The big question

Why pay a real person to proofread your document - can't AI do it now?

AI programs search the internet for information and, as we know, not everything we read online is factually correct! Also, many AI programs do not have a good grasp of grammar or the nuances of language. AI is a useful tool for other tasks, but it won’t pick up the errors that a proofreader is looking for – particularly those based around consistency or words that are spelled correctly but are incorrect in the context of the sentence or the overall text. Think of words like affect and effect, or principle and principal.

Hi, I'm Catherine Hall

I'm based in the UK, and when I'm not busy working, I can be found at the gym, drinking coffee or walking with friends, travelling and of course, reading - lots of reading!

Proficient in British, Australian and US English.

30 years of experience - with an extensive background in a variety of industries.

Professionally trained.
Member of the Chartered Institute of Editors and Proofreaders.

Diverse clientele:

Academic writing / Medical reports / Blogs / Scientific articles / Journal submissions / Magazine articles / Corporate reports and web content

So, what is proofreading?

It's not just a glorified spell-check

The final step in the writing process before publication is generally considered to be editing. However, the editing phase includes multiple types of editing, all of which are intended to refine the written work into an easy-to-understand and mistake-free version.


Two types of editing that are commonly used interchangeably are copy-editing and proofreading. Both types of editing clean up writing, but each has its distinct contribution to the process.

MY SERVICES

Professional Proofreading and Editing for a Polished Finish

I put my years of expertise and frustration with errors in books (don't even get me started on social media!) to use to polish your work for final submission and publication.

Books - Fiction and
Non-fiction

Whether its the final draft or chapters as you go, I offer different levels of service.

Copy-editing
Fact-checking

Final proofreading

Formatting (inc. KDP formatting)

Academic submissions

I can work with the style guide for your academic institute and polish your essays, reports, articles or dissertations to its preference.

Services include:

Copy-editing

Final proofreading

Formatting

Journal articles

Submitting to a specific journal? I can work with its style guide to ensure your article is accepted.

Services include:

Copy-editing

Fact-checking

Final proofreading

Formatting

Web content

Content to build your website, a specific article or your monthly blog, I can help.


Services include:

Copy-editing

Fact-checking
Final proofreading

Formatting

Corporate

Got a report that needs to be tidied up? Maybe a press release or your monthly blog?

Let me polish your work so that you project the most professional vision of your organisation.

Services include:

Copy-editing

Proofreading

Formatting

TESTIMONIALS

CLIENT REVIEWS

As a first-time author, stepping into the world of publishing was both exciting and overwhelming. Everything was new to me, and I often felt unsure about what to expect. Working with Blue Lotus Proofreading for the copy editing, proofreading, and formatting of my book was an absolute pleasure.

ANON

The quality of the editing was exceptional. It was only through this process that I realised just how much help my grammar and punctuation needed — and the improvements have been transformative. I am incredibly grateful for the care, attention to detail, and professionalism that Blue Lotus Proofreading brought to my project.

CLAIRE

From the very beginning, communication was clear, friendly, and thorough. Every step of the process was explained in a way that made it easy to understand what was happening and what was needed from me. The work was completed quickly and efficiently, and when the edited manuscript was returned, everything was once again clearly outlined and easy to follow.

BELIEVE & ACHIEVE

FAQS

Now you've got the basics, what else do you need to know?

What is proofreading?

Proofreading is the process of reviewing a written document for errors in spelling, grammar, punctuation and formatting. It is an essential step in ensuring that your writing is clear, concise and error-free.

What is copy-editing?

Editing involves more than just proofreading. It includes reviewing the content of the document and making suggestions for improvements in tone, style, voice and structure. It can also include fact-checking and research verification.

How long does it take to proofread a document?

The timeline for completing a proofreading job depends on the complexity of the document and the level of detail required. Straightforward final proofing of a document, will generally be between 1,500-2,000 words per hour. However, that doesn't mean that a 30,000 word document will be returned in two working days - to ensure clear oversight, a good proofreader will break away from a job to return and review it with fresh eyes at least once.

Short documents are likely to be turned around in 24-48 hours. For longer documents, contact me for an estimate.

How are changes made?

This depends on the document format.

For Word documents, I will provide two versions back to the client, one will be a 'tracked changes' copy - this will show all* changes made to the document to be reviewed.
The second is a 'clean' copy - this is almost ready to use. Comments where the client's attention is required appear in the document and need reviewing and accepting/deleting prior to the document being complete.

*unless otherwise agreed - sometimes, formatting changes will not be shown at this stage.

For PDFs, the client will receive an 'edited' copy - this will have comments visible for the client to make changes to their original document.

Will it be perfect?

Can I guarantee 'perfection'?
In short, no - however, that does come with an explanation.

I cannot guarantee perfection because editing and, to a lesser degree, proofreading are subjective*.

However, I can guarantee that:

•     I will do my absolute best for you, and always aim for the very highest editorial standards.

•     the changes I make will result in a substantively, and substantially, higher quality document/publication

•     I will respect your work, your voice, your privacy and your confidentiality.

*and, ultimately, we're all human.

For further details, see T&Cs

Get in Touch