Wie zijn de Scribbr-editors?

My background is in Literature and Philosophy in which I have a PhD from the University of Sydney. I have worked for a number of years as a university lecturer teaching courses in literature, writing studies and critical thinking in Australia and New Zealand.  I have also taught ESL as having a Japanese father and European mother meant growing up with an awareness of the vagaries of language. I have been in love with words since my mother first began reading me bedtime stories and, for this reason, desire always that every word be treated with respect. What does that look like? It means using the right word in the right place at the right time. Doing so almost guarantees that your readers will want to keep reading because they can fully grasp the ideas being communicated. How is it achieved? Curiosity. Curiosity about what it means to really think well, curiosity about those who have done so, and the certain knowledge that it is a skill that can be learned.

Hiya! I have always been a logophile, and I suppose this coupled with my love of traveling brought me into the freelance editing world. I have a bachelor's degree in English literature and French, and I have seven years of experience editing, tutoring, and teaching English as a foreign language. I also completed a joint master's degree with a thesis at the intersection of film, gender, and cultural studies. On any given day, you can find me a) crying over books or films, b) flinging food around the kitchen, c) lugging my backpack across the world, or d) mispronouncing greetings in Arabic (the next language on my list). Oh, and e) editing your work ;)

Writing tip: If you aren't sure where to begin or feel stuck when working on a text, just start writing. Sometimes slogging your way through a bunch of irrelevant ideas will lead you to a clearer understanding of what you really want to say about your topic.

A lifelong reader and writer, I was born and raised in the United States and hold a BA in English and a certificate in copyediting. In addition to editing for research and literary journals, I've written research articles and fiction, which has given me experience with the editing process from both sides of the red pen. My favorite part of editing is continually learning about language and the many ways writers use it.

Tip for writing: Once you've finished your first draft, take a break. Go on a walk, read a book, watch something, hang out with friends. When you come back to edit, you'll be able to see it with fresh eyes. You'll see where your argument needs improvement, notice typos you glazed over before, and think of fresh ways to express your thoughts.

Hi all :) I'm Amy. I'm from the US, but I've been living in Vienna for some time now. I studied Sociology and Gender Studies, and I'm currently pursuing a degree in English with a focus on Linguistics. I also speak German, and I'm working on Spanish and American Sign Language. Aside from editing, I work as an English as a second/foreign language teacher. In my freetime, you'll find me reading or spending time in nature (best when I can combine the two :))

As for a writing tip.. you've heard it before and you'll hear it again: when you're stuck, drink a glass of water and then go for a walk. Simple, yet effective :)

Born and brought up in Zimbabwe, I studied Classics at the University of Cape Town. Most of my career has been in the parliamentary field. I worked as a Hansard editor and translator at our national Parliament in Cape Town, and then spent 20 years as head of Hansard at the Eastern Cape Legislature.

Currently I am freelancing as an editor and translator in Cape Town, my other languages being Dutch, German and Russian. And I now have more time than before for my great passion – the piano.

Thought for the day: "I'm exhausted. I spent all morning taking out a comma, and all afternoon putting it back again." Oscar Wilde

I hold a BA (Honours) in English and political science from the University of Ottawa, as well as an MA in English and a JD from the University of Toronto. I am called to the bar in Ontario, Canada, and I have over 13 years of experience as a writer and editor in academic and legal contexts. I currently work as a programme lawyer for an organisation specialising in labour and employment law. I love editing for Scribbr because it is a valuable opportunity to continue learning about new subjects while providing a helpful service for students.

Writing tip: “Read, read, read. Read everything—trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read! You'll absorb it. Then write. If it's good, you'll find out. If it's not, throw it out of the window.” —William Faulkner

Language has always been my passion, and I have formally studied English, Latin, Ancient Greek, Ancient Hebrew, and Spanish. That knowledge of how language works has helped me live out my other passion: teaching others to use language. My experience includes a year of EFL instruction in Mexico and seven years of high school English, Spanish, and Latin. 

I also have earned a master's degree in education, writing my thesis on how to increase students' intrinsic motivation. That experience in the world of academia and research was so fulfilling that I now use my love of teaching and language to help other academics create their best possible work.

Writing tip: If you can say it in fewer words, you should!

I began tutoring others in English during my sophomore year of college. I found I loved helping people transform their writing into something they could be proud of, so I continued tutoring college students after I got my degree in English and began editing academic theses. I’ve now edited hundreds of theses and tutored countless students. Although I’ve expanded my editing services beyond academics, academic writing is still my favorite. I love learning about the varied topics each new thesis offers.

Quick Writing Tip: Don’t let a blank page daunt you. Just start writing without worrying about how every sentence sounds. It’s a lot easier to go back and revise once you've written down your general ideas than it is to write those perfect sentences the first time.

I am a lover of words, of knowledge, and of understanding. With a varied academic background spanning political science, global studies, anthropology, clinical psychology, and religious studies, I have yet to run out of ideas to explore! I am honored to assist the next generation of students in their own pursuit of understanding, and I'm excited to learn about what interests them. Cheers!

I'm a native New Yorker settled in Cape Town. I love our long summers, moody mountains and two oceans.

I live in Cape Town, South Africa. I have a master's degree in English literature from the University of Stellenbosch. In my career of three decades I have worked as a journalist, editor and translator for parliament, corporates, magazines, book publishers and websites. Teasing out the meaning from a badly constructed sentence is my greatest joy!

Writing tip: Don't try to sound intelligent! Clarify your thought, then express it as simply as you can. Honesty is always the best policy in writing.

I'm a writer with a BA in English (creative writing) and a minor in Game Design from Chapman University. I've been reading, writing, and editing for as long as I can remember, and I've done a variety of freelance writing and editing work over the past few years. For me, editing is like a puzzle: taking something apart, piece by piece, and strategically putting it back together to form a greater picture. It's incredibly fulfilling and I'm grateful that Scribbr has given me the opportunity to help students work on their own puzzles and tell their own stories.

I spend most of my free time doing indie video game work (I do character and narrative design, and I write a LOT of dialogue), but I also enjoy writing fiction, drawing, and going for walks.

Writing Tip: If you get stuck or find yourself rewriting something over and over, take a break, focus on something else, and come back to it later. Even if it's just for a few minutes, coming back to your writing with fresh eyes will usually allow you to spot mistakes that you might have missed the first time around. Alternatively, if you just can't get writing out of your head, try walking around or going over the problem out loud, either to yourself or to someone else. Even a little change in the process does wonders, especially when you're working on something creative.

Hello! Good day to you :)

My journey as an editor began after I got my bachelor's degree in building sciences—once I realised I had carried my fascination for the English language into adulthood. Thus began my professional career vetting research articles and dissertations. I see my role in Scribbr as an extension of my passion.

At my job, I focus on bringing clarity and consistency to writing. Alongside, I also attempt to blow a fresh breath of air into languid prose and aspire for beauty in communication. In my free time, I often dive deep into the ocean of grammar and punctuation rules, striving to keep myself updated on transient language guidelines.

Here's a quick tip for writing: Regardless of the type of your paper—be it a journal article, academic essay, thesis, or dissertation—always keep the reader in mind throughout the writing process: Tailor each word for your audience.

Cheers!

(Personal email: rbkbala30@gmail.com)

I am a California-based editor and proofreader. I hold a BS in psychology and am pursuing an MA in theology and ethics. My interests include history, theology, plants, and literature. I live with my wife, daughter, and our dog, Pearadox.

Hello, I'm Brytton! I have a joint B.A. in history and cultural anthropology and an M.A. in history, both from the University at Buffalo, SUNY. When I'm not reading or editing, I enjoy frequenting parks, gardening, cooking, and wood burning. I like editing because it allows me to help others succeed while teaching me new academic subjects and making me a more conscientious writer.

My educational background in Journalism has provided me with a broad base from which to approach many topics, including business, management, leadership, social sciences, humanities, and social media. My experience as an associate editor at a regional magazine catering to CEOs and other top-level decision makers has also enhanced my skill in developing compelling content. Moreover, my stint as a manuscript consultant has afforded me the opportunity to work on the journal articles, theses, dissertations, research grant proposals, and books of academics from renowned business schools in Southeast Asia, such as the Asian Institute of Management and the Ateneo Graduate School of Business.

I have been working with writing-challenged clients for several years. My objective has always been to uphold the accuracy of and consistency in messaging and style across all job orders and ensure the flawlessness of written material. This objective is complemented by my commitment to help clients to improve their writing.

My tip for writing: Spend a considerable amount of time on preparing an outline before working on a paper. A detailed outline helps identify a strong thesis and follow up with ideas and examples to build on that thesis. Referring to an outline during the writing process can vastly enhance your sense of focus.

Hi! l live in the UK, where I'm currently completing a PhD in Psychiatry at the University of Cambridge. In the past, I studied Medicine at University College London (UCL), followed by a master's in Speech, Language & Cognition. I also have experience in student supervision and teaching. I have a meticulous eye for detail, and I enjoy encouraging students and helping them to reach their goals. Working with Scribbr has helped me to improve my own writing, and I hope one day to write a book. Outside of work, I have a passion for Sri Lankan culture and the Sinhala language. I'm also an aspiring artist and enjoy creating my own clothes/jewellery.

Writing tip: Remember to look after yourself while you study! Short rewards while you work, followed by a bigger reward at the end of the day can break up a seemingly overwhelming task into much more manageable pieces.

I grew up in the Midwestern United States, graduating with a BA in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin. Don't let that social sciences degree fool you -- language is, and has always been, my true love. Despite never having left the 48 contiguous states (or, perhaps, as a result of this fact), I have an insatiable curiosity for the cultures of and experiences offered by various countries around the world. Editing and learning from the theses and dissertations of students who not only attend universities from all over the world, but have conducted research in some of the most amazing places, is something that I am extremely grateful to be able to do. 

Writing tip: Read. Your brain is constantly forming new connections, through every little stimulus it's given. As you read, you are subconsciously reinforcing the "right" connections -- the ones that tell you how a word should be spelled, where a comma should actually go, or which "there" (they're?) to use in a particular context. It's a simple, yet effective way to improve your grammar and spelling in the long term (no memorization required!).

Courtney started with Scribbr as an editor in June 2017. She has a Bachelor in Communication and a Master in Editing and Publishing, and has worked as a freelance writer and editor since 2013. She loves helping students and academics all over the world improve their writing (and learning about their research while doing so!).

I am currently an MA student studying Gender and Women's Studies in the Middle East/North Africa at The American University in Cairo. Prior to this, I was working at a refugee organization in Cairo in education and community outreach. I believe strongly in writing as an important tool for shaping and clarifying our ideas, and it is always a tool that we can learn to use not only with a more critical outlook but also with more patience and generosity.

My writing tip would be to remember that the more complicated the argument your writing is, the more guidance your reader needs. Being clear and concise with your word choice becomes much more important than showing off your extensive vocabulary.

I retired in 2018 from a 41-year career as a daily newspaper editor, but I’ve found that I miss the fulfilling work of editing. Thanks to Scribbr, I’ll continue to have the opportunity!

My husband and I live in Davis, Calif., a vibrant university town just west of the state capital of Sacramento. We love to travel, spend time with our grandchildren, and attend all types of sporting events (alas, we're stuck with televised sports during this global pandemic).

Writing tip: Simple, direct writing can be very powerful. When in doubt, use fewer words.

Hi! I love film and hope to live my life as if it is one (more Wenders than Leone though). I've taught English in Japan, was an adjunct professor in New York, and wrote blogs and books in London. I'd really like to help students with their theses and dissertations; I imagine I could learn a lot. :)

Hi! I’m a university professor with a wide-range of content knowledge. Since writing and defending my doctoral dissertation in 2016, I’ve helped hundreds of students achieve academic success. My favorite part of working for Scribbr is that I edit for students and companies worldwide. You’ll be glad to know that Scribbr is “the real deal.” My colleagues respect the ethical, consistent editing standards from Scribbr editors that vastly improve student writing and research. 

Earl Miller is a freelance editor and writer with more than thirty years experience. He has over 300 publication credits, mostly in the visual arts field, alongside a breadth of editing experience in the corporate and academic sectors.

Hi! I was the girl reading a book under the slide during recess. In 2013, I graduated with a BA in English. Pouring, drinking, and selling wine in Santa Barbara, California is my other job.

Reading fills me with joy. Writing allows my creative juices to flow.  Editing challenges my brain. I'm excited to be a member of the Scribbr Editing team! 

Writing Tip: Simple is good. Don't try to use a lot of fancy words to make a point. 

I was the weird kid who liked taking spelling tests. I was in my element whenever there were rules to follow or correct answers to memorise. My enthusiasm for doing things “the right way” led me to pursue a degree in mathematics. Throughout my years at university and my career as an accountant, I had many opportunities to put my writing, editing, and proofreading skills to good use. Eventually, I realised I was missing my calling, and I transitioned to a career as an editor.

My education, work experience, and lifelong love of learning have given me broad knowledge in a wide variety of subjects, including finance, business, psychology, physics, politics, philosophy, and many other fields. I love reading and learning new things; my favourite part of my job as an editor is that I get to read a wide variety of thoughts and ideas every day.

I currently live in Australia, but I’ve previously lived in the UK and the US, so I’m well versed in British, American, and Australian English. It’s often said that we are “divided by a common language” – I know firsthand how difficult it can be to make sense out of unfamiliar expressions or find the right word. It is a privilege to be able to use my experience to help clients overcome language barriers and improve their writing.

Even the best writers find writing difficult sometimes. If you’re ever feeling discouraged, remember what Steve Martin said: “I think I did pretty well considering I started out with nothing but a bunch of blank paper.”

My academic background is in urban planning and public policy; I hold a master's degree in urban planning from Tufts University. I've recently taken a break from my field to spend my summers studying Swedish in Uppsala, Sweden. As a student of foreign language, I understand how frustrating it can be to struggle to find the right word or phrase in English, and I strive to help students clearly express their ideas. 

Writing tip: Keep it simple! It's better to write short, correct sentences than complex sentences containing many errors.

Hi, I'm Emily! I have a BAS in electrical engineering and an MA in psychology, and I'm currently pursuing a PhD in computational neuroscience. I was born and raised in Canada. When I'm not busy with school and editing, I enjoy reading, yoga, photography, and hiking. I like working at Scribbr because I get to learn about a wide range of topics while helping people express their ideas.

I'm passionate about clear scientific communication, and I believe simplicity is key! Expressing your ideas using direct, simple language can be difficult, but doing so is often the best way to engage your reader. 

I hold a BA in Political Science and Arabic from the University of Notre Dame. I have worked in career centers in both the United States and Egypt, and this experience fueled my passion for helping students effectively present themselves and their work. As a student of Arabic, I understand the difficulties of mastering the intricacies of grammar and writing in a foreign language, and I am happy to help you hone your writing while learning about new topics from your work! Writing tip: When you're feeling stuck, don't be afraid to write down the first thing that comes to mind even if it's messy, and come back to refine it later.

Between the ages of six and eighteen, I was never seen without a book in my hand – except perhaps if I was swimming. I’ve even been known to read while riding a bicycle (not on the road, I hasten to add!). This love of reading transitioned into a BA, then an MPhil and then a PhD in medieval literature; engaging with the mysterious peoples of the past through their literature is a pursuit that fascinates me. As a student, I learned to love helping others to improve their writing, especially those who did not have English as their first language. Friends would come to me the night before their presentations or submissions, asking for help to smooth out the wrinkles in their writing. I discovered a passion for ensuring that nothing would come between their argument and their audience. On entering the world of work, I found that proofreading became a constant feature of all my jobs: publishing test papers for schools, digital publishing, publication checking, composition or just helping colleagues check their reports and emails.

Tips for writing: I read once that a good writer sees words not as ingredients but as tools. Each has a specific use and produces its own distinctive effect. The aim is always the same whether you are writing poetry, fiction, magazine articles or academic prose: use the fewest words possible to convey the greatest possible meaning.

After completing my BA in English Literature and Linguistics, I headed out to Asia in the Spring of 2001 to teach budding young minds the language of Shakespeare, eventually becoming the headteacher of the largest literature academy in Seoul. I spend most of my days muttering about subject-verb agreement while fending off questions from young adults about why there aren't more apocalyptic dystopias on the curriculum.

Writing tip: One of the most troublesome aspects of writing in English is the use of prepositions. I have old students who are now experienced interpreters and translators who still email me with questions about them. I've seen students try to memorise them by printing out a sheet of the most commonly used ones, or devise complex mnemonics in order to hold them in their heads for a test. This is all very gruelling. Surely, the best way to learn prepositions is organically, by sitting down in a comfortable chair with a good novel, or reading as many articles in English as possible. It doesn't really matter what kind of thing you read, just as long as you read it regularly. The main reason my old students forgot their prepositions was because they stopped reading in English.

Hello! I have a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Western Australia and a Master of Law from Cambridge University. I used to work as a corporate lawyer until I realised that I did not want to do it long term – have you ever had the experience of doing something you love and then changing your mind about it? Now my life is a little more balanced, and I enjoy yoga (both teaching and practising), reading science fiction and writing. I love being an editor because I get to learn so much about different topics and writing styles. Getting feedback on our work can be uncomfortable at times, so just remember that we are on your side and want you to succeed!

Hi! I'm originally from Manchester, UK. I have a degree in mathematics, which I taught at high school, first in Namibia and then in the UK. In 2003, I moved to Tokyo to be with my girlfriend (now wife of 17 years) and have lived there since. I have been proofreading scientific work since 2006 but also enjoy doing anything in the social sciences. I can often be found with my head in a book or at a football stadium with my sons, cheering on FC Tokyo.

Writing tip: Try to make every word and phrase serve a purpose by avoiding wordy expressions. For example, "It is important to note here that" can just be replaced by "Note that". Not only will you make fewer mistakes and need to write less, but it will also help you sharpen your arguments. It's also kind to your readers. 

In college at the University of Georgia, I thought I would be a government reporter, and that's what I did for about three years after graduation. When a copy editor position came open, I decided to try it and have been an editor ever since. Most of my editing work has been with newspapers, but in the last decade I have also worked in education and government. I am new to academic editing, so this work has been challenging and rewarding.

My main goal as an editor is to clarify the writing. If I have difficulty understanding the wording and the sentences, there is a strong chance that other readers will also struggle. Another key point is to understand your audience. Academic writing is more formal and sophisticated than other styles of writing. Another tip is to be careful with your word selection. Use an online dictionary (Merriam-Webster for American English, Cambridge for British English) if you are unsure.

I live in a suburb of Raleigh, the capital of North Carolina in the southeastern United States. I grew up in a town about 45 miles southwest of Atlanta and have lived in the Raleigh-Durham area for about 25 years. My wife is an English as a Second Language teacher at Duke University.

I love working with clients to boost the clarity, concision and cohesiveness of their writing, whether it's academic, business-focused or creative.

After living in London, New York and Montreal, I'm now based in the UK's beautiful Peak District with my wife and our young son.

I'm a literature student by trade (BA English Language and Literature, Oxford; MA English Literature, McGill), but I've worked right across the humanities and social sciences, as well as in various aspects of business through my professional work in marketing.

When I'm not busy editing, I run my own online marketing consultancy for small businesses, Maker's Name, specialising in website design, SEO, copywriting and digital advertising.

Writing Tip 

Writing should have punch and muscularity. Don't hide behind flowery or imprecise language. Be more like Hotspur in Henry IV Part I:

I had rather hear a brazen can'stick turn'd, 
Or a dry wheel grate on the axle-tree;
And that would set my teeth nothing on edge,
Nothing so much as mincing poetry:
'Tis like the forced gait of a shuffling nag.

Go ahead, grate that axle-tree, and get rid of any mincing poetry once and for all!

I was born in London, England, and have worked there for most of my professional life, writing and editing. I have also lectured in English in China for several years, preparing undergraduate and postgraduate students for further study abroad.

As any good writer will tell you, the best way to improve is to read as much good and bad writing as possible, and then go out and write badly, making mistakes and receiving criticism. In particular, I have to remind myself daily of Orwell’s third rule for good writing: ‘if it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.’ Of course, he also stipulated that this rule could – and should – be broken. For a writer in a language with more exceptions than rules, this sort of advice seems appropriate. To all who write in English as a second language, you have my complete empathy and I will always be happy to assist (or at least share in your despair), wherever I can.

Hi, I'm Jared. I'm from the U.S. and am currently living in the Los Angeles, California area. For as long as I can remember, I have enjoyed reading and writing. My love for the written word truly blossomed in college, where I majored in English. I remember not only being meticulous about editing and revising my own writing but also helping friends and classmates with theirs. As a classroom teacher for 15 years and a tutor for 5 years, I have become very skilled at helping students improve their writing. I enjoy the challenge of finding the clearest way to express ideas while preserving each writer's unique style, craft, and voice.

Hi, my name is Jed, and I am from rural Minnesota. For the past six years, I’ve lived in numerous places in Europe for work and university. I have master’s degrees in philosophy, international relations, and economics. However, I’ve predominantly focused on the philosophical side of things: the philosophy of economics, the sociology of international relations and international relations theory, and metaphilosophy and moral and political philosophy.

For most forms of academic writing, the most important thing is simplicity. When one writes simply, it’s easier to understand what each sentence means individually and how sentences relate to one another. Usually, simplicity also makes one’s writing more beautiful.

I grew up in Springfield, Illinois, then went to the University of Illinois to pursue a degree in biology. Along the way, I taught myself proficiency with computers, and veered off into an IT career for the next 15 years. I later earned a Master's in Library and Information Science, and in 2010 I took a job managing websites, writing newsletters and press releases, and producing podcasts for researchers in the field of animal sciences.

For most of my career, I have had the privilege to support students and the faculty who teach them. It is deeply satisfying to know that somebody was able to accomplish their goals in part because of assistance I gave them. That's why, when I decided to work as a freelancer, I chose academic editing as a field where I could use my skills and continue to help students.

My writing tip is related to workflow. I use color coding to help myself see which parts of a paper are done, and which still need work. So I'll use blue text for the first draft, then turn sentences or paragraphs black when I decide that they're polished enough. This helps me see at a glance what I still need to focus on, and helps keep me from getting overwhelmed.

Born, raised, and based in Los Angeles, California, I'm a language educator and editor, with a Bachelor's Degree in Cinema-Television Production and Spanish (minor in Russian Area Studies) and a Master's degree in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. In addition to teaching English to international students and recent immigrants in the United States, I have taught English in China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, and Turkey. The diversity of these experiences has made me a globally minded teacher that loves to draw from learners’ diverse identities and experiences, as well as ensure that their unique voices can be heard through their writing.

I've always enjoyed giving detailed feedback to students as they navigate the intricacies of rhetoric and language. I also have experience in translation, proofreading, and rewriting many different types of documents. When I'm not teaching or editing, I enjoy traveling, hiking, eating, photography, and videography, as well as meaningful conversations about what matters most!

My slightly unorthodox tip for writers: as you're writing your first draft, try to write as much as you can without looking too much at your screen. This will help you to get your ideas out clearly and effectively without making you second guess every other word that you've written. You can always go back and proofread after you're done writing; many times, it's harder to edit things that you have spent a significant amount of time writing because you feel like you've invested so much time in those particular sentences already!

I’m an Australian-based freelance editor/proofreader. I came to editing after a journey through many other professions (including public relations) and business enterprises, and helping friends and relatives with their writing projects. I have a Bachelor of Arts with a triple major (Education, Sociology and German). My interests include hockey, swimming, reading, writing, music and drinking coffee.

Editing is ‘home’ for me: I love the written word and I love to learn. Editing provides me with many words and a wide range of learning experiences!

Writing English: ‘Keep it simple’ is always best. As a general rule, English sentences are not complex: don’t complicate them.

Born and raised in Scotland, I studied computer science at university before working as an IT developer in the telecommunications industry. I now work as a freelance copy-editor, using the attention to detail required by my background in computer science combined with my interest in language and linguistics to help others improve their writing.

My tip to improve your writing is to have someone else look it over. Another pair of eyes often catches mistakes you overlooked.

California, US, is my home state. I live in Pismo Beach, about a half block from the Pacific Ocean. It's a beautiful place to be semi-retired! I have a BA in English with a minor in history from CSU Stanislaus, and I've been editing professionally for over three years now. During college, I worked as a writing lab tutor and a reader for an English professor. I love language, and I've always been fascinated by the wild and crazy things it can do. My tip for learning to write better is to read a lot of good writing, as much as you can, because it tends to be contagious.

​I am an active researcher in neuroscience based in Madrid. I did my PhD work at the Autonomous University of Madrid on synaptic plasticity in learning and memory—work that required neurobiological techniques such as recording responses from neurons to see how they change over time and following virally introduced glow-in-the-dark proteins around the inside of the neuron to divine what their function might be. It was the grand philosophical questions that got me into all this, and since philosophical ideas can often be subtle and counterintuitive, expressing these ideas with clarity is important.

So aside from all the interesting quirks of history and evolution that can be inferred from the structure of language itself, that's where my interest in language is founded. I enjoy helping students in all sorts of disciplines to make their language clearer and more true to their ideas.

Hi, I'm Karen! I enjoy editing and proofreading for Scribbr because it allows me to read in a broad range of fields and to provide support and a confidence-booster to writers as they advance in their educations and their publishing careers. I have a doctorate in Spanish and French and have been a college professor for nearly 25 years, teaching grammar, translation, literature, and cultural studies courses. When not working, I enjoy reading, traveling, and spending time with my family. 

My writing tip is that the process will be much less stressful if you do not let yourself end a writing session without knowing what your plan is for the next time you write. Make a note in your document (or stick a Post-it on your laptop if you're afraid you'll forget to delete that note!) to remind yourself of the next idea or source you will use when you sit back down to write. Your future self will thank you for it!

I completed my undergraduate degree in Biology and am now pursuing a Master's in Conservation. I enjoy helping others reach their potential, previously working as a swimming teacher. I have lived in various places, including Japan, Australia, and Switzerland, but currently, I live in the UK. I believe clear communication is essential, and I endeavour to help people improve their skills! 

I have been a professional proofreader and copy editor for 16 years, having graduated with a BA in English and an MA in creative writing.  I work for commercial clients too, but have a preference for academic proofreading and find it a joy to read essays and theses on such a diverse range of subjects.

In my spare time I write plays, read widely for pleasure, and take French lessons.  I am British and living in France.

My writing tip is: precision.  Precision gives strength to a statement.  It cuts out background noise and allows the ideas to speak.  Inflated phrasing, repetition, and redundancy obscure the meaning of a text, which is particularly problematic for high-level academic works.  The more complex an idea, the greater the need for precise language.  This view is central to my practice as a copy editor.  

My name is Kat. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in History and English Literature from the University of McGill, a Master’s Degree in Religious Studies from the Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), and a Master's in Translation from Concordia University. As part of the programme at UQAM, I wrote my thesis in the interdisciplinary field of anthropozoology, focusing specifically on the evolution of the relationship between cats and humans. I currently live in Montreal, but I was born in Australia and have also lived in France, the USA, and Spain before ending up in Canada. I have always been fascinated with languages and culture, and I am a native speaker of both English and French and fluent in Spanish. I hope to continue working within the realm of academia, research, and teaching, and I plan on starting my PhD in the next couple of years to further my research on the relationship between cats and humans. Other interests of mine include a passion for travel, reading and writing, music, and films and television.

The only tip I can really offer students trying to write papers is to try to stay calm and figure out what works for them. Some people, for instance, are more productive at night. Some people need to work in short bursts, whereas others function better working for longer periods at a time. For some, company is a distraction; for others, it is helpful. There is no single right way to do things, and everyone is different. What matters is finding out what's best for you!

I'm a Michigan native and currently live in Tennessee. I have a degree in Music Business and have always been passionate about writing and language. As a native English speaker working on French and Italian, I understand the difficulties and frustrations of not being able to express yourself as well as you'd like with a new language.

My favorite aspects of editing are that I get to help students strengthen their academic writing skills and become more confident writers.

One of my favorite Ernest Hemingway quotes comes from his memoirs, A Moveable Feast, when he struggles with writer's block. Hemingway looks out over the roofs of Paris and thinks, "Do not worry. You have always written before and you will write now."

Although Hemingway's words were in reference to a different kind of writing, it's easy to get discouraged in the world of academic writing as well. Sometimes it helps to step back, take a deep breath, and know that the words will come to you.

Another tip I have for writing is to read, read, read! When you experience different types of vocabulary and varieties of sentence construction through reading, you will inevitably become a better writer.

Born in the United States but raised mainly in Canada, I have always been fascinated by the many different cultures found both in North America and around the world. Most interesting to me is how our cultures set us all apart but communication--no matter the language--brings us all together. Our various abilities and passions allow us to tell engaging and inspiring stories, and through those stories, we connect with one another. This fascination with culture and communication is what led me to complete a BA in Honours English, a certificate program on publishing, and a certification course on TESL. With the hope of helping others to refine their writing skills, I have been working as a freelance editor ever since.

I am thrilled to be a Scribbr editor because it means I will have the chance to connect with both editors and students from those many different cultures I mentioned and not only learn from them but also share my own North American culture, English language, editing abilities, and passion for reading (and learning from) all the things. After all, a well-written and informative thesis can and should be just as engaging and inspiring as a work of fiction, and the best advice I can offer to any writer, let alone academic writers, is to read voraciously and try to learn as much as you can from the writing. Fiction, non-fiction--anything and everything will do.

"If you don't have time to read, you don't have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that."

-- Stephen King

Hello! My name is Kira, and I'm a qualified Scribbr English editor. My job is to guide you in communicating your ideas more effectively! I love the focused, goal-centered quiet that comes with editing. I also consider education and the dreams that are propelled by academic achievement to be highly important.

I grew up as a native English speaker in the United States, and in 2016, I earned my BA in English. In the course of that degree, I worked as an English TA helping general education students improve their essays, I was the head copy editor of a student newspaper, and I was a founding member of an organization that now runs two conferences for young writers. Today, I freelance edit for a broad set of clients on and off of Scribbr. I also write teen novels featuring disabled characters in sci-fi/fantasy situations.

My top piece of advice for writers is to know what does and doesn't work for you. Figure out when, where, and how you write best! Part of this process is learning what mistakes you make most often and what words you tend to overuse.

I currently live in Seattle, although I have lived and worked all over the world, including in Greece, Australia, and Nepal. I have an MA in Public Administration and a BA in English and Political Science. For the past 14 years, I have worked as a freelance and newspaper editor, and as a writer, researcher, and English teacher. My students include both native and non-native English speakers, and over the years I have taught everything from business English to Shakespeare.

My favorite part of teaching English is helping others to improve their writing. I pay very close attention to detail, and I assure you that I treat your papers and theses with as much care as if they were my own. Helping you to improve your written English and to succeed academically is extremely rewarding for me. The other amazing part of working for SCRiBBR is that I learn something new from every paper I edit.

When I am not working, you will most likely find me dangling off a cliff somewhere in the mountains. I am an avid rock climber and mountaineer, and I still occasionally work as a guide and outdoor educator.

Tip for Writing in English: Although he was not likely thinking about theses at the time, Albert Einstein had great advice for writers everywhere: “Make everything as simple as possible, but not simpler.” Keep your sentences as short and concise as you can, without sacrificing meaning. In many cases, two shorter sentences are much better than one longer sentence. 

I am a Hungarian–American, born and raised in the USA and currently living in Budapest. Before moving to Hungary, I worked in Holland as a freelance English instructor and editor, helping on countless theses and copy-editing two books. My work and personal academic experiences have provided me with an intensive exposure to academic writing and have fueled my obsessions with grammar and etymology! 

In Budapest, I am working as an ESL teacher and freelance editor while attending a university program in Hungarian language. I love languages and have studied Latin, Italian, and Mandarin Chinese while earning a BA in international studies from Kenyon College (USA). After graduating, I moved to Shanghai where I earned an ESL degree and taught English full time.

I understand the common diffulties and problems faced when trying to master English, and I love helping my students not only correct, but also understand their mistakes so that they can be avoided in the future. 

Writing tip: It is easy to get lost in specific terminology when describing a complex topic, and sentences often become lengthy, confusing, and equally as complex! I always encourage my students to try to be as clear as possible and try to read their own sentences from the perspective of someone who is not familiar with the topic. Clarity and consistency can go a long way in making a complex concept easy to understand. 

I grew up in West Yorkshire, England. I have a BSc in chemistry from Durham University and a PhD in polymer chemistry from Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh. I’m now based in Edinburgh.

Since I left university, my working life has varied widely to accommodate raising my two sons. However, the English language has remained one of my strengths and interests. Spelling and grammar errors have frequently drawn my attention, and at times I have had to restrain myself from correcting them.

I have over 6 years’ experience as an academic editor and have edited well over 1,500 academic texts in British and US English, specialising in scientific papers for publication in academic journals.

In 2015, I completed a TEFL course and began running a weekly EFL conversation class. Teaching English as a foreign language has made me more aware of concepts I previously took for granted, such as uncountable nouns. It has also given me an insight into the difficulties faced by those who learn English as a second language.

I enjoy improving a piece of writing and helping people write better English. For me, one of the best aspects of being an editor is that I am constantly learning.

Academic writing tips:

Write concisely – don’t use several words when you can use one.

Read your work aloud – this highlights grammar errors as they generally spoil the flow of the text. I often use Microsoft Word’s Read Aloud feature for this.

I diagram sentences for fun. Yes—you read that right—I diagram sentences for fun. I play with language the way other people play board games or musical instruments or sports. For the record, I also play board games and a couple of musical instruments, and I sometimes ride my sleek blue road bike, whose name is Aster, or my staunch grey hybrid bike, whose name is Mollusk. But at the end of the day, it is the chance to play with words—moving them around, mixing them up, making them sing—that truly brings me delight. 

I've put my love of words to good use since 1996 as a freelance writing tutor and text editor. I've also worked as a writing instructor at Northern Arizona University (Flagstaff, Arizona, USA), the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA), and Denison University (Granville, Ohio, USA). My teaching experience also includes 1st- and 2nd-semester German courses, intermediate- and advanced-level English as a Second Language courses, and courses designed to help pre-service teachers work effectively with students who are not native speakers of the classroom language. My academic degrees are in German Literature (BA, Kansas State University), German Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition (MA, UW-Madison), Teaching English as a Second Language (Graduate Certificate, Northern Arizona University), and ESL Teacher Education (PhD, UW-Madison.) 

If I could offer my students (and you!) just one piece of advice about writing, I'd say the following: 

Remember that writing is both a product and a process. While the finished product is important, the process is not to be ignored! Allow plenty of time to craft multiple drafts. Frequent revision is not a sign of weakness; rather, it's the hallmark of a thoughtful writer who uses the writing process to explore, develop, and share great ideas with others! 

My mom often tells the story of my first day of kindergarten: apparently I came home from school furious that I hadn't learned how to read yet. I quickly became a voracious reader, devouring every available bit of text--cereal boxes, shampoo bottles, and junk mail were my daily fodder. I remember clearly the moment in third grade when diagramming sentences suddenly made sense to me. I've had a love affair with words ever since.

I still love to read--and I still read cereal boxes. 

I enjoy editing because I delight in the process of enabling ideas to shine brightly. I've been privileged to edit in different fields throughout my career; I began by working for several real estate magazines, and then I was employed in the nonprofit sector, where I edited newsletters, donor support letters, books, and conference materials. After my sons were born, I volunteered for any editing I could get my hands on, which usually consisted of scads of newsletters and the occasional newspaper article. Editing academic work is especially interesting because of the wide array of topics I encounter. 

My tip: serial commas, also known as Oxford commas, are your friend. They eliminate confusion and lend a rhythmic cadence to your writing.

I'm a South African living in Prague. I have a BA in Afrikaans and History and an MA in History, both from the University of Stellenbosch. Over the course of my career, I have worked as a reporter, copy editor, proofreader, fact-checker, and English teacher. Currently, I am working as an in-house editor at an international market research company focused on IT and telecommunications. One of the reasons I enjoy freelancing for Scribbr is getting to work on interesting texts from a wider variety of fields! 

Two writing tips: 1) In academic writing, the reader is engaging with your work because they are interested in your ideas, not because they want to see whether you can put together complicated sentences with fancy words from a thesaurus. Therefore, keep your writing as simple and clear as possible so that the reader doesn't need to waste time puzzling out what you mean. 2) Reading your work out loud to yourself is a great way of finding sentences that aren't structured as well as they could be.

I have a bachelor's degree in Communication and a master's degree in Educational Technology. During my master's, I took a special interest in distance learning. I have experience working in the high school classroom with at-risk youth. Then I moved into higher education, where I worked at the University of Pittsburgh's School of Medicine and at the University of Pennsylvania's Gene Therapy Program. In both roles, I supported curriculum and performed administrative functions. I was also editorial manager for the journals Human Gene Therapy and Human Gene Therapy Methods. I got to take advantage of working for Universities by enrolling in courses in areas of interest, such as nutrition and health & fitness. I also hold a certification as a RYT 200 yoga instructor. I am pleased to continue to help students by providing editing services at Scribbr. One tip for writing in English is to take advantage of the thesaurus. If you have a general idea of what you want to write, but it isn't exactly what you want to express, look up the word that vaguely suits your purpose and see what synonyms the thesaurus provides. You may be surprised that you find the perfect word. Using precise language not only boosts your confidence as a writer but also helps the reader's comprehension. 

I am a writer, editor, doctor, and life coach. I grew up in a small town in Texas and moved to India to pursue medicine. I completed my TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) certification and have been teaching English for over 3 years now. I love editing because I love helping others improve their writing, and I enjoy working with people all around the world!

Hi! I'm an editor based in Northern California. My degrees are in English and microbiology, and I spent ten years teaching writing to college students before becoming an editor. I firmly believe that there are no bad papers, only ideas in need of development and writers in need of support.

Outside of work, I can usually be found cooking, riding bikes, humming along to folk and bluegrass music, trying to become a less-bad gardener, chasing my dog, and raising two small humans who love to read.

I graduated from Towson University in 2019 with a BS in English Literature and a minor in Business and Communications. My passion for the English language, interest in helping others, and background in editing with various literary and publishing organizations made Scribbr the perfect fit for me. In addition to online editing, I am currently an intern at CLMP.

My best writing tip is to read! Especially if you are writing a very particular type of paper or in a specific academic field, take some time to thoroughly read and understand papers and reports of a similar type to the one you are writing. Nothing else will give you as good of an understanding of how things are typically done.

I am a professor of English, a writer, and an editor. My love of language, words, and books led me first to the M.F.A. program in Creative Writing at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. After this I pursued the most arcane field I could possibly find: Germanic philology. In my doctoral work at the University of Minnesota, I spent several years studying Old German, Old English, Old Icelandic, Old French, Old Irish—pretty much old anything. I came away with a deep appreciation not just for the complexities of language, but for the rich human gift that language is. Language is an irreducible part of our humanity; it’s one of the skeleton keys that opens us to our collective experience. I feel privileged to consider myself a custodian of a rare and precious gift—words.

I am a writer, yoga teacher and mother. I've had a column on Elephant Journal since 2010. In my former life in Austin, TX, I was an advertising copywriter, then a bilingual elementary school teacher, and now I am a freelance writer, editor and translator. I have lived on beautiful Lake Atitlan in the Guatemalan highlands since 2012 with my partner, daughter and fur family. 

I live in South Africa and I specialise in editing academic papers for second-language English speakers. I am a published academic with a doctorate of philosophy in theology - so I have a keen sense of logical consistency and will point out any logical difficulties with your text. I also have more than 20 years experience in the newspaper industry, where I "subbed" and rewrote stories (mostly for second-language English writers), and also mentored reporters. The newspaper environment is a fantastic training ground for learning all the little tricks of the trade, such as common mistakes to look out for and little things you can do to improve the writing. You cannot imagine all the details involved in editing copy!

Tip for students: if English is not your first language and you are studying in English, read, read, read and read some more English books! I mean good, classic novels - not just articles on the internet, which are often full of mistakes. This will give you a good feel for the language. Begin by getting an English copy of a novel you have already read in Dutch. Then you will have a sense of the content. Read a chapter a night, taking special note of the use of prepositions. These are non-native speakers' greatest difficulty with English. Keep doing this until you are thinking in English.

I am a language acquisition and language assessment expert, and I have been conducting research in these areas for over 15 years. I veered into testing and assessment after obtaining my PhD in theoretical linguistics from the University of Cambridge, UK, where I also worked for a few years before moving to the US. I currently live in San Diego, where I investigate language development of students learning the so-called less commonly taught languages. Although I love research and find it very rewarding, editing provides a healthy dose of variety to my daily work: I enjoy reading students’ work because I learn so much from it. Also, I don’t get much opportunity to teach these days, so helping students with their writing helps fill this void.

When I am not at work, I spend time with my family, play percussion with a few local bands, and climb rocks.

A writing tip: Remember, thesis writing is not a race to the highest page count; don’t waste time padding. Also, keep in mind that some readers will read your work from start to finish, some will read only the introductory and concluding chapters, some might scan or search for what they need, and some might only flip through it: a well-structured thesis will satisfy them all!  

Hi! I'm from Canada, and I grew up in Alberta and British Columbia. I hold a BA in political science and history, as well as a law degree. I'm very excited to take a look at your work because I love helping students with their writing and pushing them to achieve.

In my spare time, I'm a cat dad, a musician, a whisk(e)y enthusiast, a politics junkie, and an avid reader.

I have two writing tips. The first tip is to just start writing - this will help you organize your thoughts and get your ideas down, and then you can go back and polish later. The second is to finish a good draft of your writing at least a few days before a deadline, so you can come back with fresh eyes in two or three days. You'll notice all sorts of mistakes and areas for improvement.

I’ve worked as an editor and writer for 30 years. I began as a BBC radio researcher and script writer, and after my first book was published in 1994 (Maypoles, Martyrs and Mayhem, Bloomsbury), I kept the wolf from the door by writing magazine articles and copywriting for agencies and corporates. Most of my work has been freelance, enabling me to indulge a parallel life as a semi-professional musician. In recent years I've specialised in academic and book editing, along with charity content management, and blogging for clients great and small. I’ve also written another 10 books since that first one (most recently The Little History of Oxfordshire, The History Press, 2019); and edited several others - for example, Professor Michael Crawford's groundbreaking The Brain Under Siege (due April 2021) and professional musician Tom Kitching's Seasons of Change: Busking England (March 2020).

The key to good writing is clarity. It's amazing how far the old format of 'introduction - method - results - conclusion' gets you, in any field of writing. Map out beforehand what you need to say in each section. You'll then have a framework, a path of least resistance down which your content can flow. It might not achieve full focus immediately, so take time out as and when necessary. Grab a cup of something, mess around on the guitar, whatever unwinds you, and then dive in refreshed.

Hello!

I'm from Bengaluru, India, and I've lived here all my life, from its days of being a "Garden City" to being the "Silicon Valley of India." I've a Bachelors degree in Journalism, English, and Psychology and a Masters degree in Mass Communication. I've seven years of experience in editing newspaper articles, fiction, and academic textbooks as well as academic papers such as theses and dissertations. The latter has been my focus the past four years. While I'm most comfortable with papers on the Humanities, my love is for the language itself and learning something new every day. I like taking up online courses on various topics (currently on International Humanitarian Law) to help me edit better.

My hobbies include reading on a daily basis, practicing yoga, painting, cycling, trekking, and playing board games. I live with my husband and two cats, and I hope to adopt a dog in the near future.

Pro-tip: Make good use of punctuations, mainly periods. Nothing takes away your readers' attention and understanding like a long sentence. Two smaller sentences are more likely to express your intention clearly than a really long one.

If you feel jealous when you see others masterfully express themselves with words, know that you are not alone. Jealousy is universal; however, the first step to being on the receiving end of literary jealousy is a lonely one: getting some words down on the paper. This is something you have to do on your own.

(From this point forward, however, remember that you may enlist outside help at any time you need.)

After you have some raw material (sentences and paragraphs) to work with, imagine that you are taking your readers on a journey from point A to point Z; A and Z are your document's introduction and conclusion, respectively. During this journey, you will make multiple stops; these multiple stops (points B, C, D, etc.) are the various parts of your document's body.

Each part of your document must be logically connected to what precedes and/or follows it, no matter what type of document you are writing. To ensure such a flow, start playing with the order of your sentences and paragraphs, keeping points A and Z (and B and C and D, etc.) in mind. This is the second, perpetual step: arranging the raw material you had collected in step one in such a logical sequence that each sentence, as well as each section, is connected to what precedes and/or follows it.

After this, in the third step, you begin to edit: In this step, you tend to the mechanical errors, improve the diction, etc., until you have a polished document, with a solid beginning, middle, and end, that you are proud of.

The fourth and final step is remembering to be kind to yourself. Always be sure to remind your inner critic that practice makes perfect. No one becomes a master in a day, and everyone needs help. The more you practice writing (and writing correctly), the better, and better, you will get at it.

Good luck, and happy writing!

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A Little About Me

I have a bachelor's degree in software and IT engineering and am currently completing my master's degree in English literature, after which I plan to go for a PhD in linguistics. I am also training to teach English to second-language students.

I have always had a knack for learning new languages. I am a native speaker of English and Hindi and have a working knowledge of Sanskrit, Prakrit, and Urdu. I am learning Spanish and hope to learn Bengali and German someday.

Editing is what I do because it is what I love to do. A published poet, translator, and trained Kathak dancer, I have been working as a full-time language editor for well over five years now.

I graduated from Brown University in 2013 with a BA in Anthropology. Besides editing for Scribbr, I also work for Scientific Writing in Health and Medicine, a company that teaches healthcare practitioners to write case reports following health research reporting guidelines. Outside of helping others improve their written communication skills, I enjoy partner acrobatics, playing board games, and frolicking in the wilderness.

I grew up in the Canadian prairie provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan and continue to make Saskatchewan my home. I have a BA in Humanities with a focus in English literature, and I have also studied English literature at the graduate level. During my years of formal education, I worked as a writing centre tutor and faculty assistant and found that I really enjoy helping students learn to communicate more clearly through their writing, which is what excites me about working for Scribbr.

My best writing tip is that the better you want to write, the more you need to read! All kinds of reading are beneficial, but it's especially helpful to read academic texts in your field to get a feel for the style of language your discipline requires. Also, read your own writing! Proofreading carefully and even reading your work aloud will greatly improve your writing.

I'm an English-speaking South African with a PhD in Linguistics. My educational background includes a Bachelor in Linguistics, English Literature and Philosophy; and an Honours and two Masters degrees in Linguistics.

In the past I have tutored first-year university English, and I have extensive experience in editing academic texts and theses.

A tip for writing in English (or any language that is not your mother tongue): First and foremost, try to express yourself clearly. Using complex sentences or 'fancy-sounding' words that you've found in a thesaurus often makes your argument harder to follow.

Hi there! I am an editor with Scribbr, currently living a nomadic lifestyle. I studied molecular biology at the University of Nebraska. After graduating, I researched the malaria parasite at Harvard University before moving to Peru to teach English under the Fulbright fellowship. I then earned a Master's in Global Health Economics from Johns Hopkins University, where I focused on the economic impacts of infectious diseases.

I’m passionate about helping students translate their life experiences, knowledge, and talents into compelling essays, theses, and applications. Accordingly, I have served as an academic coach, a mentor, an editor, and a teacher for over six years. After work, I practice yoga, meditation, running, and traveling. I also love thinking about anthropology and philosophy, so you will find me reading or writing about how and why society works.

Need a tip to start writing? If I'm procrastinating or dreading something, I begin with the one or two parts that I feel "okay" or even "good" about. This usually gets the ball rolling, and two sentences turn into a paragraph!

I grew up in rural Ontario and spent a few years after high school making music at cafés and bars, before leaving for my university education. At Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, I completed a combined honours degree, first class, in Philosophy and English, returning the next year to complete an MA in English. My undergraduate work focused on philosophy of language and feminist philosophy, while my master’s thesis focused on ecology and contemporary Canadian poetry.

While at the school my writing interests were broadened well beyond the scope of my own disciplines. As I completed my undergrad, I spent five years as a university writing tutor, seeing students at all levels of education (from entrance level to PhD) and treating writing in most academic styles: scientific, creative, business, journalistic, argumentative, and so forth. About half of the students who came to the centre were accomplished writers in their native tongues. These students worked with our tutors to learn the nuances of English writing specifically, and they gave me plenty of practice working with writers who come to English from other languages. During these five years I also graded for the Engineering, Commerce, English, and Philosophy departments, and gained some teaching experience along the way. I work in writing because I find it gratifying to read interesting papers on subjects or arguments I’ve not been exposed to.

Tip for writing in English: English speakers find that writing tends to be clearest when the main verb in a sentence is close to the beginning of that sentence, whereas it is more common in other languages to push the main verb further into a sentence. Try to be attentive to the placement of that main verb, and try to place it early.  This advice, of course, does not apply to all sentences, but works well as a general writing guideline.

I have always loved the written word. This led me to complete a BA in English Literature and, a few years later, an MA in Publishing. I did some travelling and working overseas (including teaching English in Japan) before spending several years working at a communications agency in my home country, the UK. Here I wrote and edited content for businesses in the UK, the US, and Eastern Europe. I chose to work with Scribbr because it combines two of my great passions: editing and helping people to reach their full potential in their writing.

Writing tip: “The most valuable of all talents is that of never using two words when one will do.” Thomas Jefferson

I have a bachelor's degree in Biology and a PhD in Comparative Literature. I have been teaching, editing, and writing for the past decade. I enjoy editing because it allows me to bring together my interdisciplinary background: I have edited a range of scholarly texts from the humanities and the sciences. I love helping students and scholars express themselves through writing.

My writing tip: Plan to revise. It's much easier to start writing when you know your first draft doesn't have to be perfect. Once you finish the draft, take a short break if you can and do something else. If you find revising difficult, try to read your draft out loud. That will help you hear awkward-sounding sentences. If you want to focus on grammar and spelling, try reading your draft backwards, starting with the last sentence. It sounds strange, but when you start at the end of the paper and focus on just one sentence at a time, it is easier to spot spelling and grammar errors.

I'm a South African by birth and residence. In addition to being a professional editor, I'm a writer and wellness practitioner. My degrees are BA English, BA Honours psychology, and MA research psychology (all with distinction). I often edit technical work and am statistically literate. My interests are broad, but I prefer working on post-graduate papers.

Tip for academic writers: Keep your sentences short and clear, and include only one main idea in each sentence. Many writers try to cram too much information into a sentence and the result is a loss of clarity.

Hello! My name is Talia. I have been writing from a young age, starting with short childhood stories and moving to academic texts. I received a Bachelor of Music History at Western University in Canada, where I was also Editor-in-Chief of Nota Bene: Canadian Undergraduate Journal of Musicology. I am very passionate about writing and editing, and I love helping writers express their unique perspectives in a way that encourages understanding and engagement. I am also a bit of a grammar nerd, probably thanks to my interest and studies in Latin!

Here is my quickest writing tip: never underestimate the power of a pre-first-draft outline! Starting a long paper feels much less overwhelming when you have a guide to remind yourself of what you are setting out to say. 

Hi, I'm Talia! I'm currently a second-year medical student in a dual-degree MD/PhD graduate program in the US. My undergraduate studies were in Neuroscience & Behavioral Biology and English & Creative Writing. Prior to starting graduate school, I conducted behavioral neuroscience research at the NIH on hippocampal neurogenesis, and a few years before that, on the effects of alcohol on neural stem cell proliferation. Outside of Scribbr, you'll most likely find me studying, working on my first novel, or playing with my dog, Appa. 

Writing Tip: Remember that the best writing is often direct and concise. It's important that we value our reader's time (and attention span), so do your best to avoid redundancy and needless repetition.

I am originally from Wales but now live in the south of France with my wife and dog. After studying Theology (including a year in Israel) at university I headed off to teach English as a foreign language in South Korea. It was there that I met my wife. I returned to Britain and to university in Cardiff where I completed both a masters and PhD. in archaeology, graduating with the latter in 2010. Another couple of years in South Korea followed before we moved to France in 2012.

I adore reading, am an avid football (soccer) fan, and I am also trying to write a novel. 

Writing Tip: Keep it simple! When writing an essay, dissertation, or thesis it is important to use formal, academic language, but this does not mean you should try too hard to impress with unnecessarily long or difficult words. The subject being written about is often specialized and complex enough, do not make it more so. Using simple, straightforward language to explain your ideas and opinions will make it much easier for the reader to understand.

I am a native English speaker and an experienced editor and writer. I was a UK academic for many years working with undergraduate, MA and PhD students on their essays and theses. I have a BA and MPhil from Oxford University in English Language and Literature. I have an MA in Creative Writing and a PhD in Contemporary Curating and Critical Writing. I enjoy working with language and texts, just as a sculptor enjoys working with stone or a painter with oils and watercolours. I write fiction and non-fiction. My books – early medieval novels, future fiction, art history – are published by Impress Books, Phaidon, Routledge, Palgrave and others. My novels have won and been short-listed for a number of prizes including Impress Prize, Rome Film Festival Book Initiative, Santander Research Award, Literature Wales Writers Bursary and Authors Foundation Award. I also write book reviews for Times Higher Education and Historical Novels Review and a regular column about writers living abroad for The Displaced Nation. Currently I am teaching art history to American Study Abroad students in France and running creative writing workshops. I was formerly senior lecturer in art history and theory at Oxford Brookes University and Dartington College of Arts and guest professor at Bauhaus University, Weimar and Piet Zwart Institute, Rotterdam. I divide my time between the UK and France. When I’m not working I’m playing with my grandson, reading books, chatting and walking with family and friends. I am an avid swimmer and own a waterproof Kindle.

Tips for writing: Notice what your bad habits and repeat errors are in writing and make sure you read through your text to edit them out. For example, I use “that” too often. We all have little tics that are a kind of throat-clearing in writing. Keep an eye on incorrect apostrophes especially in its/it’s. If you are struggling with your sentences or the flow or coherence of your writing, read it aloud to yourself. Think about who your readers are, what they know and don’t know, to help you decide what you need to tell them, how to keep their interest. The best way to learn how to write is to read constantly. Read anything that interests you: English newspapers, magazines, blogs, novels and textbooks.

I have 15+ years of experience editing a variety of documents, including theses, dissertations, and juried academic articles. She has a B.A. in English and an M.A. in Communications, both from Texas Tech University. I've spent much of my professional career helping students in one way or another, and I'm very pleased to help you with your writing. Thanks for letting me contribute a bit to your academic career.