Stephen York | Academic, Business, Education & ESL Proofreader
Based in WIGSTON, Leicestershire and works with clients around the UK and globally
- [email protected]
- Phone
- 07543 932048
- Website
- https://www.yorkeditorial.com
- Organisation
- Stephen York Editorial Services
- Job title
- Proofreader and rewriter
- Membership Grade
- Advanced Professional Member
About Stephen
Email (preferred contact method)
Web
Blog (new)
Stephen York: for proofreading / proof-editing / light editing / rewriting and refining text / house writing style
Clients: academics, authors, bloggers, charities, companies, educators, non-profit organisations, publishers and students (including ESL)
Proofreading experience
I am Stephen York, a freelance proofreader based in Wigston, near Leicester, with more than 30 years' experience in proofreading over 2700 documents and publications:
- theses, dissertations and essays for students, especially where English is their second language
- academic, business and education book and journal titles for publishers and university presses, business schools and educational institutions
- various media for commercial companies, marketing agencies, charities, bloggers and authors, for example books, handbooks, calendars and posters.
I also have previous experience of proofreading for the trade publishing sector.
Other editorial services offered
- creating or updating a house style writing guide for staff to ensure consistency of style, message, and branding in printed or online documents
- rewriting your documents to condense, change the tone or make more consistent, especially if there have been several contributors in writing them
- light editing and proof-editing
What else I can offer
- a friendly, personal, and confidential proofreading service
- long experience in proofreading an extensive variety of documents and publications in a wide range of subjects
- a fresh and objective review in proofreading your document or publication
- a good work ethic, being prepared to go the extra mile to achieve excellence while observing budget and time limits
- a proofreading report giving general style comments and editorial queries, detailed marked-up proofs and separately listed queries for the author/s (unless I have been asked to raise and resolve them directly)
- collation service if required
- good communication links, with superfast fibre-optic broadband (130MBps)
- testimonials and feedback from satisfied clients
See examples of recent projects in Portfolios section below or download my combined CV and portfolio extract below.
Pricing
Rates: Negotiable / fixed budgets / rates per thousand words (proofreading) / hourly rates (writing services)
Discounts available: for academics, bloggers, students and writers. Negotiable, substantial discounts for charities and non-profits.
Payment methods accepted:
My work
Proofreading subject areas
The following are areas with the most experience or knowledge but others would be considered. The use of bold indicates specialist areas.
- Accounting: cost, financial, general and management accounting; bookkeeping
- Anthropology; cultural and social studies
- Astronomy (general/popular/beginners), artificial satellites, space exploration, cosmology - I am an amateur astronomer, a member of the Society for Popular Astronomy, and a former visual observer of artificial Earth satellites for the Satellite Orbits Group at the Radio and Space Research Station, Slough (Special interest: Apollo space programme)
- Banking and investment
- Business management and business studies
- Commercial real estate
- Economics, economic geography and human geography
- Education (primary, secondary, further and higher education; business, professional and vocational education)
- Education theory and practice
- Estate management: rents, leases, rate valuations, title deeds, wayleaves, mortgages, debt recovery
- Finance and financial risk management
- Health, health promotion and mental health
- History (general, ancient Greek history, King Richard III, the Wars of the Roses, the Napoleonic Wars, World Wars I and II, 20th century) (I am a member of the Richard III Society)
- Marketing and branding
- Philosophy and ethics
- Politics and government
- Property management, building construction, surveying and valuation
- Security, defence studies, military and war
- Theology and religion
- Travel, tourism and exploration
I have also had some experience in proofreading fiction and trade publishing titles on classic cars, DIY, fishing, gardening, pets, sailing and sports.
Portfolios
Click a link below to view portfolios of just a few of my completed projects.
For recently completed books and theses:
For rewriting and editing projects completed:
- academic papers and articles
- advertising and marketing materials (e.g. brochures, flyers and press releases)
- annual accounts and reports
- blogs
- books and handbooks
- business and company documents
- CVs, covering letters, LinkedIn profiles and social media posts, applications, proposals and personal statements
- directories/yearbooks
- distance learning modules and educational materials
- financial and investment reports
- journals and magazines
- manuals (procedural and training)
- newsletters
- PhD and master's theses and dissertations; essays and assignments, including for ESL (English as a second language) students
- PowerPoint presentations
- travel guides
- website content
Specialised software used
- Adobe Acrobat DC
- Microsoft Office 365
- PerfectIt 6/Intelligent Editing with CMOS
Style guides used
APA, Chicago/CMOS, Oxford UP/Hart’s Rules, or I can follow publisher house style or author style.
Past and present clients
- Various students (UK and international, including Chinese and Middle Eastern ESL students): essays, dissertations and theses; independent authors
- City & Guilds Institute (distance learning modules for NVQs)
- CostCo
- Defaqto
- Directory of Social Change (reports)
- Dubai Future Foundation (a Middle Eastern government foundation) (reports, flyers, and giving house style advice)
- HarperCollins
- Henry Stewart Publications (journals)
- National Children's Bureau
- Oxford University Press (academic books) / Newgen / SPi Global
- Pearson Education (academic and business books)
- Routledge / Taylor & Francis
- SGS UK Ltd (marketing literature, brochures and webinar presentations on testing, validation and certification to international standards)
- Spark Advertising & Design
- Stockton Rambling Club
- UCL Press, now incorporating Institute of Education Press (books, reports and journals)
- University of Edinburgh Business School (course notes)
- University of Leicester School of Business (course notes)
Contact me now
Interested? Contact me now at [email protected]
or visit my website https://www.yorkeditorial.com
Testimonials
I've engaged Stephen as a proofreader on a multitude of projects over the years. He has worked on higher education and further education textbooks as well as online resources for me, and has always delivered on time to a very high standard. He pays a meticulous attention to detail and raises valid author and editorial queries where necessary. I have no hesitation in recommending him to other publishers and organisations or individuals requiring proofreading services.
Fiona Freel, production manager, print and digital | digital & learning resources, City & Guilds Institute, London
* * *
When it comes to proofreading – the last line of defence for catching errors – publishers want a safe pair of hands, and Stephen York’s are the safest of all. Whether it’s applying a specified style guide, ferreting out inconsistencies, or catching an elusive orphaned citation, Stephen’s work is of an exceptional standard, and the reports he supplies with each completed job, specifying the standards applied and the outstanding author and publisher queries, are a model of clarity and thoroughness. No one hiring Stephen will be disappointed.
Jonathan Dore, production editor and deputy publishing director, UCL Institute of Education Press
* * *
We have used Stephen York Editorial Services for proofreading since 2010, and have always found that he offers a prompt and accurate service. He is adaptable, and over the years has had no trouble in adjusting his method to various workflow changes. He is also excellent at communication, always keeping me updated on the rare occasion that he cannot fulfil a requested turnaround time. I highly recommend his proofreading service.
Robert Tamplin, production editor, Henry Stewart Publications [journals]
* * *
Thank you for completing this work for me. I am really pleased with the final outcome and can't wait to add it to the website. There is nothing I am unhappy with or would like to change.
I will no doubt need to use your services again in the future as I continue to build the website.
Christine Nicholds, website editor, Stockton Rambling Club
* * *
Brilliant, thanks so much for this Stephen. Hope to be contacting you again soon.
MS, student in Leicestershire submitting a thesis for a doctorate in counselling and psychotherapy
* * *
I really appreciate your work, and it has really helped. I will have 4 more works need [sic] proofreading next month, if it is possible, may I ask you for long term cooperation?
Chinese student at Durham University
Service
Specialisms
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.