Editing and proofreading
A high-end service for those who want their work to be as good as it can possibly be.
Make your writing clean and compelling, whether it's for a publication, proposal, ad or website
When it comes to editing, you get what you pay for.
There are no shortage of editors out there who can spot basic typos, run your writing through some AI tool, and tighten sentences.
Yet if you want your writing to be good – and I mean truly, attention-grabbing, emotion-stirring good – you need an experienced editor capable of critical thought.
These editors are a rare breed. They pay attention to both details and the larger picture. They’ll push back if something doesn’t make sense, or sound right. They aim for perfection. They're thoughtful and genuinely care.
In over 30 years of writing and editing, I can count on one hand the number of editors I myself would trust.
Who will be editing and proofreading your work?
I’m a former Sydney Morning Herald editor and journalist who has covered almost every subject area, including travel, health, science, business, IT, entertainment and hospitality.
I then worked for a wide range of organisations to help them improve their content before launching my own consultancy.
Over the past 30 years I’ve edited:
- website copy
- email newsletters
- ad campaigns (print, web and email)
- news stories and features for magazines, newspapers, blogs and social media
- proposals
- annual reports and strategic plans
- press releases
- company announcements
- short books.
I’ve also taught writing and editing at the University of Technology Sydney, the Australian Centre for Independent Journalism, and the University of Sydney (and now teach editing and proofreading courses through Media Survival).
What to look for in an editor
There’s a lot more to editing than just correcting grammar.
For starters, it requires making countless judgement calls, from what tone of voice to use to deciding what to change – and what to leave alone.
It involves understanding what the reader needs to know and what they would find most important.
More than anything, an editor needs to know how to make copy flow so smoothly and effortlessly that the reader doesn’t even notice the words – just the message you want to get across.
When it comes to online content, a good editor also needs to:
- know how to edit with search engine optimisation (SEO) and AI search in mind
- make sure it meets web content accessibility guidelines (WCAG)
- structure it to improve conversions
- advise on any usability (UX) issues.
A good editor should also understand:
- defamation law
- compliance issues
- copyright.
In other words, it pays to hire an editor with maturity and experience.
Proofreading vs editing
There’s a difference between proofreading and editing. If you just need to make sure your copy’s grammatically correct, follows your style guide and is typo-free, you’re after a proofreader. If you need more than that, you’re after an editor.
I’m both a proofreader and an editor and can advise you on what you need.
I can work with whatever style guide you have – and if you don’t have a guide, I can make sure the style is consistent with your existing content (or make style suggestions).
A sub-editing and proofreading service suited for business, government departments, universities and individuals
Every industry has its own requirements.
- Financial organisations need to work with compliance issues.
- Government departments need to follow web content accessibility guidelines.
- Universities need to target both domestic and international audiences.
- Science and medical organisations need to get across complex, technical information in a way that’s easily understood by the public.
As someone who’s worked across almost every industry, I can make your writing as effective as possible for your audience regardless of who they are.
Need more information about my editing and proofreading service?
Let me know if you have any questions or would like a quote.