Stephen S
Cascade, Spain
“Why does anyone need a proofreader? Because covfefe happens...”
Specialist subjects:
Editing formats:
Education:
Favorite referencing style
The Chicago Manual of Style is my favorite, as it's the first referencing style I learned. It's also the one for writers and editors, so it feels natural to me.
Why I became an editor
I spent 20 years flying the friendly skies as an airline pilot, but I’ve always been an avid reader who delights in a brilliantly crafted sentence or a clever turn of phrase. When I hung up my wings, it felt natural to pursue something else I enjoyed, so I started training to become a proofreader. Using my passion for the written word to help others put their best foot forward grammatically makes perfect sense to me!
Background and experience
I completed my secondary education at Victoria College, Jersey, the Channel Islands, UK. I’ve completed many courses over the years, both during and after my aviation career, on grammar, punctuation, and vocabulary in general – anything to increase my prowess with the English language. I completed the General Proofreading: Theory & Practice course with Proofread Anywhere in 2021, and I completed the Becoming A Proofreader course with Knowadays this year.
Why I love proofreading and editing
I enjoy using my love of the intricacies of the English language to help others shine when putting the proverbial pen to paper. As a voracious reader, I particularly enjoy the opportunity to edit fiction, as well as my other passion, military history.
Favorite book:
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams is my favorite book.
Hobbies:
My hobbies include exercising, playing video games (my guilty pleasure), watching a good movie (huge Star Wars fan), and of course, reading (absolutely anything by Stephen King, among others).
Editing tips:
Reading out loud always helps if something doesn't look right. Also, I always do a quick read-through of the entire document before I begin proofreading, as it gives me a good feel for the style.