I have worked as a proofreader and copy-editor since 2004 and I specialise in dissertations and theses, academic papers and books. I have worked in higher education alongside the business for many years, and am currently part-time Lecturer in Academic Skills in the Department of English at the University of Bristol, teaching students returning to education after a long absence. I also spent several years traveling to PR China regularly to teach talented students hoping to study at British Russell Group universities.

Proofreading and copy-editing: every error in spelling, grammar and formatting is corrected, and I will also make suggestions on how to address any recurring mistakes, as well as improving structure, clarity and tone. I will then work with you to improve your work as much as possible before submission/publication. I am also available to do line-editing in some cases, but please be aware that line-editing (focused on content, sense, structure and argument) is a different skill to copy-editing (focused on format, grammatical consistency and phraseology).

UCAS applications: I advise students writing their UCAS forms or preparing for an Oxbridge interview, and teachers and parents supporting students in these tasks. I am sufficiently good at this to have flown out to PR China every summer over the course of a decade to work with students there. For British students, parents and staff, I can help write and edit Personal Statements, choose courses and universities, and conduct practice interviews, as well as preparing students for the other rigours of university life.

Teaching: I offer teaching in study skills at the University of Bristol on the Foundation Year in Arts & Humanities and the part-time BA in English Literature and Community Engagement.

Writing: you can find my blog on words, writing and education in its various forms at thefilthycomma.wordpress.com. I am also a published fiction writer (see the 2018 Bristol Short Story anthology, which includes my shortlisted story ‘Dogging’).

For more information or to book me for a job, please use the ‘Contact Jess‘ page above.

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