Christopher M
Langley, Canada
“When I am proofreading your document, I am always doing so under my three guiding principles: accuracy, thoroughness, and integrity.”
Specialist subjects:
Education:
Associate Diploma in Criminology
Douglas College
1988–1991
Favorite referencing style
APA is my favorite referencing style, as I used it during my post-secondary schooling.
Why I became an editor
I was a voracious reader from a young age, and I developed considerable writing skills in school. During my 30-year career in law enforcement, I was called upon to write, proofread, and edit complex documents for my peers. I treated proofreading and editing as a type of detective work, which made it that much more enjoyable. As I retired from my career, I decided to take on the challenge of turning my enjoyment of proofreading and editing (i.e., my “detective work”) into a new career.
Background and experience
As I stated above, I have had a 30-year career in law enforcement and recently retired. During my career, I demonstrated writing abilities and was frequently called upon to write, edit, and proofread complex documents for my peers. I also mentored several of my coworkers in report writing.
Why I love proofreading and editing
I love finding and correcting errors. It's like detective work for me. And I appreciate contributing to producing high quality documents. I am a voracious reader of science fiction and fantasy, history (with a focus on military history and the Roman Empire), and current events. As such, I am excited at the possibility of proofreading beyond business-related documents.
Favorite book:
The History of the Renaissance World by Susan Wise Bauer is my favorite book.
Hobbies:
When I'm not proofreading, I could be ballroom/Latin dancing, lifting weights, biking, cooking, playing board games, or just sitting and reading in my favorite café.
Editing tips:
On my final pass, I read the document from the last sentence to the first sentence. This helps me to focus on the mechanical aspects of the document rather than the content.