For as long as I can remember, the printed word has appeared to me as a series of patterns, and even the tiniest break in a pattern seems to leap off the page and call for my attention.
An extra space at the beginning of a paragraph? A misspelled word? Redundant phrasing? I see them all, even in the most mundane places. It's both a gift and a curse, as well as a skill that not everyone has. Some people are gifted speakers, very eloquent and adaptable; but that's not me. Where others speak, I type.
But I'm not an enforcer: I recognize that language is different across time and across cultures, and I won't push your work to bend to some arbitrary rule of language. I will nudge you to be consistent within your own work, and that's where pattern recognition comes in handy. I'll see your individual patterns and honor them, while helping ensure that your message is understood and your text is clear and polished.
I'm Rachel, your partner in proofreading.
Everyone has something they can bring to the table.
We should look for the best in each other, not the worst.
We should lift each other up,
not hold each other down.
I believe:
I began my career in newspaper journalism, with a degree from Ohio University. I capped off more than a decade of work in daily newspapers by serving as an assistant editor at a B2B magazine.
Additionally, I've edited internal strategy documents and internal websites for an industrial supplies distributor, and served as a volunteer newsletter coordinator.
Beyond my degree, I have certificates in medical terminology, writing in the sciences, and general editing. Interests include history, astronomy, and ecology.
Nonfiction work, US English, and AP style are my comfort zone, though I'm open to many types of projects, dialects, and style guides.
If you'd like to know more, please feel free to reach out.