Frequently Asked Questions
How long have you been editing and proofreading?
In my work as a corporate statistician at 3M, I edited course material (slides and text) and a department newsletter beginning in the mid-1980s. In 1999, the American Society for Quality's Statistics Division asked me to edit Improving Performance Through Statistical Thinking, a book with five authors that needed significant work to become cohesive. I ended up as the sixth coauthor because I had subject matter expertise and was able to make additional contributions to the content. In 2009, I edited Data Sanity: a Quantum Leap to Unprecedented Results, authored by friend and former coworker, Davis Balestracci. I've been freelancing since 2022.
Do you have formal training?
I'm a graduate of Proofread Anywhere's General Proofreading: Theory & Practice course.
Are you a native English speaker?
Yes, I was born and raised in Pittsburgh. I can also edit and proofread non-US forms of English (as well as non-Pittsburgh forms of US English).
What type of material do you work with?
At 3M, I worked with technical (manufacturing, product development), business (marketing, sales), and corporate support (IT, supply chain, finance, HR, legal) organizations. My roles involved statistical consulting and training, and I also facilitated workshops to help business organizations address complex (nonstatistical) challenges. As a result, I'm able to understand and incorporate the language of many disciplines in my editing and proofreading. I have edited technical books, business plans, white papers, and blog posts. I have also edited nonfiction and fiction works. I'm willing to give anything a try!
What style guides can you work with?
I'm most familiar with the Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) and AP styles, but I can also work with APA style or an in-house style guide if you have one.
What software can you work with?
I am fluent in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Google apps (Docs, Sheets, Slides), and Apple apps (Pages, Numbers, Keynote), as well as Adobe Acrobat and InDesign.
What type of work will you not do?
I've always been a better editor than a writer. Writing copy and developmental editing are beyond the scope of my work.
In my work as a corporate statistician at 3M, I edited course material (slides and text) and a department newsletter beginning in the mid-1980s. In 1999, the American Society for Quality's Statistics Division asked me to edit Improving Performance Through Statistical Thinking, a book with five authors that needed significant work to become cohesive. I ended up as the sixth coauthor because I had subject matter expertise and was able to make additional contributions to the content. In 2009, I edited Data Sanity: a Quantum Leap to Unprecedented Results, authored by friend and former coworker, Davis Balestracci. I've been freelancing since 2022.
Do you have formal training?
I'm a graduate of Proofread Anywhere's General Proofreading: Theory & Practice course.
Are you a native English speaker?
Yes, I was born and raised in Pittsburgh. I can also edit and proofread non-US forms of English (as well as non-Pittsburgh forms of US English).
What type of material do you work with?
At 3M, I worked with technical (manufacturing, product development), business (marketing, sales), and corporate support (IT, supply chain, finance, HR, legal) organizations. My roles involved statistical consulting and training, and I also facilitated workshops to help business organizations address complex (nonstatistical) challenges. As a result, I'm able to understand and incorporate the language of many disciplines in my editing and proofreading. I have edited technical books, business plans, white papers, and blog posts. I have also edited nonfiction and fiction works. I'm willing to give anything a try!
What style guides can you work with?
I'm most familiar with the Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS) and AP styles, but I can also work with APA style or an in-house style guide if you have one.
What software can you work with?
I am fluent in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Google apps (Docs, Sheets, Slides), and Apple apps (Pages, Numbers, Keynote), as well as Adobe Acrobat and InDesign.
What type of work will you not do?
I've always been a better editor than a writer. Writing copy and developmental editing are beyond the scope of my work.