I taught beginning French for about 8 years at the University of Wyoming and at Montgomery College. We moved overseas, and I was not allowed to work because my husband had the work visa. However, I volunteered by teaching English as a second language to French wives of professionals at a French company. When we lived in Turkey, I again taught English as a second language to educated Turkish women. My degrees in Spanish and French grew from having studied Latin for two years.

I currently serve as the editor of an online newspaper, www.grantcountybeat.com, that I founded and own. It covers local news in southwest New Mexico. I have over the past 20 years been paid to proofread and edit essays, books and short web copy. I proofread my own published book, after I had it professionally edited, because it is difficult to edit one's own writing. I still found errors that I corrected. The book is a compilation of interviews with 81 World War II veterans. I have been a grammar nerd since childhood and have always loved foreign languages and words in general. Because I speak and write grammaticially correct English and have a knowledge of several foreign languages, I can especially help non-native English writers hone their work to be more grammatically correct and flow more smoothly. I taught a course for several years to graduate students who, for their final project, had to translate a paper in their field from French to English. I had no trouble grading even the scientic ones, because of my having studied Latin for two years. I proofed and edited three full-length books that went on to be published—one on energy-related issues, one on Forest Service practices, and another on the oil and gas industry.

I manage a team of three freelance proofreaders and editors. One has expertise in Associated Press style; two in Chicago Manual of Style; and one of the two has knowledge of Modern Language Association Style. We as individuals have different expertise in proofreading and editing various topics, including botany, history, languages, energy, geology, business, and religion and spirituality.  Ask us. We can probably help you. We offer estimates of timeframe and total cost.

I, personally, because I have an almost full-time self-imposed job, prefer proofing and editing short copy—essays, articles or web copy up to 20 pages. I liked grading papers and loved diagramming sentences way back in fifth grade. I correct people's writing every day as part of my current job.
My team members can address any length copy, including books, articles or essays. We sometimes have immediate availability.

Often, we can complete short items within a day or two, if we are not already fully booked. For longer items, depending on availability, figure on up to a week or month later before one of us can begin.