Jessica P W
Hereford, UK
“Simplicity is key.”
Specialist subjects:
Editing formats:
Education:
BA English Literature
Open University
2018–2020
Favorite referencing style
I like APA as I find it simplistic and satisfying.
Why I became an editor
I am currently studying for a degree in English literature because I have a love of books and the art of the written word.
My dream is to write myself one day but also to get the opportunity to experience the writing of others and work alongside their creativity. This is the reason why the job of a proofreader and editor is an exciting one for me. Through this job I hope to improve my own skills while aiming to improve the output of others.
Background and experience
I have worked as a TA on various different foreign student trips and therefore have some experience of ESL teaching.
Why I love proofreading and editing
I love the challenge of taking a piece of text and bit by bit working through each sentence, determining if by small tweaks here and there I can improve the fluency and concision of the words. I am also a bit of a stickler for grammar and punctuation rules, so taking on a job like this enables me to practise these disciplines. I am studying for a degree in English literature, so have experience of post-graduate level essay writing in the subjects of the arts and humanities. I am also confident in the referencing styles of APA and Harvard.
Favorite book:
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens. It was not the first Dickens novel I read or indeed the one that I first loved but it became my favourite almost instantly upon beginning it. The level of detail he puts in as a writer is exquisite and the vividness of his description I find exceptional.
Hobbies:
I love yoga, cuddling with my pet rabbit, and getting out and about.
Editing tips:
I always begin by reading through the text a few times to determine content. Then, I like to set my proofing language and run a spell check as well as check for any pesky double spaces! With these preliminaries out of the way, I begin going through the text sentence by sentence. I go through the text a few times in this way to ensure I do not miss anything. Furthermore, I often highlight words or passages that I need a little more time to think about to return to later.
