Leah P
Felixstowe, United Kingdom
“The reason to stand up for punctuation is that, without it, there is no reliable way of communicating meaning.”
Specialist subjects:
Editing formats:
Education:
BA in Applied Psychology
University of Surrey
2010–2014
Favorite referencing style
APA referencing is my favorite style because I have the most experience with it! I appreciate any style as long as there are logical, clear steps to follow for each case type.
Why I became an editor
I love words. I love the power and potential that they hold. The beauty of words has followed me throughout my life. First, I wrote short stories. I loved history in secondary school and went on to choose a university subject where I was assigned to write a new essay every two weeks. Editing is a way to stay connected with words and help make sure they are doing their best job at saying what you need them to.
Background and experience
My previous jobs involved needing to keep meticulous records to be shared between agencies to support individual care. I have also been a one-to-one tutor for Psychology A-level students and have supported them in learning how to proofread, mark, and edit their work. I have also proofread larger documents, such as dissertations.
Why I love proofreading and editing
I love to read other people's writing and make sure that it conveys what they are hoping that it will and there is nothing to distract from the message within those words. I especially love proofreading and editing around the subjects of psychology, lifestyle, fictional writing, philosophy, and religion. I used APA referencing for my dissertation, so I am experienced with that format, but I have also worked with Harvard in the past.
Favorite book:
I read Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte six times through until I was unconsciously talking like her in my day-to-day life. Steal Like An Artist by Austin Kleon is a current favorite.
Hobbies:
I love to bake, laugh with my two beautiful children while we get paint on our faces or pick up frogs, read a book when I get a spare moment, look after my plants, and make my loved ones smile.
Editing tips:
When I first skim through a document, I am on the look out for any repetitive errors. I also decide how to break the document into smaller sections for myself so I know when to take breaks.
