Currently, I use The Chicago Manual of Style, The Copyeditor's Handbook, and The Gregg Reference Manual for references on style. Merriam-Webster Online is my final authority on spelling.
Are my eyes for you? I'm happy to entertain various proofreading/copyediting needs, but please know that my expertise may not match all requests. If we're talking academic papers, technical writings with a lot of jargon, or novels, I'm probably not your gal. Given my career spans the advertising/marketing, direct mail, and interactive industries, projects that fall into those categories would be best suited for my eyes—proposals, PowerPoint presentations, brochures, banner ads, out-of-home and traditional print advertising, websites or microsites, Flash presentations, catalogs, direct mail packages, email blasts, signage.
- Proofing at any stage of development.
- Copyediting, which includes assessing style consistencies, copy recommendations, statement queries, fact-checking.
- Minimal/light interactive testing, which includes verifying links and other functionality as well as aesthetic integrity in browsers.
- Provide a style sheet for each project, highlighting preferences for symbols, punctuation, structure, consistencies, and other notes.
- Review and format copy decks prior to insertion into layout or development.
- Comparison to client-approved copy, which includes copy translated into foreign languages.
- Comparison across mediums and versions for style and brand consistencies.
- Comparison to style and brand guidelines as provided by client.
- Development of style and brand guidelines.
- Verification of transcribed information or data migration.
Services will be performed off-site via electronic files as follows:
Word processing documents: Edits will be made via the tracking changes or comment functions of either Microsoft Word, iWork Pages, or Adobe Acrobat Professional.
Design layouts: Documents must be provided as PDFs. Edits can be made via the comment function of Adobe Acrobat Professional or as marked up copies with standard proofreader marks and scanned as an emailable PDF.
Interactive: Edits will be logged in a customized spreadsheet, either in Microsoft Excel or iWork Numbers.
Assignments requiring an on-site presence within the city limits of San Francisco can be accommodated; please contact for availability.
I operate under an hourly rate only with a four-hour minimum. Typical turnaround requested is 48 hours, though 24-hour turnarounds can be accomplished. Same-day turnarounds will require a rush fee. Please contact me with an assessment of your needs.
