Peter S
Berlin, Germany
“Knowledge of languages is the doorway to wisdom.”
Specialist subjects:
Editing formats:
Education:
BA in English
University of Illinois
1989–1994
Favorite referencing style
I'm partial to the Chicago Style since that was where I was born and raised. It's also the one I'm most familiar with since I used it in my graduate studies.
Why I became an editor
My very first foray into the world of proofreading was in the pharmaceutical industry. Since I started teaching ESL, I've been perusing student papers on a regular basis. Proofreading is a natural fit for me, considering my years of writing, teaching, and learning languages.
Background and experience
I started proofreading at a pharma company checking packaging inserts, bottle labels and patient warnings. I was also assistant editor for a local music magazine where I interviewed bands and wrote album reviews. I've been living abroad for over twenty years teaching ESL to a variety of students, from university pupils to businesspeople in corporate environments. Language instruction has solidified my knowledge of English grammar, and I often proofread student papers and academic dissertations. This has also lead me to do more translation work for Proofed, most recently working with a German business client where we translate and localize English source text into multiple target-languages, while retaining the original sense of the writing.
Why I love proofreading and editing
It still irks me to this day when people can't distinguish between "your" and "you're". I've always had a knack for correct spelling and enjoy helping English learners to write properly and effectively. It's rewarding when my students express their appreciation for my help.
Favorite book:
"An American Tragedy" by Theodore Dreiser. This book captivated me. Also "The Naked and The Dead" by Norman Mailer which highlights the senselessness of war.
Hobbies:
I'm a passionate fan of independent music and DJ for an internet radio station a few hours a week.
Editing tips:
I need to read a text several times to get a feel for the author's writing. I've discovered that having the computer read a text aloud helps me to pinpoint errors I might otherwise have missed.
