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I'm an experienced freelance proofreader, copyeditor and internet research specialist with more than 30 years working for leading international publishers, including, amongst others, Pearson Education, Routledge/Taylor & Francis and Cambridge University Press. My experience is built on a foundation of 14 years in academic research in the UK and Ireland and is augmented by classroom and online courses in a variety of editing skills.
Over the years I've built up expertise for educational publishing and learning resources in English Language Teaching, Higher Education and professional trade titles, web content, international biographical reference, content assessment, content management and on-screen and hardcopy editing and proofreading, while being thoroughly grounded in various computer skills, including Microsoft Office and on-screen markup. A particular specialism of mine is editing (language polishing) of documents for ESL authors whose first language is not English.
Media
Books, directories/yearbooks, dictionaries, educational materials, journals, magazines, newsletters, manuals, company literature, online materials, websites
Experience
Freelance since 1990
Recent training
Word Macros Part 1 (2024)
Proofreading Theses and Dissertations (2022)
Plain English for Editors (CIEP) 2020
Brush Up Your Grammar (SfEP) 2019
Efficient Editing: Strategies and Tactics (SfEP) 2017
Online Content: Writing and Editing Skills (OCT) 2017
Mentoring Scheme in Copy-Editing (SfEP) 2016–17 (successfully completed with full marks)
Editing with Word (SfEP) 2016
Editing for Fiction: Professional Development Day (SfEP) 2016
Copy-editing 2: Progress (SfEP) 2016
Proofreading 2: Progress (SfEP) 2015
Copy-editing 1: Introduction (SfEP) 2015
Proofreading 1: Introduction (SfEP) 2015
Proofreading Practice (Margaret Aherne, self-study) 2015
Recent clients
ICE Publishing, Institution of Civil Engineers
Bloomsbury Publishing
Oxford University Press
New Bridge Translation, Guangzhou, China
Swales & Willis
Hodder Education
HarperCollins
Science Reviews 2000
Cambridge Publishing Management
The Charlesworth Group
The Proofreading Company
Routledge/Europa Publications/Taylor & Francis
Pearson Education
Subjects
Agriculture/farming, astronomy/space sciences, biology, business/business studies, chemistry (all branches), country/area studies, Earth sciences, economics, education, engineering, English literature, environment/energy, finance, fitness/health, geography, history, information science and technology, language (American/British, ESL), life sciences, mathematics, medicine, personal development, physics, politics/government, sciences, sports, technology
Qualifications
BSc Chemistry and Mathematics (Minor), PhD Chemistry
Specialised software
Microsoft Office; BS 5261C:2005 PDF mark-up
Testimonials
I recently commissioned Gerard to proofread a 450-page Engineering textbook for the Pearson BTEC Nationals series, and right from the off I was impressed by his thoroughness and attention to detail. He asked pertinent and insightful questions having reviewed what was a demanding and prescriptive brief, and then went above and beyond its requirements – his willingness to give input on the content based on his technical expertise was a real boon, and certainly improved the final product. Gerard was easy to work and communicate with, and I would recommend his editorial services unreservedly.
Thomas Lee
Project Editor
Cambridge Publishing Management Ltd
Amy Tyndall
Editor, Routledge
Liz Sleeman
Editor, Europa Publications
(imprint of Taylor & Francis)
Disclaimer note
The CIEP Directory of Editorial Services should be considered a point of first contact and prospective clients must satisfy themselves that members are capable of the work on offer. The Institute cannot be held responsible for the quality of work provided by any member listed in the directory. The members themselves are responsible for the maintenance and accuracy of their entries in the Directory and the CIEP has not made any attempt to vet them. The institute cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies in the Directory. Inclusion in the Directory as a freelance does not necessarily mean that the member is self-employed as defined by HM Revenue and Customs and the Department for Work and Pensions.