academic writing

Web Copyediting

I blend extensive audience analysis with plain language principles to help your readers understand, navigate, and act on your content. All drafts are developed with readability, accessibility, and usability in mind.

Today’s web readers are time-conscious, media-savvy people. They skim with a purpose on various mobile devices in search of clear content that answers their questions.

I can work collaboratively with designers to understand website structure and with the executives to collect data on the organization’s latest goals and offerings. Together, we give your readers only what they need. Web writing is a focused conversation: a friendly, respectful, empathetic tone and fresh content.

I can assist with:

  • understanding your audiences
  • using appropriate tone
  • defining key terms and focusing conversations
  • guiding web readers to action with task-oriented headers
  • refining text for precision
  • ensuring consistency

Academic Editing

As a former writing teacher, I understand the demands and standards set for academic publications and offer a flexible attitude, efficiency, precise feedback, and knowledge of Chicago Manual of Style.

Carefully considering your goals and requirements, I help to ensure that the text is suitable for its intended audience, purpose, and medium.

I am experienced in academic research, assessment writing for ESL tests, book translation for a university press, and editing academic articles for journals and monographs. Past clients include TÉLUQ University, Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies at the University of Alberta, and Paragon Testing Enterprises (a subsidiary of the University of British Columbia).

With a Master’s degree from a writing-intensive program at Colorado State University and copyediting training from Ryerson University, I make suggestions that improve the argument line, accuracy, and clarity.

As a copy editor and line editor, I have worked with a variety of academic genres, including book synopses, translations, journal articles, personal statements, job applications, CVs, cover letters, grant applications, dissertations, nonfiction, assessments, and training materials.

What is line (stylistic) editing?

Editing to improve flow, coherence, logic, clarity, tone, and style. It includes:

  • eliminating wordiness
  • revising word choice (clichés, jargon, ambiguities, or potentially offensive terms)
  • rewriting sentences or paragraphs for logical connections
  • ensuring smooth transitions between sentences or paragraphs
  • reordering sentences where applicable for better coherence
  • retaining the author’s voice while maintaining a consistent tone
  • adjusting the length of sentences or paragraphs
  • improving sentence structure for clarity and variety

What is copy editing?

Editing for clarity, grammatical correctness, and consistency of style and facts. It includes:

  • checking grammar, spelling, punctuation, and usage
  • ensuring completeness of material and querying for missing information
  • establishing consistency of style (abbreviations, numbers, and visual elements)
  • checking items for accuracy (names, quotations, facts, and citations)

For more information, please refer to definitions of editorial skills by Editors Canada.

How can I help?