Tess M
Dallas, United States
“Word nerd, proofreader, editor. Former teacher, eternal student.”
Specialist subjects:
Editing formats:
Education:
BA in English Literature
University of Oklahoma
2001–2005
MA in Humanities
University of Dallas
2006–2012
Favorite referencing style
MLA is my favorite because it's what I've known and used the longest.
Why I became an editor
I spent 15 years teaching English, and one of the aspects I loved the most was working with writers to improve their work. Proofreading allows me to do what I love: help writers present the best possible version of their words and work.
Background and experience
I taught high school English for 15 years (mostly advanced, college-level courses), working with students in small groups and one-on-one to improve their writing.
Why I love proofreading and editing
I love the combination of objectivity and subjectivity. It’s a balance of art and science to polish a piece of writing – to make it sing and truly express the thoughts and intentions of the writer.
Favorite book:
The Gift of Fire by Richard Mitchell is my favorite book.
Hobbies:
When I'm not proofreading, I probably have my nose in a book or I'm spending time with my family.
Editing tips:
Before proofreading a document, I preview the layout and spot-read a few randomly-chosen bits to get a sense of the overall content and flow. I tend to reread and re-reread.
