Heather P

Alva, United Kingdom

“The subjunctive would have walked into a bar—if only it had known.”

Specialist subjects:

Anthropology Civil Engineering Environmental Science Geography International Development Microbiology Public Health Social Sciences Sociology Women's & Gender Studies

Editing formats:

Education:

PhD Environmental Science

University of Stirling

2017–2021

MSc Water, Sanitation and Health Engineering

University of Leeds

2013–2014

BEng General Engineering

Durham University

2010–2013

Favorite referencing style

I love Harvard style because I think the author-date citation method helps you become more familiar with the classic reference texts in your field.

Why I became an editor

I strongly believe that lack of confidence in formal writing should never be a barrier to publishing high-quality science in top journals. I trained as an editor because I am passionate about supporting people in communicating their ideas clearly and concisely so that they can make a difference in the world.

Background and experience

I am a public and environmental health researcher specializing in water, sanitation, and menstrual waste management. The interdisciplinary nature of this work has led me to explore many interesting research areas—from engineering to anthropology—and exposed me to a wide range of academic writing styles.

I have written, edited, and proofread scientific research papers in a variety of disciplines, as well as blog posts and popular science articles. In my previous career as a civil engineer, I also wrote, edited, and proofread technical reports and other business-related documents.

Before joining Proofed, I would often edit and proofread for friends and colleagues because I genuinely enjoy making a text the best it can be.

Why I love proofreading and editing

It is distracting to find grammatical errors in a professional document, but fantastic to become lost in reading, whether in a great novel or a compelling scientific argument. To this end, I really enjoy the process of honing and polishing a text to make sure it is accessible and enjoyable for readers.

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Favorite book:

Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood. I enjoyed this book so much that I wish I could wipe it from my memory and experience the thrill of reading it for the first time all over again.

Hobbies:

When I’m not at the desk, I can be found hiking hills, reading fiction, or chasing my dog around the park.

Editing tips:

After writing in Word, try changing the view mode from “light” to “dark” (or vice versa) before proofreading. The visual change will make the pages look fresher to your eyes, making it easier to spot mistakes.

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