Robyn J
Dorset, United Kingdom,
“It's all in the detail!”
Specialist subjects:
Editing formats:
Education:
BSc (Hons) in Applied Psychology & Sociology
University of Surrey
1998–2002
Favorite referencing style
I’d say the APA referencing style is my favorite, as it’s the one I’ve used the most!
Why I became an editor
My mother was a senior sub-editor, and she instilled an appreciation of words and grammar in me from a young age. However, I also loved research, so I earned a degree in psychology and sociology and spent 20 years working as a social researcher. Recently, though, I decided to change career paths, consolidate my knowledge, and go back to my roots. I undertook the Knowadays proofreading course, which I loved, and I’m excited to get going with Proofed!
Background and experience
I held research posts in academia carrying out evaluations of various social programs and spent 15 years working as a research and evaluation officer at the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. I’m experienced with all aspects of research, including design, ethics approvals, developing instruments, data collection, analysis (both qualitative and quantitative), and writing up findings. I’ve written numerous reports and published several papers in peer-reviewed journals.
Why I love proofreading and editing
I naturally have an eye for detail and I always spot errors, whether it’s on road signs or waiting room notice boards! I also find it satisfying to ensure that the finished product is as good as it can be.
Favorite book:
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood is my favorite book.
Hobbies:
When I’m not proofreading, I’m busy looking after my children – they have autism, so they need a little extra care when at home. I also enjoy playing Scrabble, taking the dog for a walk, and reading.
Editing tips:
I like to read the text aloud as the final stage of proofreading. I find that this helps to highlight anything I might have missed along the way!
