It might seem that the services Web-based editors provide are fairly standard. But are the results? Though I'm a relative newcomer to the field of freelance editors, I may be able to help you in ways that others cannot. (And if I'm not the right editor for you, I won't waste your time: I'll edit up to 150 words free for you so that you can find out.)

I believe my lifelong fascination with language—along with an instinctive critical eye cultivated by years of experience working with legal documents, presentations and marketing materials—distinguish me even among skilled competitors. I effortlessly and automatically detect inconsistencies, inattention to detail and errors in usage that some other editors miss, and I've encountered something that's unsettling and inescapably ironic.

Some of my competitors' sites are beset by the very kinds of problems they claim they can fix for you! I often see evidence of careless editing and proofreading in the mass media, but I didn't expect to find it on the websites of other businesses offering editing services. Would you choose to hire editors who disregard, or don't notice, the mistakes on their own sites or in their blogs? Sure, it's tough to proofread one's own work, but the bar should be highest for editors. I think we are obliged to lead by example; our professional integrity and credibility demand nothing less.

Does an editor who's a sloppy proofreader have the core skills to do the job properly? Publication of a how-to book like Copyediting & Proofreading For Dummies in May 2007 could portend a significant further erosion of standards if it attracts truly underqualified candidates into the field. (Of course, the books in that series aren't really intended "for dummies"; they're for regular people. But should regular people be persuaded that a book can teach them to become editors unless they already have the requisite talent?) 

It's difficult to apply caveat emptor ("let the buyer beware") to this situation: If you're seeking editing or proofreading services, you might not easily discern whether people offering impressive testimonials and advanced degrees really have the knowledge and sharp eye for detail that they claim—as reflected in their own writing, at least. The skill and passion needed to be a wordsmith are obviously far less common than the For Dummies title suggests, and the need for caution in selecting an editor shouldn't be underestimated.

If you're considering purchasing editing or proofreading from other Web-based sources and wish to weigh their services against against mine, consider my offer to edit up to 150 words free for new clients. Whether the character of your writing is academic, colloquial or anything in between, find out what I can do for you without any cost or obligation. Judge my work for yourself, and see why there's no substitute for the fresh appraisal of a true eagle-eyed, detail-oriented language lover.