Services
Proofreading, editorial services, and tender document review
Proofreading
Spellcheckers and grammar tools are useful – but they are not proofreaders. They won't catch a word that's spelled correctly but used in the wrong context. They won't flag that your document was drafted with American English settings when your audience expects Australian spelling. And they certainly won't notice when a perfectly spelled word changes the meaning of a sentence entirely.
What I bring is a trained human eye that has been doing this – full-time, professionally – for over 45 years. Every document I review gets the same thorough treatment:
- Spelling, including Australian vs American English consistency
- Grammar and punctuation
- Word usage and contextual accuracy
- Consistency of style, formatting, and terminology
- Typographical errors and layout anomalies
- Numbering, headings, and cross-references
Editorial Services
Sometimes a document is error-free but still doesn't read as well as it could. Beyond catching mistakes, I offer suggestions for clearer, sharper phrasing.
A classic example of why this matters: a classified ad once read, "Piano wanted for a lady with ivory legs." Technically correct in spelling – but clearly not what the writer intended.
Editorial suggestions are always presented as options, never impositions. You retain full control over your document. My role is to give you the information you need to make it the best it can be.
Tender Documents
Quotes and tenders are rejected on technicalities every day – a confusing layout, a contradictory clause, an unaddressed requirement, a grammatical error. Any of these can undermine a submission that is otherwise technically strong.
I've been thoroughly trained in spotting the kinds of errors, omissions, and anomalies that evaluators notice. I don't need to be a subject matter expert in your field to do this effectively – in fact, fresh eyes often catch what familiarity blinds you to.
- Confusing or inconsistent layout and structure
- Contradictions between sections
- Requirements from the brief that haven't been addressed
- Ambiguous phrasing that could be read against you
- Grammatical errors and spelling mistakes
- Formatting and numbering inconsistencies
"Send it to me first and your chances of success will increase. Dramatically."
– Lynden Howells
Rates & Turnaround
Pricing is either hourly or a fixed project rate, depending on the nature of the work. A straightforward newsletter and a highly technical annual report or prescribing information document are very different assignments – and I price them accordingly.
Standard turnaround
A typical 20-page A4 document – such as a small annual report with photos and graphics – is returned within 2–3 business days.
Rush jobs
Faster turnaround is available upon request. An urgent rate is agreed upfront before I begin, so there are no surprises on either side.
Before accepting any job, I ask to see a sample of the work. This lets me give you an accurate quote and confirm I can meet your deadline. I won't quote sight unseen – and you wouldn't want me to.
Personal service – no AI, no subcontractors
Every document I take on is read and reviewed by me personally. I don't use AI tools, voice-to-text software, or subcontractors. When you engage Lynden's Proofreading, you get Lynden – with 45 years of professional experience behind every mark on the page.