Rebecca B
Bristol, UK
“Your second pair of eyes!”
Specialist subjects:
Editing formats:
Education:
BA Politics
University of Nottingham
1999–2002
Favorite referencing style
I don't have a preference—I can work with them all.
Why I became an editor
I studied politics and law at university, and I became a qualified solicitor specializing in employment and immigration law. I’ve been diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and other complicated musculoskeletal conditions, and I now have considerable experience in the worlds of medicine and alternative medicine treatments, as well as a library of medical and chronic pain books. Reading, proofreading, and editing keeps my mind entertained and exercised while giving me the flexibility I need with my conditions and rehabilitation program. It’s through experimenting with treatments for and managing my conditions that I’ve acquired a particular interest in medicine, alternative medicine, and physiology.
Background and experience
When I was at school, I would write entire books, and I launched and edited a political journal titled the Think-Tank. At university, I worked for The Times Newspaper as a student brand manager and then undertook a summer placement with The Times in their special features and promotions departments. I then qualified as a solicitor, which involves a lot of reading, writing, proofreading, and editing. Writing pleadings or witness statements is, in essence, all about telling a story, and as a solicitor, you need excellent attention to detail, a good command of the English language, and the ability to write well. Because of my health issues, I’ve learned to be disciplined with my time spent reading and writing and to balance those activities with movement and rest.
Why I love proofreading and editing
I’ve always enjoyed reading, writing, and perfecting things. I also love learning about different topics, including economics, history, law, medicine, physiology, and politics. I have considerable experience working with business and human resources documents. At university, I used a variety of referencing systems, including Harvard, Vancouver, and the style guide for The Times. I’m a stickler for detail, and I like a document to read perfectly.
Favorite book:
Sophie's World by Jostein Gaarder—I love educational books cloaked in fiction!
Hobbies:
Having a high maintenance body, I work on my rehabilitation most days—currently, that involves Fibro Guy exercise sessions, cortical mapping, strength exercises, and conditioning work. I also love antiques and interior design, and I’ve begun learning French. In addition, I have two Ragdoll cats that need a lot of love and attention. Yes, I’m a crazy cat lady!
Editing tips:
After I open and save a document, I print it out, as reading and writing from different positions reduces my screen time and the strain on my neck and back. I then take the document to a comfy place and read it first for sense, noting any glaringly obvious errors, like spelling mistakes. Then I go through it again, reading the document line by line and making detailed corrections on the screen. I then print a track changes copy and take a break. After that, I’ll check my corrections and read the text for a third time, making any additional corrections on screen. I also like to double-check the rather handy Proofreading Academy checklists as I work.
