Matthew D

Cape Coral, United States

“Effective communication solves problems.”

Specialist subjects:

American Studies Communication & Media Studies English History Librarianship & Information Management Technology

Editing formats:

Education:

BA in History

University of Delaware

1996–2001

MS in Professional Writing

Towson University

2003–2005

Favorite referencing style

I prefer Harvard referencing given its simplistic style, but I can certainly work with the APA and MLA referencing styles.

Why I became an editor

I started editing when a friend showed me some copy for his client's web page. After reading a few sentences, I told him I couldn't let him post it online without a proper edit, if for no other reason than to preserve his reputation. Shortly after, I started the master's program at Towson University and began working as a professional editor in 2004. As an editor, I love to help shape ideas, clarify meaning, and make the final piece as good as it can be.

Background and experience

I was an editor and assistant managing editor for LexisNexis (later acquired by ProQuest) from 2004–2011 and managing editor from 2011–2019. Our product focused on the library and information services sector. I moved into an editor role centering on technology-related research with Gartner from 2019–2021 before moving into a management role there.

Why I love proofreading and editing

Proofreading is such an important part of the writing process. It weeds out errors that distract the audience from the writer's goal, which is to communicate a specific idea.

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Favorite book:

The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway is my favorite book.

Hobbies:

I'm usually outside doing something on or near the water. I love to swim, fish, boat, kayak, or just go to the beach.

Editing tips:

I start by reading the document without correcting any errors to get a sense of the content and author's voice. I want to ensure consistency and accuracy in grammar and punctuation.

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