GARETH DAVIS COPY EDITOR AND PROOFREADER

Services

Proofreading

If it's just a simple read through your content to make sure that everything is correct, here are some of the areas I cover:

Spelling
Punctuation
Grammar
Consistency
Style

Copy editing

When it comes to a full-on copy edit, as well as a standard proofread I'll look deeper into your content to make sure it reads as well as it can do. This can include the flow from one section to the next, cutting down on word counts, getting rid of jargon and cliches, and suggesting revisions.

Price promise

You will never pay more than the advance quote I give you. If a project takes longer than expected then you won't pay anything for the extra time incurred.

Rates can be by the hour, per project, or for a full day or more.

Why you can benefit from a proofreader or copy editor

Your audience is your money

If you're in business, your websites and marketing materials are your tools to target your customers with.

Get them wrong, with poorly produced content and confusing or incorrect words, and you've quickly eroded your professional image.

Those customers can quickly go somewhere else and not come back – and lost customers means lost revenue.

Cutting out embarrassing mistakes

Anyone can make a typing error at any time. They happen and can be hard to spot, especially when you're checking your own material. The brain can easily trick the eyes into seeing something different than what's in front of you.

That's where an external proofreader comes in. A fresh pair of eyes is as good a tool as you can use for making sure your words don't contain the sort of simple mistakes that cause embarrassment when published. Here are a couple of my favourite examples:

'Flat for rent. £50 per week, including rats.'
'Warehouse operatives required. Good rates of pay and various shits available.'

Especially in the social media world, nobody wants to be the one to go viral for the wrong reasons.

Making your content readable

You might have the most amazing story to tell but it could get lost behind terrible jargon and badly written material.

That's not intended as a criticism – not everyone is brilliant with words, just like not everyone can bake a loaf of bread. We all have our own individual strengths and weaknesses.

An in-depth copy edit can help you identify and fix wider problems so that your content is clear and easy to read – whether it's a marketing brochure, technical documentation or a book manuscript for publication.

About me

Based in the English county of Lincolnshire, after spent most of my life in Derbyshire and having also lived in Yorkshire and Norfolk, I have more than two decades of experience handling content for businesses small and large, individuals and groups, authors and publishers, and across many different industries.

My career has taken me through newspapers and magazines, via the sports and automotive industries, into the online world and technical and marketing projects for UK and US audiences, and more than 400 books copy edited – plus five written myself.

The devil is always in the detail and I am very much a details man, which is why I have worked so much in proofing and editing over the years.

My experience and qualifications with the written word mean I am as well equipped to check over your website or promotional materials as I am your detailed technical documents or lengthy book manuscripts.

Away from work, I enjoy watching football (for my sins, I'm a Derby County supporter), reading, travel, penning occasional blogs about my experiences and memories, and spending quality time with family and friends.

Testimonials

Chris Carra – author, freelance writer, nutrition coach

'I have used Gareth's editing and proofreading services for many projects, from brief book proposals to full 80,000+ word manuscripts. I'm always happy with the communication, care and attention he delivers – Gareth knows how to bring the best out of my writing.'

Visit Chris Carra's website

Jane Camillin – Pitch Publishing

'Gareth has worked with us for a number of years, and the quality of his work is first-class. His accuracy, quality of work, professionalism and communication are all of the highest standard. He works to deadlines and project schedules, while his knowledge of the subject matter and statistics is excellent.'

Visit the Pitch Publishing website

Mike Litchfield – Litchy Creative

'I have worked with Gareth since 2014 and found him to have a very professional manner, as well as being very personable. When discussing projects he goes further than most, explaining not just the "what", but the "why", as well. This level of detail, which is present throughout the project, is always communicated effectively. Deadlines are met as per his schedule, if not before. A pleasure to work with.'

Visit the Litchy Creative website

Simon Barnes – Barnes Print

'I worked with Gareth in producing a matchday programme for a local non-league football club. His knowledge and work ethic was second to none, his articles were informative and we had many messages from officials and supporters of the club regarding the excellent content in each production. I would be delighted to work with Gareth again and would fully recommend him to other companies.'

Visit the Barnes Print website

Mike Donovan – author, Football's Braveheart

'I appreciated Gareth’s consideration, sensitivity, empathy, professionalism and going the extra mile on a project that means so much to me and to Dave Mackay’s family. It was the perfect combination for an editor and I enjoyed working with Gareth on the project.'

Read more about Football's Braveheart