Selected Projects

Agatha Christie: Destination Unknown

I proofread labels, panels and maps for this exhibition

The exhibition was about Christie’s time working on archaeological digs in the Middle East with her second husband.

It was part of the International Agatha Christie Festival 2021, held at the Torre Abbey Museum in Torquay.

What my clients say

Sue was vital to the success of this project. She ensured consistent and grammatically correct text. It was a pleasure working with her and I won’t hesitate to again.

exhibition curator

Report #19 of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative’s Independent Monitoring Board

This 78-page report on progress towards eradicating poliomyelitis is one of half a dozen I have proofread for this client

The Board’s secretariat requires its reports to be authoritative, yet written in accessible language. As well as proofreading its reports, I am helping the secretariat develop a style guide for the Board’s reports.

The Board provides an independent assessment of the progress being made by the Global Polio Eradication Initiative in the detection and interruption of polio transmission globally.

What my clients say

Many thanks for working through the report so quickly …

Independent Monitoring Board

Nowhere to Hide, a novel

I proofread this thriller, one of a series set in North Wales featuring Detective Inspector Drake

When proofreading for Stephen Puleston, the author, my extensive knowledge of North Wales is helpful in visualising the action and running a ‘credibility’ check alongside the tasks on my proofreading checklist.

What my clients say

Sue provided a thorough and comprehensive service when she proofread Nowhere to Hide, the seventh novel in my Inspector Drake series. I greatly valued her editorial comments as well as her diligence in the proofreading exercise. It improved the quality of the book immeasurably and I am looking forward to working with her again. Highly recommended.

author

Four Seasons: A Bangor Football Concerto

This book started life as a series of lyrically written, gently self-deprecating blog posts

The author had gathered these posts together into a 100-page slim volume. I proofread them as a whole, which contributed to the book's cohesion. The author, John, is making a donation from the sale of each book to Bangor’s Abbey Road mental health resource and information centre.

What my clients say

Thank you so much for your work on 'Four Seasons', Sue. Your professionalism and meticulous attention to detail enabled me to release the book with the confidence that everything was as it should be.

author

Report for Mantell Gwynedd

I copy-edited the English version of a social impact report about a social prescribing project in Gwynedd

The purpose of the report was to communicate the impact of the Arfon Community Link project. This is a social prescribing scheme, which links patients with sources of support in the community. As the report was to be sent to the Welsh Government, the client’s aim was ‘to make sure it’s correct’.

Mantell Gwynedd is the County Voluntary Council in Gwynedd, Wales.

What my clients say

Thank you for all your work, all the notes were really clear and helpful, and thank you also for doing the work so promptly.

Social Value Manager

An Atheists’ Bible, a novel

I proofread this novel, which is about Diderot’s Encyclopédie and book smuggling in 18th century France

In keeping with novel’s location and historical setting, the text contains many foreign words. One of the main proofreading challenges was to make sure these were consistently shown in italics. My ability to think bilingually stood me in good stead for this task.

This is Kurtis Sunday’s third novel to be published by Cambria Books.

What my clients say

You did an amazingly thorough job – thanks a million, much appreciated.

author

Effects Analysis IFRS 17 Insurance Contracts for the IFRS® Foundation

This 140-page IFRS® Foundation report is one of dozens of financial reporting documents that I have proofread or copy-edited for this client

Foundation documents must be unambiguous, as they are explaining complex concepts to an international readership. They must also comply with its style guide. The Foundation demands meticulous proofreading of its texts, which are often written by non-native English authors.

The IFRS® Foundation develops and produces a single set of high-quality, global accounting standards that are used in over a hundred jurisdictions to describe companies' financial performance.

What my clients say

Our clients, the technical team, were impressed with your work on this document.

Senior Editor

The Shepherd War Poet for the Gwasg Carreg Gwalch publisher

This book was published in 2017, a hundred years since the death of its subject: the poet Hedd Wyn

This book consists of an introduction by a contemporary poet, a biographical timeline, a selection of Hedd Wyn's poems with English translations, and a tailpiece on how his family's home is being conserved for the nation.

My tasks were to proofread for typos etc. and to edit the language of the three different contributing authors for better readability. My knowledge of both Welsh and English helps me edit texts written by Welsh authors.

Curriculum resources for Sustrans

I copy-edited written curriculum resources for both pupils and teachers

Part of the task was to impose internal consistency on the written English, as different members of staff had written different parts.

I then arranged for Welsh translation, and proofread the Welsh against the original English.

Sustrans is the UK's national sustainable transport charity.

What my clients say

Many thanks for your help and for doing such a great job in a short space of time.

Programme Development Officer for Education and Young People

Corporate plan for Natural Resources Wales

I was commissioned to proofread the English text of its 2014–17 Corporate Plan

I then proofread the English and Welsh texts side by side, to make sure both languages said the same thing. Differences could have been highly embarrassing, especially for a government body.

Natural Resources Wales is the largest Welsh Government Sponsored Body.

Report for Cymdeithas Tai Eryri

I pulled together a report from raw statistics and focus group results

Cymdeithas Tai Eryri had collected statistical data from its 'hard to heat' houses that had been fitted with air source heat pumps and insulation. Focus groups had also been held with the tenants.

I was commissioned to write a draft report; the 9,000-word text was finalised by the client.

Cymdeithas Tai Eryri was a housing association in Gwynedd and Anglesey; it is now part of Grŵp Cynefin.

What my clients say

Hoffwn ddiolch yn arw i Sue am y holl waith trwyadl a gwerthfawr mae hi wedi gwneud, ac rwyf yn sicr bydd yr adroddiad yn help mawr i ni.
(We thank Sue sincerely for the thorough and valuable work she’s done, and I’m sure that the report will be of enormous help to us.)

Community Initiatives Manager

Treegeneration evaluation report for the Forestry Commission

I re-wrote a 14,000-word evaluation report of a pilot project in ‘plain English’

Treegeneration was a pilot project that delivered urban tree planting schemes in north-east Wales.

The Forestry Commission felt the evaluation report had been written in language that was ‘stiff’ and too academic, so asked me to simplify it and make it easier to read.

The Forestry Commission Wales was the Welsh Government body responsible for woodland and forestry; it has been replaced by Natural Resources Wales.

What my clients say

Thanks for your hard work with this, you have done a very thorough job and have certainly raised some important points with regards to the project and its evaluation.

Treegeneration Project Officer