Proofreading and copy-editing services for individuals, businesses and publishers, helping you produce beautifully polished written documents, whatever your needs.

I can help you to enhance your text and ensure it is in excellent shape. I specialise in proofreading and copy-editing non-fiction and, as a solicitor, I am well qualified to review legal documents, medico-legal reports, academic essays and journal articles, including checking OSCOLA or BlueBook referencing.

You can be assured of confidentiality at all times.

© 2016–2023

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Services

Copy-editing

I will review and amend your text as necessary to ensure it reads well and that it is clear and error-free, while retaining your voice as author and leaving you with the best possible version of your original draft. This does not include extensive rewriting or restructuring.

Proofreading

I will check spelling, grammar and punctuation in the text, and ensure your use of terms, spellings, font and layout is consistent throughout. This should be the final review of the text, after it has already been edited.

Proof-editing

Somewhere between proofreading and copy-editing, this is what many business and individuals are looking for, particularly where English is the writer’s second language (ESL). This involves deeper review than a standard proofread, but not a full copy-edit. Please contact me to discuss your requirements.

Websites

As well as proofreading or editing your website as required, I will check that media and graphics display properly, links work as they should and that your site navigation makes sense.

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About Eleanor Ayres

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I am a freelance copy-editor and proofreader, specialising in shipping and law. I also work with businesses on the full range of business documents, and with individuals on books, academic work and other projects. I am originally from Yorkshire, but I am now based in Cambridgeshire.

I am a qualified solicitor and spent over ten years specialising in shipping litigation, personal injury and travel claims. I now work in litigation at a local firm. I have edited legal and shipping publications including magazines, bulletins, books (especially in competition law) and legal documents. I  edit all kinds of legal documents, in a range of specialisms, including medico-legal reports, essays and dissertations, and articles.

Outside law, I have a wide range of experience in editing and proofreading all kinds of documents for publishers, businesses, instututions and individuals, including brochures, pitch documents, marketing materials, reports, essays and theses, websites, books (fiction (I love sci-fi and fantasy) and non-fiction, including memoir), articles and blog posts. I am particularly interested in medicine and health, parenting, memoir, history, music  and cookery.

I am experienced in Oxford style, Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS), OSCOLA, US BlueBook (legal referencing), APA and many others.

I have excellent attention to detail and a professional but personal approach. I am a native English speaker and speak French and basic Spanish. I am an intermediate member of the Chartered Institute of Editing and Proofreading (formerly the Society for Editors and Proofreaders), and abide by their code of practice.CIEP_MemberLogo_Intermediate_RGB

Please get in touch if you would like more information.

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Prices

Every job is different, depending on the nature of the document (article, report, essay, website etc) word count, timescale and level of intervention required, so prices will vary according to the project. I will charge a fixed fee or an hourly rate, subject to a minimum fee of £30.

Please contact me to discuss your needs and to obtain a tailored quote. Please include as much information as possible about your requirements, and preferably including a sample of your work.

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Contact

Please contact me to discuss your needs or to obtain a quote, via email (eleanor@ayreseditorial.com) or using the form below. You can also find me on Twitter @eleanor_ayres.

I will get in touch with you as soon as possible.