Mark S
United Kingdom
“Writing is still the hardest part—editing just makes it look effortless.”
Specialist subjects:
Editing formats:
Education:
BA in English Language & Creative Writing
Edge Hill University
2008–2011
Favorite referencing style
IEEE is my favorite. It's the cleanest looking system, in my humble opinion.
Why I became an editor
I studied English Language & Creative Writing at university. I went on to teach English as a foreign language in South East Asia, where, naturally, I spent a lot of time reading essays for my students, which helped sharpen my eye for this kind of work. I have a knack for detail, I enjoy reading, and I get a great deal of satisfaction from doing work that positively impacts the world.
Background and experience
I provide editing services for various online content creators, including articles, "listicles," pop culture news, and DIY tips. As a former English language teacher, I helped learners from a variety of backgrounds improve their communication at both the spoken and written levels. I encouraged my students to express themselves through presentations, essays, debate notes, short stories, and even comic strips. I also have experience as an assistant editor of short fiction and poetry.
Why I love proofreading and editing
Besides being compulsively drawn to polishing the written word to perfection, I love showing up to a job that exposes me to a wide variety of intellectual challenges each day. As a firm believer in lifelong learning, I enjoy immersing myself in a wide variety of subjects, including philosophy and ethics, science, politics, history, art, and culture.
Favorite book:
Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell
Hobbies:
When I'm not proofreading, I'm designing (or doing research for) my own tabletop roleplaying game. I enjoy playing these games with friends, as well as playing computer games, reading, and swimming.
Editing tips:
Start reading the text backward after the first few passes if you feel yourself skimming too much. Remember to read the text out loud on your final few passes.
