Academic and professional editing

Clear writing strengthens good ideas

I help authors present their work clearly, professionally and with confidence.

Whether you are preparing a thesis, dissertation, journal article, academic book, business report or research paper, I can improve the clarity, structure, flow and readability of your writing while preserving your individual voice and ideas.

My services range from proofreading and language review to substantive editing that strengthens organisation, coherence and expression.

Editing that strengthens your writing

Strong research and valuable ideas deserve clear writing.

You may know your subject well but need an experienced editor to help you:

•  organise a complex argument;

•  improve clarity and flow;

•  correct grammar and punctuation;

•  remove repetition and ambiguity;

•  use terminology consistently; or

•  prepare a polished document for submission or publication.

I provide careful, constructive editing tailored to your subject, audience and purpose.

Particularly valuable for international authors

Many of my clients write in English as an additional language.

A document may contain excellent research, analysis or technical expertise, but still benefit from editing that improves clarity, flow and readability for an English-speaking audience.

I help authors and organisations ensure that their work reads naturally, professionally and clearly while preserving their intended meaning and individual voice.

My aim is not to change what you want to say. It is to help you communicate it more effectively.

Why work with me

I combine formal training in English literature with more than 35 years' experience analysing, drafting and editing complex professional documents.

Good editing is about more than correcting grammar. It is about helping readers understand your message. I bring:

•  a careful eye for detail;

•  strong analytical skills;

•  experience working with complex written material; and

•  a commitment to clear, plain English.

My objective is simple: to help you produce work that is accurate, persuasive and a pleasure to read.

Experience beyond writing and editing

Before qualifying as a lawyer, I spent 10 years at sea on cargo ships and qualified as a Master Mariner.

That experience gave me a practical understanding of technical, operational and quantitative subjects that complements my work as an editor.

As a result, I am particularly comfortable working with documents that involve technical concepts, data analysis, commercial operations, engineering-related topics, transport systems and other specialised subject matter.

While every project is different, my background helps me understand complex material and communicate it clearly to its intended audience.

I work across a range of academic and professional subjects, with particular experience in:

•  law;

•  business and commerce;

•  economics and quantitative analysis;

•  governance and regulation;

•  public policy;

•  transport and logistics;

•  maritime and shipping;

•  risk management and insurance;

•  technical and engineering-related subjects; and

•  the humanities.

Professional editing for academic and business documents

I assist with:

•  master's dissertations;

•  doctoral theses;

•  journal articles;

•  research papers;

•  technical documents;

•  academic books;

•  contributed chapters;

•  professional reports; and

•  AI-assisted drafts that require refinement and human review.

Where appropriate, I can provide a short sample edit before we begin a larger project.