a freelancer. Recently, I have worked on a contract basis as an editor and proofreader for individual authors, small non-profit clients, and a major corporate client.
Why I love proofreading and editing
I love putting the finishing touches on a text. When done well, proofreading is invisible. I get great satisfaction from making sure punctuation is consistent, words are used correctly, and formatting is tidy so that the meaning and ideas of the text can shine through.
Favorite book:
If on a winter's night a traveler by Italo Calvino is my favorite book.
Hobbies:
My favorite activities are hiking and exploring the great outdoors. In the winter, I can be found playing late night ice hockey as a member of Missoula's adult recreational league.
Editing tips:
Using a checklist that includes multiple levels of editing/proofreading is essential. It's tricky to check for italicized commas while reading for noun–verb agreement and parallel structure.
