Dickens is correct, of course, but only if that earnest word is spelled correctly, punctuated appropriately, and aligned grammatically and syntactically with the words around it.

I have been in love with words -- their meanings, sounds, spellings, grammatical forms, provenance, usage, how they interact -- for as long as I can remember, which is as long as I've been reading.

I care about language; I care that it be used with precision. Language used precisely can convey infinite meaning and nuance, and exert powerful influence.

I would like to help you use language precisely and accurately so that your "words in earnest" fulfill Dickens' declaration.


Qualifications

My qualifications include eight years of freelance and/or on-staff newspaper journalism, three years of freelance copy editing and proofreading and a year as Writing Coach for the Northeastern University (Boston) Journalism Department.
They also include a lifetime of reading and absorbing beautifully expressed, eloquent and sublimely perfect writing.

I am co-editor of an independent press, Medusa's Muse. (Read the publisher's blog for inside info about running a small press and book publishing in general.)

I am versed in Chicago, AP, APA, MLA, and Turabian styles.

And I am, of course, obsessive about grammar, punctuation, syntax, spelling, accuracy, flow and style.


For more information or to discuss your project, e-mail me at: JM.Editing@gmail.com


References available.